New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-23
Gary Schools Make Fine Showing in Buckingham eSts'
Says Director Nudd-ln Spite OF Great Odds More
Pupils Improve than in All Other Schools Combined
Dear Madam:


Of this report that the Gary plan mas peen S ,s sr i an
wanting impression is unwarraned however dp
parent from scrutiny of the data and from more cau CON
deaon of several factors in the conduct OF tne 'es' % Sd
arctlv overlooked lightly dismissed but which usually regarded
as essential procedure In fact would seem that no
favorable evidence Of the satisfactory operation Of W
under recognized inadequate facilities could reasonably be expected even
advocates, than that enshrouded IN 'he mass " S
this report.
DR. Buckingham sought the relative efficiency OF the
Gary Enger traditional schools New York City by measuring inc
improvement ability seventh and eehh gFadc "' 40
Dictated assumed be Of eqla dcuy given
in the regular March and in June 9i9 Eight
traditional schools immediate ncghorhoo OF one OF The TWO
Gary and six Ener examined selected basis for com
prson pupil population nearly as possible SIM
liar to that in one of the of schools The general con
uson was that the traditional the Enger schools
second and Gary third there nothing at fault with
the test therefore the advantages claimed Gary would OBJ
vousy question in far as that part oil ~ programme "
deasw purely academic work is concerned
BUCKINGHAM TESTS FAIL ESSENTIALS SCIENTIFIC TESTS
The are three essentials truly scientific inquiry
conception Of exactly what being examined; thorough
appreciation which inquiry be fairly
careful and just appraisal of the data collected In al
of these particulars the Buckingham tests fall short
ability results from education is matter OF
growth during school life of the child Its attainment at any
particular therefore index OF the effectiveness OF "e "a
ing previously of the general ability Of seventh and
eighth grade pupils would be regarded by most school men, rather
preceding grades than of the particular
grade happened be- Otherwise the educate
process significance To assume that after SIX or more
years in general ability during
period of three months solely the training received during
that period to be faacous Yet that exactly
what Buckingham has done.
public School as The Bronx was school within
March and still N process OF read
fsten during the period Immediately which the growth
ability Gary plan supposed miracuouy take place
traditional school up to within
four months Of the March test and was likewise undergoing
men Both schools ALSO from part time
before reorganization any the other schools tested
which meant that the children Gary previously had
as full amount academic work
would buckingham really testing
| b Cow % At ali INIT sinnlv two schools which had been operating
o six or years traditional New York and
extremely conditions and which at the time OF
natural Of unrest due to reorganization as compared
vbc had
IeS 81 qd m Iy from mart time and were not suffering
from the handcaps rcadusment the time of the tests
UNDUE HASTE IN EyMrATING GARY SCHOOLS.
the Gary schools however subject to the usual
incident change procedure but they further han
capped by wou lack OF the physical equipment recommended py MI
generally essential their favorable operation
This generally known due to the fact that the money originally
appropriated Mr. Wt experiment had been spent equppng
schools both Gary schools annex needed
provide shops other facilities to house
the children properly and enable the programme " work smoothly
Furthermore the wide public interest the
School 49, The Bronx particular deuged with steady
Of whose the classroom and about the
building extremely diacng The building also
lively having operation scarcely eighteen months In
there had been little time opportunity for perfectng the
organization possible older and vOraby situated schools and
essential type classroom work would therefore,
that only extremely opportun but evidence
evauae the Gary schools
From purely statistical point Of view moreover Dr. Bucking
question In the first place he
results of six Estngcr and eight traditional schools It obvious that
in this way difficulties particular Gary school would exert
ar
Of where
This made possible
| the larger Of the schools, which showed
poorer than offset the excellent results
F. the smaller of the and thus lessen materially the
average whole In the place. he
general the subectarhmecn which the
and the other schools best 1t is also
whether p S. 62 Manhattan which is an Intermediate school
exceptionally well the should have been included
Etnger If had been classified intermediate school
would
of the Gary schools.
IN SPITE OF ODDS MAKE FINE SHOWING.
Waiyng for the moment howeyer ihes3 fundamental limitations
hams work. the DESPITE
odds under which the Gary schools they
made exceptional showing compared other schools If F.
p
the Bronx selected by Dr. buckingham
Of be that
during the three months covered by the test showing
in a AZ
in p This unfortunately clearly shown in the
identity schools
printed tables { i however
statement that school showed results the
Of another school
poorer position
portunty had improvement while r.
peculiar did rank high 7. S. IS either
did which Dr. buckingham indicates the
| significant point his