New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-14
SHOULD THEY BE TAUGHT TO SWIM
Public Safety Committee Thinks Swimming
Teachers Should Be at Baths

should New-Tork children know how TO swim7
Is il the business OF The city 10 teach them 10
tvin2
Does the public safety demand that the lake IL
Central Park be Patroled by professional life
ssvers2
To all these questions the newly appointed com
mirtee on public safety Of the New-York City Fed
GRAFTON OF Women's Clubs ernphatcaIly answers
yes"
We cant tackle the big things" said Mrs. Harry
Hastings. the chairman. 70 Tribune reporter
yesterday. but We co feel as II We should look
after some Of the little things that otherwise might
escape the public eye"
The first OF the little things" 10 claim the at
lenUon Of Mrs Hastings and her associates on the
committee on public safety IS the prime Importance
Of teaching the growing generation how 10 pro
tect itself in case disaster ike that Of the Gen
sral SloCum should overwhelu1 Il, and 10 safeguard
the thousands CT children and young people who
annually anluse themselves OF and by the lake in
Central Park
50 the other day it sent the following letter TO
the Board OF Education:
To the Board OF Education. The Undersigned
utendeE-s has decided not 10 assign sW-1r1Tnjng
teachers 10 the public baths this season, petition
Esnments Be made. In view Of the recent appalling
sccldenL where so many children lost their lives
because neither they the adults IN charge OF
children be taught sVriri-s - e "a 1T az
public school children use the public baths during
ne vacation season. ard have 10 opportunity Of
earning 70 SWIM other than what may be afTorded
p q great maritime CITY Ike New-York should
Cnow now 10 swim
As chairman q the Sixteenth District local
school board" said Mrs Hastings II am familiar
with what IS done By Tia Board OF Education and
Know that no appointments Of swimming teachers
have been made. although swimming teachers are
81 the list The Board Of Education has sole 17I-is-
iicton ove- the appointment Of teachers but the
swimming teachers this year"
This reluctance on the part Of the board OF super-
I-leHcef-is 70 appoint swimming teachers IS said
10 DE- due 20 several causes. According 10 a high
authority on the administration o: the vacation
schools tile water IN the public baths is apt 10 be
50 h--y that the baths are anything bJt a hygienc
pace OF recreation for young persons Not only are
'-~y not AealtltuI but they are sometimes breed
ls places OF contagious disease. Children have
beer known 70 catch trachona in the public baths
Il was also felt that some Of the swimming teach
RS who were appointed last year were not com
petelt.
There Is no question" said Mrs Hastings. that
there arc thousands OF Eew-York children who
An 2eFeT learn 10 swim except in the public baths
Where there Is danger Of trachorra or other con-
iagioIs diseases the Board OF Health has super
vision II the water Is dirty. Il is easy TO move
ile baths somewhere else
That the baths should be eqllippea with life
savers AS sell as swimming teachers is the belief
q Airs. Hastings. The two are quite distinct "
SIC says. The saving OF life IS profession II
lse.T You can't EaEe life without knowing how
70 Swim. but you can swim without knowing how
p save life The proprietors Of public baths should
oe compelled 70 provide life savers. ard the munich
pa baths should DO the same"
ne beard CT Education AZ its meeting last Mon
~ TeleTred tne letter OF the committee on public
. which Felix n War6ure is Chairman. On the
- t "a. Lat the committee on public safety OF
w-r1rn n Tlg-~ Of fra11
- - - dispatched letter 70 Commissioner Pallas
ee5 thai rEo fatalities have Occurred on the LAKE
he 80 EaEk since June !. and asking have
s-ec- -s p2trolled by life savers Boats are usec
issg@nIy il our parks By women g the letter said
sca men ~ people who do not know how 10 man
Ike av @Ts a. n, was first called TO the need Of
e.ence Of a LEG ne axe n Central Park by the OK
or cil,hteell WON ~ young fellows Of seventeen
-l..e. yy.-t M "a 1 KNOW, said Mrs. Hastings
5--A.Iy without a fSstaJG,y was Immersed, though
--zier, 'ieasc Z t1o fatal ac,f.se,,te ,,,a, Rad
5-cITred o. TIA lake tfs r1-- f1l.'' ~, &c
p..Iapt ana courteous letter has been received
- e,.--. --sl!- at AZ TIE present as IA The
accidents Inc Icensee who 70 So1Ea s;--.1S
lie lake IN boats 10 g5 ls9 constantly p3troins
visitors Mr. FEllas writes as VII a i-[S 80. =
ara sEo artersan NJ o,ner park property. There
- @ 81 ,s- ''-.. oaFsIaen who are furnished
WIN al boats carrying women Or childrcr T5t
bos.e yy,+so, attenS s Judgment iE renting the
Prior 70 this season no fatal accidents bay,
and in these TWO cases investgatfoa shoVgs tT
10 be OF the unavoidable AID cc~,,nTti -. =
snc due 10 70 lack Of precaution on tse naTt ~ ~
boa tTnen.' - pa VI Xix
When il Is a case q a lessee's Judgment -,
against his DOcSetbook," Commented Ms u ~
lnEs. she folded ~ the comrnisstoneYSs letter
We al know wl'.ch IS likely TO prove the strov,oar
The only way 70 prevent accidents is 70 hav1
re savers q! ha4 ne " can prevent the publi,
boats out 20 children The government f. rot :,
paternai 10 Try 70 prevent people erora dofnr
what they want 10 a.. The only thing Is 10 se.tt
fhem from the effects Of their Cwn i'm prude,.cf
Why. IN some places the lake IS fourteen n
fifteen feet deep
sfr Palas says the lake is already uatrolla,
py men 81 boats However that may be- In one in
stance know OF, poIicemaa.p no had 70 sgir,
set snc back, weighed down ry his heavy clothes