New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-26
Mr.. MACLAY on THE SCHOOLS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OUT
LINES THE SITUATION
HE TELLS or THE DIFFICULTIES THAT HAVE
PRESENTED THEMSELVES-CONTRACTO
WILL BE PAID AND BUILDINGS com
PLETED-NO FEAR OF COLD

CLAsSROOMs

Despite the numerous complaints which have
been heard all sides against the School COM
missioners for the lack OF accommodations In the
public schools. whereby thousands OF children OF
school age have been refused admittance. president
Maclay and his associates the Board of Educa-
ton have been and still are thoroughly alive to the
seriousness of the situation They are doing every
thing In their power TO secure extra sittings IN the
overcrowded buildings and are urging the CON
tractors to hasten their work on the few Old Dud-
ings under repair as rapidly possible
Yet certain of the contractors who have not
been paid for their work. owing TO the failure OF
the city to dispose OF its school bonds. have com
planned TO Mr.. Snyder Superintendent OF Schooi
Buildings informing him that they could not con-
tinue their work unless the money was forthcom-
ing Commissioner Joseph J. Little learning OF
this state OF affairs. sent the following communi-
cation to Robert Macay. president Of the Board OF
Education:
Contractors for work on grammar schools H nos nos.
6 AZ and 81 CJohn Johnson CUrro, ar School No ~
and Primary School No so BLAKE & Williams,
to stop work unless they are paid the amounts due
on their respective contracts. Mr., Johnson Is a
forts 10 complete his work. but Is In need OF the
money due him. Grammar School no ~ Is tenn tenn!
ments are made to enable the contractors to com
plete their work before cold weather
President Macay seen yesterday by IT'D
une reporter in regard to the matter He said: I
have received the communication TO which you
refer and have forwarded a copy Of II 10 Con-
troller Fitch and TO Mayor Strong. II the con-
tractors have not already received their money II
will he paid to them without doubt in Few days
and the work on the buildings will be completed
There has been great deal OF criticism pub
ushed by the newspapers recently. which con-
slider is entirely unjust to those who have been
working hard for the good OF the school system
In 1898 the Board of Education asked the LesIs-
lature for 10000 with which 10 erect new ouild-
ings This was the least amount with when the
Board could provide the accommodations needed al
that time but the LEGISLATURE evidently going on
the principle that public officials generally expect
10 be cut down in their demands for public money
allowed us only half OF this amount and conse-
quently we able to accomplish only nan OF
dcuy from GyererP FT9PSr in tb 5he
schools daes paGk Two .9 he egisiatilre adds sew
erai thousand acres the outlying districts TO the
school OF this city and the Ie0ple eApect us,
handicapped as We are by lack OF funds. TO nave
school buildings all ready for the children to &C.
cn fast year We asked the Legislature for $4,000
and the need for TINS money Wa 50 HipaI eo.r ~
We obtained every cent OF H. uougn t"e ~ 49,
par OF this amount is not yet available All TINS
temporary embarrassment, ana VIII not DC Oh ~u,S
y rnanent detriment to the schools. 20 soon az v"
secure the appropriation for The fuh amount oI
money granted us by the Legislature We can go
AHEAD with the new buildings. .....-. o,.ou,hlo
III is a very difficult matter 70 secure aVaidpe
sites for school buildings In this city. especially IN
the crowded districts on the lower East SIDE Where
schools
advocated renting buildings in the vicinity OF me
schools and using them for the overflow classes
This all very well in theory, but the law PROVIDES
fhaf no building shall be used for school purposes
which is over thirty-fve feet high unless the bud-
ing be nreproof To find such a structure In me
crowded tenement house districts OF the East SIDE
IS almost an absolute impossibity
Il find that in many cases children Walk right ~
the schools near their own homes where they could
be- accommodated easily. and attempt 10 CROWD mo
the schools outside Of their own districts, simply
because their mothers fathers went there. or ne
cause the principal there happens to ne an eAceeu-
jnrv popular man This fact was called 10 my
attention in the Of Grammar School no y
Here there were several vacancies but the father
Of a child living In the district where that school
Is located complained TO because admittance
had been refused his child "A school In a neigh
cnces but cannot allow children 10 pass uy
schools I'm their districts and try 70 secure
admittance in any other schools in the city that
happen 10 suit their fancies.
II have noticed articles in tO-days papers stat
ing that certain schools would be without proper
heating apparatus should a cold snap set In |
want 10 say In reply to this tina, the heating APP
paratus in all the schools In the city Il IN nrstcass
condition with the exception possibly OF three or
four buildings and the contractors VIII have the
work completed these buildings within a very
short time ,,
as stated in one Of yesterday mornings papers. a
note from Commissioner Barker, OF the Department
OF Taxes asking him TO attend a meeting or inc
BOARD Of Estimate 10 be held on Monday next. ana
represent the School Commissioners. He respond
ed that he had received no such communication
on the day named although he would be very glad
to present the needs OF the schools TO the Board II
asked TO DO so.