The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
Tho School Accommodation.

The School Accommodations.
It Is said each year, at the beginning Of
September, that there are thousands Of
children compelled to roam the streets of
New York." deprived Of the opportunities of
primary instruction and of all educational
advantages. in consequence of the INSULT
cheney of school accommodations, due to the
neglect of the public authorities. Is there
any just basis for this accusation of indif-
ference and neglect
The population Of New York is now in
creasing more rapidly, from causes other
than foreign emigration, than it has done
for many years. The total number of
births was 1871 in 1895; in 1896 it was
B5 1898, a substantial increase. In 1892
the number was 49,447; and, as may
be seen from this and from a perusal Of the
figures prior to 1892, there is a steady
increase not only in the number of births,
but in the birth rate per population.
While this increase is going on steadily,
the death rate of the city has been steadily
decreasing. In 1891 it was 26.3, declining
to 25. 8 in 1892. to % in 1894, and to 2l.5
IN 1896. The population of New York is
being constantly increased from the flood
of emigration from foreign countries, rising
now because Of more prosperous conditions
of industry and business. AS the city pop
ulation increases the number of children
requiring public instruction increases also,
n the increase is $4,000 greater than it
was last September. In other words, the
total enrolment has risen from 2O7, 900
to 225, 900 from September, 1896, to Sep
TENDER, 1897.
If his increase was evenly distributed
throughout the town, or if it was in GER
tain districts where immediate provision
for it could be made. the city authorities
might cope with it by providing for its
school accommodation; but, the popu.
lation of the city is constantly shift
Ing; SO that, While there is a large
Increase in one ward or district, there
IL a falling of in another, with the re.
suit that one school cannot accommo-
date all those applying, while another
has empty sittings. If there is any posi-.
BILE way of avoiding thist trouble it has not
been disclosed by any one, and it may be
said further that no such way exists.
The i~nadequacy Of school accommoda,
lions in some districts is also aggravated
by the disposition of parents to send their
children to certain favored and generally
overcrowded schools instead Of adjacent
schools where they might be accommo.
dated. So long as this condition ex.
lists and SO long as school buildings
ale constructed of brick, mortar, gran.
lite, iron, sandstone, and other materials
which have not the elasticity of india rub.
Der, 1t will be found impracticable to make
the school accommodations comply In all
parts Of the town with the demands
upon them.
The new school buildings in course OF
construction on the LIST of January last and
opened this week. and the additional class
rooms in other schools already opened, rep
resent a total increase of accommodations
for 1873 pupils, and three additional
schools are to be opened next week.
The existing methods for securing sites
for school buildings are better than they
were before the adoption by the Legisla
ture Of the law of 1888 compelling the
Commissioners of Estimate, in condemna,
tion OF school property, ito report within
six months after their appointment or for
felt all fees that they would he entitled tc
receive for service as Commissioners" but
they are by M means as progressive and
desirable as they might be, and as, per
hdpos II htAL btSibluluTe VIII MAKE
them. The Legislature of 1898 author
lied the city to Issue bonds to the amount
of rs, 900. 900 for the acquisition of schoo
sites and the erection of buildings upo1
them, In addition to the other provisions
for such investment heretofore made. The
conditions of public expenditure are suct
that 1t Is not always practicable to utiliz,
such funds promptly, and consequently de
lays injurious to the school service occur.
Appropriations for schools for New Yorl
are liberal. and are being constantly in
creased. In 1898 the expenses Of the Boart
OF Education were ~, 300, 900; in 1896
they were $4,000, 900; for this year tn,
appropriation was 80, 3 5000. Nobody
therefore, can justly accuse New Yorl
Of not making generous and ample pro
vision for its schools and for their main
tenance, the sums Appropriated to the Boart
OF Education being exclusive of amounts
raised by the sale OF bond. for sites an,
buildings. With two exceptions, Phila
deiphia and Chicago, New York expend
twice AZ much on schools as any othc
American city. Moreover, the contribution
OF the people for the maintenance of IN,
pnnlic schools Is even larger than il seems
ioE over 30 per cent. of the schoo
children In New York, 100, 900 out of 400
ooo Instructed, are no charge or burdeI
upon the city. There are 7 childr.,
attending parochial schools maintained h
the various Roman Catholic parishes. AN,
There are 10000 children, being a large
percentage than in any other America
eity' who are educated at private school,
Lae charge OF discrimination in respect /
s'nOOia appropriations and expenditures 8