New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
SCHOOL SYSTEM CRIPPLED.
MAYOR VAN WICK OFFICIALLY IN
FORMED OF THE SITUATION.
A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT HUBBELL-. OF THE
BOARD OF Observation-Disclosures re
CEIvING PARTIAL INSTRUCTION.
AND OTHERS TAUGHT
BY PUPILS

Charles pu,k,.v Uutbel president of the Board
Of Education. yesterday sent TO Mayor van "EcA
a letter stating that the information when the
Mavor recently asked for In relation TO schoo piu-
ing contracts would be furnished at an carry uaS
It being necessary get some of the inior'na,'o"
from the Controller Mr. HubbeTs letter 'heh
continued:
70 accuaint Your Honor with the lamentabe con
ditions in which the Department OF hcuSa,'o ~, III
The changes incident 10 the adjustment or school
interests made necessary through the pr0V!sos -,
arise but the present condition IL such as 10 causo
those most familiar with the conduct OF schoo' al
The policy Of the Board OF Education tas II ex-
listed previous to January ls5s for The last TWO
lions TO furnish adequate school accomnlodatiohs
for the children OF this city. To tina end apuica-
issue bonds the proceeds OF which were To apply
on the purchase OF sites and the constructor Oh
mon gwen FOR the issue OF bords the amount OF
sl0OcO0W not including $4,000 for hish schoo'
There are now in the city OF New-lork htteen
thousand children Of school age Sho LOT iacH ,S S
schools. and many others entirely unprovided for.
have reason TO believe that the same proportion
ourn Of Queens where the president OF the School
Board Of that borough has s,a,.H am' occommo
dations The increase In he school popu alton I'D
the boroughs OF Manhattan and the bi9tH ~ a.
been no interruption In the plans instituted by me
Board of Education as II existed IN TINS porou ,
wouli have seen accommodations ior every chiId
OF school age f. the borOuGhs OF Manhattan ai.u
education. The suspension OF building operations
has already made impossible the opening 9t certain
schools that would have been ready 10y September
l. but for The view OF the law IaSen 10y me
adviser Of the cy nor Is TINS mia,or' EnH n1
school for upon receipt OF your letter directing me
Immediately cut of al expense me payihen Oh;
. ha
the bond account | notified our SuperintenGeht OF
buildings OF your directions, ana me serVl l Oh
our building inspectors were thereupon uIscoH-
However certain contractors believing that they
had the right to continue their contrasts. did 80.
making it POSSIBLE for inferior work be done on
the buildings 1t ala not seem 10 me wise 10
undertake TO stop the contractors In ne Ieriorn-
ancc Of their work as believe II would have sun
tec,ed the city to litigation through causes OF
action hrough; FOR the recovery or damages 10y
reason Of breach o! contract.
II the caiami,ous conditions herein set forth con-
tlnue YOU can readily understand how disastrous
It viii be for the interests OF the schoo. children
the information sought VIII De 70. lowed by an .n"rt
tionnlert to Immediately provide some way on ~
the difficulties referred TO. The Board OF -du.n-
looks to Your Honor ana the hoard OF Estimate and
Apportionmen, FOR some method OF overcoming the
The completion ~ the hall OF the Board Of Edu-
cation. begun several months ago. has, OF course
shared the same fate as many 81 our school hu.lH-
ncs We have made no leases FOR ONCE accomino,
dAilons. relying upon the pctlOn ~ -" hal
early in the coming year We are now Obliged 10
pay nearly $1,000 year FOR quarters for our hnIi-
Ing Department alone
The Embarrassment 81 the scholastic eide Is al
most az great on IA" physical. We need over
one hundred teachers in the schools Of fhesc Dor
oughs Under the charter the city superintend"nt
alone can license. and appoint men's must be mldo
from eligible lists prepared 10y tn Board % tx.
amincrs We are unable 20 avail ourselves OF
these provisions II the charter 10y reason - the
action Of the civil Service Board and tho opinion
OF the Corporation Counsel with reference 70 the
functions OF apyointce- OF the Board ~ Education.
which will not 'ordng TO said opinion. be opera
tive until July !. lHs
There are classes In schools to-day that are
presided by children under nft,cn years OK age
and this solely because there vii! he absolutely no
one To look after them II some cnild were not
designated 10 act . monitor and DO what il posi-
Bile 10 keep the class together. our teachers who
morning and another fresh set In tho afternoon.
are breaking down under the cNaction. Under the
decision no provision Is made for III. salaries ~
employees Of the Board OF Education prior TO July !.
1895.
II the Superintendent ot Buildings Is 70 he con-
sidcred powcrless TO perform duties prescribed by
the charter and the bylaw the health 81 the
children Of the city will be impsrilied
consider II nv duty 20 lay these facts before
you In the hope that Your Honor may devise some
means Of starting again the machinery 20 ah-o-
lutcly essary FOR the operation OF our school
system Respectfully yours,
CHARLES BULKLEY HUBBELi.