The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
NINETEENTH ward SCHOOLS.
Serious Charge Made Against the
Board of Education.
JANITORS APPOINTED BY POLITICIANS.
Three Thousand Poor Children Left Without
School Accommodation.

Inc report or HERALD Gazing atteuuon W INC
overcrowded and ikept condition of various public
schools throughout the city has been discussed with
interest everywhere and the facts it gave expression
| to about the idle, lazy and incompetent janitors
| meet with Endorsement by all acquainted
with the subject treated of outside OF inter
ested ward politicians. From what a HERALD
reporter learned yesterday it would appear that,
rule there is no more good for nothing and inn
puden class OF officials in this city than the janitors
of the public schools. There are some worthy ex-
ceptons and these stand out in all the greater con-
rast to the worthless character of the rest Most of
them appointed through political influence OF the
most vulgar kind. Their antecedents are utterly at
variance with the notion that they competent to dis
charge such duties the Board of Education imposes
them. Discarded hack drivers, bartenders and
corner loafers, who may at one time have been
decent laborers have been appointed for their polt
cal services as jantors and it is than ridicu-
lous to hope that such class of men can be ex-
pected to know o little about the laws OF health,
about ventilation, steam heating sanitary prevcn
tves such the duties prescribed for them by the
Board of Education would imply that they should
know
| In the Nineteenth ward are two janitors. named
John Pye. of Grammar School No. SO, and Thomas
| Hogan, Of Grammar School No. SO. whose removal
| twice attempted by the Board of Trustees for
| the ward, which consists of Ferdinand T. Hopkins,
| Eugene II. Pomeroy. Meyer Thamessinger. John
c. Donnelly and Richard Kelly, and each attempt was
frustrated by the action of the School Inspectors for
the district, consisting of the Twelfth. Nineteenth
| and Twenty-second wards, Messrs. II. b. Perkins
! and Jacob Hess These jantors retained.
and they snap their fingers in the faces of the rus-
tees and tell them in their choice vernacular to
| do their damndest.
POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN THE SCHOOLS.
The law governing the appointment and removal of
the anitors evidently framed that it might work
benefit to the politicians, for it declares that the
jantor shall not be removed by the trustees except
with the consent of majority of the inspectors Of
the district While it is possible to have board of
| trustees who not politicians, and who fill the
Office simply to promote the public good, it is rare
that inspector is appointed except for his politi
cal services. Both the janitors named are charged
with the grossest dereliction of duty and with carry
ing themselves in a most Extensively overbearing
| manner, as though conscious there power
strong enough to them either in the Board OF
| Trustees the Board of Education. or this they
appear to be convinced and hence the nature of their
conduct. "You must go to the Legislature. they
reported to say "and get special act passed to
| move and then You won't get it,"
This, indeed, is pretty nice state of affairs in
| city like New York." said gentleman to the re-
porter. Il visited the school No. So he continued,
| windows that declare couldn't object out
| side went down to the water closets and found
| them in q most disgusting condtion--so much
that asked the janitor why they were not attended
| to, and he answered me, in independent
tone. that it of his business, that he wasn't
there to keep water closets clean scrub windows
or dust desks. there several times after, and
could tell you if had time hundred ways noticed
in which the janior evades his duties and does as
| little possible"
lis that Jantor retained through the influence OF
| the inspectorsY'
ayes, the Board of Trustees tried in vain to re-
| move him and another, but politics got into II and
the two still kept. one for Offset against the
other--one democrat and the other q republican.
| insulted and outraged and the childrens health is
| erdangered.
the schools that struck you as open to censurey
| .tOh, yes the overcrowding especially i'll the
Nineteenth ward is perfectly outrageous. and If the
| public knew the full extent of the deprivation of
school education which the children suffer the Board
| of Education would be made to howl. There
| schools, because they are already as full as
they hold, and these must consequently
grow up ignorance their parents will get tired
keeping them back to get chance to enter and send
them away to work 1t is the people who can't afford
away that suffer most and they just half crazy
with the state of things allowed by the Board OF Edu-
! cation"
| "Somc say the Board of Education and others the
Board of Estimate and Apportionment. but for three
/ 4
titioning for extra school accommodation and not
| schoolhouse has been put up yet, because. AZ am
privately informed there are certain private interests
| of the Board Commissioners in conflict"
| THINKS THE JANlTORs BADLY ABUSED.
| Mr.. Ferdinand T. Hopkins, one OF the trustees,
having his attention called to statement that on
the ground foof School No. IL there four class
rooms totally unit for the purpose remarked
don agree with that. They may not DC perfect
would WISH but is better to devote them TO the
uses they at than have the children who occupy
| them running about the streets
| Are they not frequently overcrowdedY'
III this statement in the HERALD DO true that there
has generally been attendance of hundred
in one OF these cassrooms then the principal Is TO
blame, 1t is forbidden by the rule OF the Board.
Taking up the HERALD and reading its report the
condition OF school No. Is, Mr. Hopkins proceeded
ut says here the heating Is detective that upon
examination the temperature was found to vary from
sixty-ive degrees sevenyfive degrees. Well.
now, that is not SO surprising Why, was out rid
ing to-day and there fully 1--WE degrees difference
between the temperature ut side of my carriage
and the other, and what must it be in large school
room, with constant opening OF windows and sue
| cession OF draughts =
/ Reading again. Mr.. Hopkins resumed: TT says the
| children packed closely rs possible in these
the provisions OF the bylaws of the Board OF Educa
ton, no attention whatever 10 paid In regard to
that the Board passed a bylaw about no two years
evident that II you have room with
| q very high ceiling the proportion OF air space will
be greater than in one with low ceiling but tho
same sized floor. yet according to the bylaw OF the
| Board the one should BIO made to accommodate
third or so more children than the other, while the
floor space precisely the in both This
| bylaw is, OF course, u dead letter"
Rcverting to the article in his hand. Mr..
Hopkins regards the work of the janitor, Mr..
Jonn Ryan, that speaks for itself This functionary
makes the fires aud does very little else that no
possibly avoid doing. THAT must be untrue said
MIR. Hopkins, with emphasis from the TACT that the
trustees think he keeps one OF the cleanes schools In
| the ward and proof that they arc particular in
| this regard, they twice attempted to remove the
| jantors oil two other schools for not keeping them
| clean but failed
| INDIFFERENT THE cHILDRENs COMFORT.
| Proceeding with his analysis of the report Mr..
Hopkins read Sc lie and his assistants commence
| sweeping the Fairgrounds between one and two
o'clock, long before the children dismissed. rails
| ing clouds OF dust and half smothering the little
| ones in the ground cassrooms. Now. in regard to
| the sweeping OF the playgrounds they are swept
with the approval of the trustees, after one O'clock
| The work at this of the year must be done
early, for there gas used in the building and tho
children do not 30 home till quarter to four clock