New-York tribune., 1919-09-27
Master Minds

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The article Of Louis Lee Arms in
your issue OF Sunday accords honors to mo
which are undeserved and as there are Ger
tain errors in it regarding the Modern School
I would appreciate an opportunity to correct
same.
l. The Modern School worships truth TO
such an extent that it does not teach any
ism, and The teachers, most of whom have
been Socialists, set forth the truth as thew
see it without taking partisan view on any
particular subject Anarchism as a political
ideal and socialism an economic theory
are treated as impartially as it is possible
for human beings to present them In short.
we are so lbertarian in our theories and
methods Of presenting them we do not even
Try to make the children accept the prin-
ciples we believe III ourselves. We insist
from first to last that children should have
all sides of every subject presented to them
and be allowed to arrive at their own con-
clusions
<. The paper which edit, "Freedom." has
nothing to do with the school or COLONY. and
neither of them is responsible for the opin-
IONS which 1t expresses. It is controlled and
operated by separate group, whose opinions
1t represents, and has nothing to do with tho
school as an institution. My opinions are
my own and may may not be shared bv
other members Of the board of management
s. Seven children who have graduated
from our school are now attending The New
Brunswick High School, and the authorities
there will tell you they are far in advance
OF the rest of the pupils in almost everv SUBJ
5ect. They know who we are, and what wa
stand for, having had four years. DEALINGS
with us, and they know that our metbode
produce results.
a. am not the master mind" of the Fer
rer Modern School, but q humble laborer IN
the vineyard of knowledge. 1t is true in
atlated the plan to move the school
here from New York, but the work Of or
ganizng the school and colony was not the
work OF one man, which is why it is so
healthy. Every one of those mentioned in
tne artlcie and others not mentioned have
played their part in developing the school
and 1t would be difficult to single out anv
one Tor special distinction. There ara sev-
eral other master minds here that Mr.
Arms failed to meet, so perhaps he will nav
us another visit.
5. Our school has sixty-four pupils. nor
twenty-s1x. We board and care for twenty
slS' ouc the others are day pupils and live
with either their parents or friends NV
title, If title is insisted on, is manager Of
the boarding house, and ] am one Of eighteen
members of board Of managers who control
the school. I was also one of tho thraa
trustees OF the colony until the land was paid
Tor and titles issued, when that trusteeshin
automatically ended. Running a BOARDING
honse on cost basis-for we board lodoa
and educate child for $3.50 'week-actino
as trustee for a colony and school. editing a
paper and doing several other things. have
not made me fat, as can be seen from NJ
Arms's article. and it is quite possible
failed to smile once during the afternoon O,
the interview i read Grantland Rice and
Joe Villa pretty regularly, however, and find
time to attend ball game or one of Dr
Riesenfeld's 'movies" very often; another
Shfng for which the board of management of
sh. school is not responsible.
HARRY KELLY
Stelton, N. j.. Sept. 16, 1919.