New-York tribune., 1904-09-13
SCHOOLS OPENING DAY.
Seats FezCer Than PromiSed-iS0, ;
900 Nag Go on Part Time.

When the city schools opened yesterdAy the Doors
besieged bv $50 oeS children. Owing the is-
uorsnoe OF Misunderstanding OF parents the prln-
cipals work Of registration en- last Wednesday,
THURSDAY and Friday was far from completed The
principals OF the elementary schools received cir
cFar letter from City Superintendent Maxwell. is
sued to facilitate admitting pupils The letter
sz3d tbs Board Of Eealth could not st furnish
certificates OF birth 70 the thousands OF parents
applying for records required 10 obtain the admis-
sion OF children 20 school To relieve the situa-
s.cn DR.. Maxwell designated certain days on which
the principals OF each school to send parents TO
the Board Of Health for certificates
The principals were directed TO register and ad-
ruit children who. IN their judgment, six years
old.
The actual number Of new pupils only be
roughly estimated. The principals Of all the go
schools have been ordered by the City superin-
tendent to send IN TO headquarters the figures on
their registers as soon possible. and they have
until to-day to report.
The innovation by which all school teachers were
ordered TO appear in their school roons last Friday
and distribute books and supplies 20 what pupils
presented themselves and to arrange their own
books and registers. wiz make It possible for reg
riar work TO begin almost week earlier than
usual this year.
There are indications that the number of part
Hras pupils viii be greater than has been esti-
mated. snd that hoped fo- improvements will be
delayed longer than has been stated by the edu-
cstsonal authorities. It is estimated that only
162O new Eittings in twelve new schools can be
npene5 Immediately. whereas it was confidently
stated few days ago that the number would be
Sloa, and that these would be supplemented By
a2o0 more before the end Of the month. The
strikes have interfered with the plans OF the
building bureau, however. and made the date OF
The opening OF more sittings indefinite. though II
"a believed thsT few sittings can be ready each
week There seems doubt now that the number
Of children par tins VIII be rear 1So.oOO 1000
more thaa Iasl year.
The board CT superintendents IS making every
effort to reduos this number The most congested
districts WIN be assisted first Superintendent
Snyder. OF the Buildings Department has been or
oeteo 20 tdFn out as possible plans for six
one stofg, seven class room buildings. These will
ne eect@c py the middle OF NoVeu ber II is hoped,
- the hrs break the south side OF the Manhat-
Wnen theg are completed they will seat about
tWsnty-one hundred pupils. The consolidation OF
tSlssses ana the renting OF vacant rooms and
ouiolngs viii this year be supplemented by the
transportation OF pupils from crowded to uncrowd-
60 oistriets These plans cannot be put into opera
non for weeks yet, and the new school term will
Ticeshly relieved. By that time. Superintendent
Snyder promises 1900 10000 new sjttings will be
ready for occupancy.
Yesterday eighteen public school principals and
sWo high school principals installed in various
parts q the city The high school principals
Frank Rollins OF the STuyvesant High School and
John Fl. Denbagh, OF the Morris High School. Both
institutions are in Manhattan. The installations
ulontn about two hundred and forty men
vii receiVe their appointments teachers. and
viii begin their duties. large number
must be appointed 10 take charge Of the
nfty thousand new pupils who have just entered
the schools These viii necessitate the organza-
ron of about one thousand new classes.