New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-09
PLANS SCHOOL CENTRES.
RELIEF FOR CROWDING.
Commissioner Backus Suggests
Transporting Pupils to the Suburbs.

tons of the various 6oroughs of schools for pupils
in the grammar grades The author of the resolu-
ton is Commissioner Grosvenor H. Backus, who be
Heves that sooner or later New York will have to
adopt some such plan as the establishment OF per-
manent school centres if It hopes to keep up
with the increase III school population
AS Yesterdays was the last meeting Of the board
until September Mr., Backus asked to have a spe-
cial committee of five members appointed TO con-
slider during the summer his suggestion for the
relief OF the school children and report in the fall
on the advisabilty Of adopting the general policy
of establishing the school centres. II was sug-
gested. however. that as Mr.. Backuss plan was
designed especially to provide accommodations Tor
pupils in the elementary grades II should properly
be referred to the committee on elementary schoolS
for constellation, and this course was finally oe-
Cided upon.
In explaining his plan for providing permanent
remedy for overCrOwdng in the schools OF the city
Mr.. Backus pointed out that the difficulty In pro-
vidng proper accommodations lay in the fact that
in certain of the city it was almost mpos-
sble provide enough sittingS for pupils, While
in other sections stt!ngs were going waste.
owing TO the uneven distribution OF the school
As a matter of fact Mr.. Backus says the sta
tistics of the Board of, Education show that the
total number of sittngs in the schools of the city
outnumber the school population. Yet the cry OF
mo schools for the Children is constantly raised
and is largely true simply because the school popu-
lation cannot be shifted at viii to where II may
take advantage of the schools nor under present
arrangement can the schools be brought TO the
children.
The latter plan is the which has prevailed
up to now. at least far the elementary
schools concerned. in endeavoring to give tho
children of the city adequate school accommoda-
tons. Mr. Backus is OF the opinion however, that
matter how rapidly schools are built In the more
eongested districts OF New York they never can
be made keep abreast with the Increase of those
waiting 10 fill them. and he thinks that It would
be the part Of wisdom 10 carry the children 10 the
schools
His idea is for the city TO acquire large tracts q,
land in the outlying districts OF the borouRhs or
as many OF them as may be decided while real
estate values are comparatively low. and establish
groups OF schools for the grammar pupils Of the
city. Necessary for the success Of such a plan
would be. Of course. the selection OF sites near the
important lines OF transportation, that the pupils
would not be subjected 10 too great hardship in
getting from their homes to the school centres and
back
The great majority Of pupils Of the high schools
OF the city, Mr. Backus explains. have to
make use of the transportation lines 70 get TO
! school and he believes II would be making no IN
.t1So4ao!e demand on the greater proportion OF
me pupils in the grammar grades II they had to
DO likewise. The details oG Mr. Backuss plan have
nor OF course been worked out but he expects
that there would be certain percentage Of pupils
IN these grades who for various reasons could not
take every day so long trip that 30 and from
the proposed school centres would entail
To meet tho objection that might be made on this
account. he would retain certain number Of cram
mar schools distributed throughout the various
boroughs, for the use OF pupils who would be sub
Jected 20 too great hardship in going 10 tho school
centres.
The erection OF big school centres in the various
horoughs and the transferring to them OF the ma
Won
leave, IN Commissioner Backus's estimation. plenty
OF school room TO accommodate all the pupils in
the primary grades. Where now. even IN the con-
Eested districts OF the city. the younger pupils
crying for room. there many seats IN the rooms
devoted TO pupils in the grammar grades that
empty. Likewise there are schools in the less
densely populated parts OF the boroughs where
there are sittngs spare simply because the sites
of these schools arc TOO far away TO be accessible
20 the younger children.
Commissioner Baelus's main idea is 10 provide
permanently sufficient school accommodation for
sf4a ,ey~ETe
grammar grades going 10 tho buildings in the
school centres he feels certain that the problem
overcrowded schools would be permanently solved
II Is MS idea ,at some reasonable and satisfactory
agreement might - made with the traction com
pan!es for the transportation OF the pupils 70 tho
school centres, wherever these might be estab-
lished
"of course" he said. very many OF the school
children would have TO take q long journey 10
school that is not necessary under the present
Tangement This might be an objection. but most
Of the high school pupils in all the boroughs
have to make similar journey.
Then. there is the objection 20 the extra ex-
pense Of car fares. That, believe. would be the
strongest argument against the establishment OF
the school centres. and the city might have
undertake the cost OF transportation Of the pupils.
although It IS not done in the OF high school
pupils.
4 do not Ike TO have the city incur such an
obligation but the taxpayers might perhaps be
better inclined 10 pay the cost OF transportation
if they considered the great saving in the expense
Of school sites that might be made by establishing
the school centres in outlying sections"
one such centre, the commissioner suggested.
might be established in a part Of upper Manhattan
accessible 10 the transportation lines where large
tract OF land that would hold many buildings might
be purchased for the same amount required
for not particularly favorable site in the lower
part Of the city.
There would be plenty Of room for the buildings,
which would have the advantage OF good air and
plenty Of light There would also DO ample play
ground room. and the whole centre might be
beautihed with lawns and trees and flowers as 10
add immensely to the health and education Of the
school children and rebound TO the development of
the nelghborhood.
Another such school centre might be established
in part OF Brooklyn convenient 10 the important
transportation lines. another in the upper part Of
The Bronx. and similar provision might be made
concentration OF many schools with so many
thousands Of pupils in convenient places would
also MT. Backus thinks. aid greatly in the sim
pnfcation OF supervision and administration Of tho
schools. The Capitalization of the schools would
mean an incalculable saving in the time which the
superintendents and supervising principals now
have TO consume in going from one school 70 an
other scattered all their districts.
The teachers too would be brought into closer
contact with each other. and would have a better
opportunity TO study each others methods and
work, II is argued
Another result hoped for would be a closer con-
| nection between the Board OF Education and the
Department OF Health. The mobilization of the
school population In half dozen great centres. In
stead OF the distribution as at present over hun
| dreds Of spots throughout the city would mean
that the health officials could much moro easily
and more effectively keep close surveillance over
the physical condition Of the children The detec-
ton of cases of contagious disease and the isola-
ton OF patients could be much more readily ao-
complished. Possibly in time. even II Commits
sioner Backus's plan proved feasible In practical
operation. dispensaries and lnHrrnafles nlSht Do
| established at the centres
! MANY of the older buildings Mr.. Backus thinks,
which are inconveniently situated or lack proper
light and air could be torn down and their sites
devoted TO other municipal purposes or sold at
handsome profit to the city. The more modern
| buildings Mr. Backus would retain and devote TO
in he grades.