New-York tribune., 1917-06-23
The Anti Gary Campaign
Bu Alice Barrows Fernandez
Director Gary School League

Their purpose was quite frankly given by
their secretary the other night, when ne eN-
planned that the only way 70 get RID OF the
Gary schools was TO organize neighoorhood
associations in all of the six hundred schools
in the city-"five members will be enough.
And then" the secretary went on 10 say
"since il is campaign year, II we send IN
enough protests against the Gary system tne
educational and financial authorities VIII DC
afraid to extend it,
"NeiGhborhood" association meetings AZ
which may speak only opponents OF the plan'
who make gross misstatcments about the
Gary schools, we'll interlarded with irrelevant
and long-winded attacks upon the city admin
istrationl Are the intelligent parents OF New
York City and the citizens interested in pro-
gressive education going to sit idly by and let
this type of cheap political tactics and unfair
rlay delay the development of these schools,
which have already proved of such great BEN
eft to the children of this city?
The following facts which DR.. Taylor had
prepared especially for that meeting show
more conclusively than ever before the strik-
ing results already accomplished by the Gary
plan, both from an educational and admin
istrative point of view. DIR. Taylor says:
1.-TWO years ago twelve schools in my district
had 1896 children who received only four
hours of instruction. | have reorganized
eleven of fourteen schools for which appro-
priations have been made, and by this process
of duplication have reduced the number OF
children on short day to 1882. In the mean
time the original twelve schools selected for
reorganization have had an increase of reg
ster in two years of 5,343. During the same
period we have opened new schools and sew
eral annexes, with total capacity on the
traditional plan of 400 Making allowances
for the increase in population and opening of
new schools, the duplication of eleven of the
fourteen schools has had the effect of elimi-
mating 1884 short time pupils. Not only are
the duplicate schools giving these 1884 a
full day, but they are giving about $4,000 a
school day ranging from five to six and a
third hours.
The Record Here to Date
"The total amount of money appropriated
and applicable to the duplication of the eleven
schools as they are operated to-day is $685.
1880, and OF this amount only s171,511.79
has been expended for sites, alterations and
equipment, which have become available for
actual service. This is the real cost of giving
1894 children who formerly had four-hour
day a school day of from five TO six and a
third hours.
"To accomplish the same result in the. old
way would require about 6,l70 sittngs and
these would cost, at the current price of Sl0,-
COO per classroom unit, at least Sl,470,000
Deducting from this the total appropriation
of s36S,373, applicable to the eleven schools
reorganized we find that the city has saved
1927 by the process of duplication, and
has at the same time provided an enriched
curriculum of work, study and play for 29,-
900 children. As much time is given to aca-
demc work as formerly, and this years sur
vey of the schools conducted by myself shows
the interesting fact that the duplicate schools
are superior to the regular schools in the re-
suits obtained in academic tests, as well as in
the progress shown in these studies, compared
with previous tests"
New York, June 81, 1917.