Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-07
SCHOOL BOARD
BLOCKS ACTION
ON MEASURES
Stop Proposed Plan to Inves-
tigate Gary System For New
Junior High School

A plan to have a thorough lnvesti-
cation and report on the Gary school
system. giving recommendations as to
Its adaptability in connection with the
construction of the new Junior High
schools in Harrisburg, was blocked
yesterday afternoon by the majority
members OF the school board,
A resolution to have the investiga-
ton made by two school directors, DR..
Downes, Professor J, j, Brehm, one
of the Junior school principals. and a
citizen to be named by the Citizens
Advisory Committee, was presented
by Director A. C, Stamm, AS an eX-
planation OF his action. Mr., Stamm
stated many persons were interested
In the Gary system and that such an
investigation as was proposed in the
resolution would mean scarcely any
delay in the building program,
Directors Boil, Boyer, Breta and
Keen fought the idea from the start,
raising all kinds OF objections, Mr.
Bretz declared he was sure the Gary
system was not at all adaptable for
Harrisburg, proceeding to outline the
system as he thought 1t to be. He
asked DR.. Downes to tell of the plan.
DR.. Downes almost fatty contradict
ed Mr.. Bretz's description. although
he agreed that the plan could hardly
be used here unless it was modified
to certain extent
DR.. Keen objected to the possible
expenditure of $500 for the expenses
of the investigation. Mr.. Stamm re-
piled that IL would only be fair to
pay the expenses incurred in getting
report on the Gary plan.
Director Boyer's opinion was that
such report with ultimate changes
would interfere with the plans and
contracts with the architects Sec
retary Hammelbaugh set him right
by explaining that 1t would not in
terfere Director Bolrs complaint
against the resolution was the delay
which would result, and the con-
stantly increasing price Of building
materials.
When the vote was called President
Werner remained standing when Di-
rectors Enders, Bacon and Stamm
voted for the resolution and Directors
Keen, Boil. Boyer and Bretz voted
against it
Mr.. Stamm's resolution follows:
In the building construction for
which the voters have authori led The
school board to borrow $3.50. oG0 there
IS included new building for inter-
poses. on Aliisons Hiil and the re-
modelling of two other buildings for
the same purposes. The next logical
step on the part Of the board with re-
which properly may be taken with
little delay as need be, is TO decide
what kind of buildings are desir"d-l
their size, facilities, etc.
Mr.. Brehm, who IS to be the princ!-
pal OF the new building, has advised
the board in some de :ail that in sew
eral trips of inquiry and investigation
he has recently made TO other cities,
he finds NOT OnlV thar there dC-
cepted standard of facilities or cir
ricula for schools of this grade, they
differing radically in different cities
termediate or junior high school has
been adooted; rut also thar changes
in facilities, curricula, etc. are Neiy
the junior school idea is. compare
lively new. and has not yet ap-
preached its complete development. 1t
would seem that for these reasons a
tion Of the subject of junior high
school buildings and teaching shoula
he n ade by this board to enable it to
cecide upon the type Of buildings to
burg, in advance of the preparation
of any plans.
Also. there is in this community a
sentiment more or less pronounced.
on the part, perhaps. OF a relatively
limited number of people, but Of peo-
pie who are deeply and tntelligently
interested in the pubhc school system,
that before, the type. of junior high
school buildings shall be finally de-
termined, an examination and report
upon what is known as the Gary plan
of teaching should be made. the Gary
plan being plan developed by Mr..
William Writ. in Gary, Indiana, and
now finding favor in other cities, it
being in operations in some schools
in New York, and now being put into
operation in some schools in Phila-
delphia;
Now. therefore. be it Resolved, That
bers Of this board. Dr. Downes. the
superintendent of schools; Mr.. Brehm.
the principal or the junior high
school, and one citizen to be selected
be- e~appointed TO consider and report
upon the question of the type of all
three. proposed junior high school
buildings and of the facilities. to be
afforded by them; said committee to
report to this board, with their rec
concentrations, not later than the next
regular meeting. their report to in
and advice of the respective archi-
tects of the cost of erecting the new
junior high school buildings and of
remodeling the Camp Curtin and Gem
high school purposes.
Resolved. That any expenses in
cd Cured .50gy by It this seomiqitee. not to ex-
board, and that the amount thereof
be paid out of the contingent fund.
Prior to the presenting of Mr..
stamms resolution. many routine
business questions were disposed of,
including the adoption of committee
reports and the acceptance OF the
resignation of ]. Grant Koons AS
engineer at Tech High School.
After the vote on the resolution.
architects were called in TO present
plans for the annex to the Harris
school and for the new opcn-air
school. Architects participating in
the competition were NJ. n. Lair. G
Harry Kain. Frank G. Fahnestock Jr,,
r. r. Markley, Robert Williams. G.
Howard Lloyd and johnson and Kel-
ker.
A special meeting of the board will
be held on Monday afternoon at 2