New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-03

On December 80 the educational page
Of .Thc Globe" in an attempt to JuSt'-
/ f. Preeilcr. Ch.tchill's curious chahs'
NJ attitude on the Gary plan, stated
that the article on Gary written oy
President Churchill for THE Define
ator" in September. 1914, in when nc
was enthusiastic in his praise OF the
Gary plan, "was based upon visits only
to the Frobel and Emerson schoois'
The Gary plan, as proposed Tor Ne"
York. is far different from the Gary
plan as operated in Gary, and to that
fact probably is due President Church
ills present attitude Of insisting upon
n complete test Of the plan IN the
schools here before it is extended
Miss Roemer Says Gary Plan in New
York Same as in Gary.
This assertion. that the Gary plan
in Gary sis far different from the Gary
plan as operated in New York is a
favoritc device used by the opponents
of the plan TO prejudice the public
against it's introduction into the schools
of this city. Thinking that it was time
that some one who is thoroughly con
versant with the operation OF the
schools in Gary and also with the
admiration Of the plan to New York
should express an opinion on the sub
iect. Niss Elizabeth Roemer, formerly
head worker az Richmond Hill House
Of this city. and now a teacher j. the
Gary schools, was asked TO comment
upon the above statement.
Hiss Roemer vas head worker OF the
Richmond Hill House Settlement Tor
twelve years and has an intimate ac-
oueintancc with the schools OF this
CITY and the living conditions Of the
children that attend them. Two years
AGO she went 10 Gary to teach in order
90 study the Gary plan at first hand
and determine 20 what extent II would
contribute 20 the solution Of the social
problem Of rearing children in cities
so ina. they would be intelligent men
and women ana efficient workers. Her
study OF the schools IN Gary, there
lore. has been made always with we"
10 thcir application 20 New YORK con
ditiot.s. Moreover. last June she spent
considerable time IN Public school 40
The Bronx. and also visited 1t again
this winter. When ASKED tor her COM
raent on the statement that the GARY
plan In Gary Is different from the plan
as opc-atcd in New York, she said;
Emerson and Froebel Not the Only
Gary Schools.
81 have seen that statement, and |
have also seen President ChurchlIl 5
article in the September (l9l4J De
fncator' cannot comprehend now
sny one who knows the Gary plan. or
has studied IT'S adaptation TO New YORK,
can seriously charge that the Gary plan
ia New York differs IN any essen
nal from the Gary plan as operated IN
Gary. II such criticism Is made IN
GOOD faith 10 shows very superJclal
understanding OF the Gary plan, Tor ~
implies that the plan cannot be put into
operation unless the Emerson ana Froe-
bel schools are exactly duplicated IN
New York City. with all the special
COMPLIMENT OF those schools. Such an
idea reveals "A mlscOncepton OF the
educational ideal Of the Gary schools.
also rather an amazing ignorance OF
the schools as they exist IN Gary.
There are nine schools IN Gary, but
ONLY TWO have swimming pools or elab-
orate shops; yet the Gary idea IS IN
opcration in every one OF them. For
example, | am not teaching IN either
the Emerson or Froebel school, but /
distinctly resent the suggestion tnat
the Gary plan is not carried out IN the
jefferson School. where | am teaching.
=. :. Is Excellent Application OF Gary
Plan.
1T should be clearly understood that
thc Gary idea does not depend for ITS
success upon any special uniform
Equipment. The educational idea be-
mind the whole plan Is based upon
Professor John DeWeys philosophy OF
learning By doing. This means that
every child has an opportunity every
DAY 10 learn by working and studying
and playing instead of sitting IN school
seats all dav. Just how he works or
studies or plays depends upon the CON
ditions Of each locality. ! entirely fail
to SEQ how any one could visit P. 5.
~. Brouy. and not realize that the
children m that school are working and
studying and playing under the charac-
tcr.stic Wirt programme. In fact. !
consider p. :. -. BrouX. an unusually
concrete illustration OF both the meth
cd and sn,rit OF the Gary schools
For example | notice that President
Churchill i'm his 1914 article on the
C.r,. ecbooIs ar,pb aei-as tho 'easy