New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-19
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL

| THE PEOPLE AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
A LETTER FROM J. AUGUSTUS JOHNSON UPBRAID-
| ING THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE FOR NOT
APPRorRIATING MORE MONEY FOR
| THE CRYING NEEDS OF
THE SYSTEM.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
sir The author Of How the Other Half Lives"
Jacob A. Rils ia his article in the last September
Century" entitled Fairgrounds for City Schools.
refers TO Grammar School No. 10. in Wooster-s,
be.ow Blocker. and says:
such as It is this woosier-st; playground IS typical
things Perhaps !, IS darker than most Of them but
Of The lamp Herds S u rats fcrsge about The Old
onllnss In al but The ne"est sGno9;s c1 oen
OF this CHEEKY apartment the boys and girls dodge
countless ircn posts and pillars In their pay
b. The eaith pepart ts II at least one school
building as dangerous, and the arraignment by one
OF the Schoo. Commissioners OF dozen OF others
UNIT for use
In speaking OF the one real public school play
ground In New-York city he says: III Is in the
heart Of a tenement block adjoining the First-st
schoo. on the site of old graveyard, wnich was
acquired with infinite trouble to protect the schools
light" Speaking of Schooi No. 20 IN Chryste-st MI
R.is says: THE lower rooms resemble dungeons
than Places for children to learn their lessons
In. The classrooms crowded that in two the
children had 10 get up and move before | could
ground s dark. wth closets opening upon it,
School Commissioner Wehrun in his report. pub
lishcd in March iast By the Beard Of Education
describes the public schools and buildings In 1|Z-S
and mentions at least twenty which are so dark
and gloomy 10 require the burning Of gas through
the day. quote a few descriptions:
March a. ls9l-Gsanmlr School No. g. AleI-st,
Tenth WardTotal attendance 2o6d children en-, boys
in A number of them; very poor gas-fxtures;
eighteen c,assroOms without desks; gr;s IN even
their knees making crpples out OF children In my
opinion, this is shameful condition ventilation
seats provided. school crowded and refusing chill
March 49, ls9s-Grammar School No: 8s, No 8
Clarke-st Total attendance, 1,0li; p classes.
Ceilings in the playground and primary very low;
staircase in the very dark and so low cannot
Apply gas much sickness prevails prevails ror,hor
mixed school November % 1892 attendance 81.
playground in cellar damp ami chilled closets un,
clean and dark: sewer connections; stream OF
foul water tnnning through the yard Chll hnti
sick with dphthcrla sever mas now peeh oult
In Webstcr-ave.. which VIII abate nuisance
Commissioner Wehrum gives the total of chill
dren registered as l6l 55i and the total attendance
as li9Sl Mr.. James A. Scrymser has published
statement that 10000 children Of school age.
between five and fifteen. are still unaccommodated
I school sittngs.
1t Is fair TO presume that since the dates given
by Mr. Wehrum many defects have been cured
and that school-buildnss have been con-
struced. but it is improbable that the burning OF
gas In school hours and that the damp celar-like
payrooms have been dispensed with in the con-
ecsted districts But while any Of these evil con-
ditions exist. | submit that the Board OF Estimate
and Apportionment should not refuse the very
modest requirements OF the Board Of Education for
repairs and schoolroom supplies IL is no sufficient
reply 10 their entreaty for more liberal appropria-
lions that the tenement-houses from which the
children come are in worse condition than the
school buildings FOR the tenement-house standard
IA ahc.v If.f 81 ~ tha nd
mission OF which Mr. r. W Glider is chairman
will. IN its report. tell the reasons why. And the
fact that the Mayor and the Controller have not
themselves the evil conditions that Mr.. Ris
reported IN existence In September last does not
dsproNe his testimony.
The Board OF Estimate and Apportonment the
2'th inst discussed the needs OF tina public school
system. and. among other things, refused the re-
quest 81 the Commissioners for 10000 additional
for repairs - leaky roofs and other requirements.
AMI $1,000 more for supplies and salaries wanted
for the new schools in 1895 Their motive for
fusai not stated. but il cannot be attributed
to economy OF the oity's money. in view OF other
appropriations made for luxurious speedway parks.
etc. The Commissioners asked for $5.l6olO, and
tho board ca, down that amount 10 $9c2i2j.
In response TO an Inquiry from Ills Honor. Mayor
Gilroy. II had anything t. say the subject.
said that the people wanted ample provision made
for the children. that they needed more play
grounds In the open air. more daylight in the
schools mare sitt!ngs Tor the unaccommod1tel. and
more kindergarten. manual training. truant and
vacation schools based my appeal In behalf OF
the people for better treatment % the children:
First on the request FOR larger appropriations
made by the twenty-oue School Commissioners
appontc"s u Mayors Grant and Gilroy.
Sc ond. Upon TIE platform and address to the
people OF the Committee Of seventy. which was ac-
crptll hy the reform candidate. and on which
they were elected. wit
We demand that the quality OF the public schools
be- improved. their capacity enlarged and proper
Fairgrounds provided. 80 that every child within
the agcS required hy law shall have admission to
the schools. the health Of the children be- protected
and that all such modern Improvements DE intro
ducei as Will make our public schools the equal Of
those in other city In tho world.
Good Government Club T. voices. as believe the
hearts wish OF the reform movement in asking
that every child In the city. entitled to school
privileges shall have an opportunity to he taught
on basis which shall make New-York at least
the equal Of the New gland and Western cities
whose annual per capita appropriation for school
purposes Is far greater than ours
desire TO acknowledge that some OF the school
buildings are OF modern type and excellence. and
that the system enjoys the services OF many noble
and highly cultivated men and women who will
serve admirably nucleus around which 10
build a magnificent school system.
j. AUGUSTUS JOHNSON.
New-York. Dec. % 1891.