New-York tribune., 1916-01-17

schomc 10 introduce religion into wv
public school system. .. odnl
"Somohow am not bit alarmed
Social Spirit Of Carv Children
"Dcer Madam: A letter has JUST
-. IRON n friend Of mine whose
hrother lives in Gary, and pass IL u"
to vou 10 be published for the consul
cro,ion of those people IN New lotn
CIV who are interested IN the "arS
plan. o,o, soon
,h. Gary schools IN action, but h"N'
laid il up in my mind TO do 20 on NY
nov, visit know from my brolheT
bowever. that most people tnei'
heartily indorsc the idea. The tcacn
crs like Mr.. Writ and stand py t"'
scheme. T.,
"a yirl that | know who teaches IN
Hobart. the next town TO Gary toi'
me that she had good many Pupn'
come from the Gary schools anu
without exception, the thEg 'na'
.tr,,ck her most forcibly was the en-
thusiasm and beautiful spirit to"ard
school. She said that when they CAM
into tho Hobart schools, when Were
Of the old type, although GOOD uue
fine social spirit stood out All oNc'
them. 60
"Mv brother. who lives in Gary, says
that the little foreign youngstet'
and YOU know there aye many 'orcign
crs i'm Gary make most astonishlnE
d .ogrcsg. The best buildings ana inc
/ finest equipment are found IN the lo'
cign section Of the town, and are be.
/ ing used TO make fine Americans OF
these children. Very truly yours, :,
New York City a. VI. =
/ The social spirit Of the children IN
The Gary schools referred TO IN TINS
+ letter was one of the things tnat I'm
messed me also when ! visited UarN'
| and | was interested 10 ind thls I'M
pression borne out by the experience
/ of a boy that ] took from New ioiS
and nut into the Gary High school.
/ After no had been in the school about
a week he came home one day IN a
brown study. apparently much puzzled.
+ When | asked him what the matter was
he exclaimed: "Why, Us these boys
here. They are so decent 10 fellow.
/ can't get used TO 1t. DO you know
/ what they do to fellow IN other
? schools when he first enters ell
/ thew make his life miserable for hum.
/ But these chaps accept you, they smile
/ at you the first thing, and ask you II
/ there is anything they can do tor you
and really seem TO want 20 help. Gee.
hut It's great" And ne relapsed into
pleased contemplation Of thus apparent
lv inexplcable phenomenon.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Wirts
plan Of having older children help
Younger ones and younger ones assist
ing older ones in their work has mucn
to do with bringing about feeling OF
mutual helpfulness and good fellow
ship and breaking down the artificial
barriers Of age and grade differences.
Best Buildings and Equipment for the
Poorest Children.
II is true that the finest school in
Gary is over m the poorest section OF
town, and 10 is interesting TO see how
such school has affected such dis
trict. In that part OF town there are
as bad slums a | have ever seen IN
New York. but they are slowly being
changed for the better by the uncon-
scious influence Of the school.
For example, the children learn
gardening in the school. with the
result hat their parents are now start
ing gardens in their own back yards.
paint and do stencil work, and they
are using that knowledge 20 beautify
their homes by painting the walls Of
their houses or shack,, however poor
they may be, in attractive colors. and
with simple borders Of their own de-
sign.
And. again. the school is the gath
cring place Of the families in the even
ing. In many cases 1t takes the place
Of the saloon for the men and young
boys. II is the place to learn trade,
20 90 20 moving pictures, 10 see a play.
30 hear concert or 10 practice your
favorite instrument yourself. And
above all, in Gary it is the place where
you meet your friends who are also
Interested in doing the same things.
Froebel school is settlement. library,
gymnasium. moving picture theatre and
evening school for the immigrants OF
Gary. And IL is their own, supported
by their share Of public taxation. It
is good investment for them and for
the city.