New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-28
TWO SCHOOLS IN ONE
How the Overcrowding Problem Is
Being Solved in P. S. SO.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: For the past five years or more
efforts have been made to remedy the
VIGOROUSLY bad conditions at Public
School SO. The school was very much
overcrowded, the class rooms were m
adequate ana the sanitary arrange
ments deplorable.
When, in October of this year, a
committee of the Nanderveer PARK
Taxpayers Association visited the
school they found children sitting on
the bare basement floor. which is about
eight feet below the sidewalk, packed
in every room in the basement, and
not even benches were provided for
them.
The auditorium, which seats about
three hundred pupils, was used Tor
study purposes without partitions 10
separate one class from the other. In
some cases wardrobes which were
built for one class room were used By
three classes. Children from one fam
lily were attending school at different
hours, resulting IN there being dlher-
emit lunch hours for them, 20 the great
annoyance of mothers at home.
Notwithstanding all the efforts
which were put forth for number
Of years, practically no improvement
was made and no provision whatever
arranged TO meet the Increasingly
crowded and unsatisfactory conditions
Appeals to the local board brought no
relief.
Finally. a committee from the Van
derveer Park Taxpayers Association
called me in as counsel TO take some
measures to remedy the situation.
They talked Of strike or taxpayers
suit or mardamus proceedings TO COM
pel Improvement, but instead OF adopt
ing such radical measures, N conlunc-
ton with 2 committee from the Flat
bush Taxpayers Association an APP
pointment was made to meet President
Churchill of the Board Of Education
and DR.. Maxwell. Superintendent CT
Schools. Il so happened that Mr.. Will
lam Writ OF Gary, Ind, who had been
called in by the city authorities 10
suggest some plans TO meet the sltua-
ton. was present when our committee
appeared before President Churchill,
and with a promptness which was as
gratifying as surprising. within day
or two, Mr.. Writ had looked over the
school. as had also Superintendent
Maxwell, Mr.. Churchill and the assoc
ciate superintendents. and MIR. Writ
was put in charge Of the school and
was authorized 20 endeavor 10 relieve
the situation.
lie has been in charge now for sew
eral weeks and the outlook is very
promising lie has put into effect
some of his ideas, the principal feature
Of which is the division Of the school
into two schools. While one section
is using the best class rooms the other
section is using the auditorium and
the other class rooms and is engaged
' in drawing, physical culture work,
manual training, etc, so that all the
facilities of the school are used stimuli
taneously. making il possible 10 take
care Of practically twice the number
OF pupils at the same time. But IN
order TO carry out his ideas there must
be additional accommodation by way
Of increased auditorium facilities, the
building OF a gymnasium, the adapta-
ton Of some OF the classes TO music
and drawing work. the enlargement o.
the manual training department.
Personally, | am thoroughly in favor
OF providing the extra facilities and Of
giving Mr.. Writ a free hand in carry
ing out his ideas. Not only are his
plans attractive, but his suggestions
arc the first that ! have heard that
looked toward giving immediate re-
lief J., seems impossible TO provide
enough schools 20 give the children IN
this city full class instruction in ac-
cordance with the present system. BY
the plan which Mr.. Writ advocates. II
will be possible, provided 2 fair trial
shows that the ideas can be successfully
carried out, to give every child in New
York full school day together with