New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-11
T ak Of
City Hall

County Judge J,lu +. Hy.an, the
"white hope" of Tammany in the ap-
proaching municipal election, mas
broken his promise TO preserve silence
until after the prmar;eS.
The opportunity to asssil the Gary
syftem Of public school instruction, IN
troduced by the Mitchell administration,
with sentimental reference 10 the Ut
tic red ychoolkouse," proved too great
q temptation for the Brooklyn judge.
He has announced himself hatfootedly
n champion &C the rising generation.
One of the most telling blows, in the
Judges estimation, which he delivers
against the Gary System is the an
nouncement that he Judge HylanJ Is
product of the little red schooihouse.'
As much as to say: "Iou see, good
parents, what the ancient order pro-
duces in majesty and sapience. Elect
me and | will nip in the bud this dan
gcrous experiment with a perfect in
stitution."
The voters of the city, when they be-
come little better acquainted with the
Tammany candidate for Mayor, vii!
feel more competent TO judge Of the
merit IN this appeal. 1t may ne that
rather than risk the cultivation Of too
many John +. Hylans they will turn 70
the Gary plan as an antidote. Inc
Judge is taking something Of chance
in thrusting his own personality for
ward as a cogent reason for the reten-
ton of an educational system.
Hylan Broadside Expected
But, seriously, the Gary system is so
much more easily attacked, in the Hy-
Ian manner, than explained, that the
wonder grows the judge should have
delayed his broadside as long as ne did.
Any American community is supersen-
sitive on the side of its public schools,
on which it's civilization rests. They
perform two fundamental services in
education and national assimilation.
Only the stingiest of taxpayers be-
grudges them the money they cost. And
when radical change is proposed in
their curriculum, their hours Of sctlv-
ity, their fundamental relationship %
society, all Americans Immediately hail
from Missouri they want TO be shown.
The Gary plan or system, the crsa-
ton o. Superintendent Writ, of Gary,
Ind, proposes just such radical
change. 1t has been called the work
study-play system. II seeks by diversi-
tcatlon of activity 20 stimulate The
child's interest in his tasks. and by ro-
tation 20 double the capacity Of the
school plant. One Of its aims is 10
keep city children of the streets and
another is TO create of the schoolhouse
a social centre, not alone for the juve,
nile population, but for the adults OF
the district as well.
Its installation requires 4 thorough
interior Encouragement of schooihouses,
with the addition of vocational work
shops, Of gymnasiums and Of scienti\:
laboratories and with the ampliicatipi
of Fairgrounds. In other words, il
costs money.
But il does not cost 1.-THE "a much
money as would the erection of enough
schoolh0uses under the old system 20
accommodate at full time the incress-
ing thousands Of children who press in
upon the city's educational system
every year. The city's educational
budget is already stupendous. Millions
more are spent every year, and get the
part time evil grows.
Remedy at Small Cost
The Gary plan promises at a compar-
atiyely small cost 20 provide rene d.,
20 multiply the capacity of the existing
schoolhouses, absorb all the present
part time pupils, while leaviG. room
for further expansion, and at the same
time TO enrich the whole fabric OF pri-
mary and secondary education.
Il is easy enough 20 dismiss it, as
Judge Hylan seeks 10 do, as the subter-
fuge of an administration which would
rather spend its money for something
else than schoolhouses. Yet Mr. Hylan.
If he should become the next Mayor Of
New York City, would lind il just as
difficult 20 find the money for enough
rev institutions. OF the little red
schoolhouse" type 70 take care Of all
the city'S children as he would 70 pro.
vide the funds for that equally am
bilious municipal ownership programme
set forth in the Tammany platform.
1t is easy, also, to voice q general in
dictment' of the system on the ground
that il pays relatively too little atten-
ton to the three RS" and too much 60
play. This is the blanket objection to
il brought forth by conservative
teachers long before it's experimental
operation in two schools in The Bronx
ard Brooklyn had demonstrated its sue
cess.
Ny. Hylan has, in fact, found a broad
target with few details Of which he is
at all familiar. lie may be expected 20
pepper 1t with scattering Ere OF sem
timentalities, addressed 20 the preiu-
dice3 OF his audiences, from now until
Election Day has made further coatro-
versy futile.
Mayors Widow Calls