New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-02


: mates the classes OF large size. For eS,
annie. as the register in this school
on May 81, 1914. was 2,6is, by adGlnK
$50 pupils to the school, as Mr.. WIT
suggests, the register would be o,OO'.
And with seventy-two classes the aver,
age number Of children 20 class would
be All, which is about the average
register for the city. This is slightly
different from Mr.. Metcalfe's forty
five and fifty children to class, or
the present condition in this building
OF sixty 20 seventy children in room.
Writ Never Recommended Large classes.
One word in regard to Mr.. Wirts
"recon lamentations" for size OF classes.
In making reports for reorganization
of schools on the work-study -and-play
plan he has figured the increased regis.
tration of the school on the basis OF
the per unit classroom registration
which existed in the schools at the time
of his report, or on the current average
register for the city. This was Done
because only in this way could there
be a basis of comparison OF the reia-
tive capacity of the schools under the
old and under the new organization:
That is. IL a school had a register OF
forty 20 a class, Mr.. Writ figured MS
reorganization on the basis OF forty 10
a class. But that is not recon
mendation" of what he thinks the size
of classes should be. That is up 10
New York to decide.
In Gary the number of children IN
class is about thirty, and TINS Is the
size of class which Mr.. Writ believes
should prevail. II was possible, now
ever, 10 secure such small classes IN
Gary only after economies had ALREADY
been effected through the duplicate
school plan. The same thing VIII De
true in New York City.
The Gary plan can effect great econo-
mics for New York City. For example,
under this plan it Is possible to give
in the two hundred part-time schools
seat TO every child for the full period
of academic instruction, and also give
him swimming pools, gymnasiums,
shops, laboratories, etc, for an eN-
penditure of S5,000,000, as over against
the $40, 900 600 deemed necessary by the
Board Of Superintendents to give every
child a school seat only. As Mr.. Writ
has repeatedly stated, il is for New
York TO decide whether il is going TO
use the economies thus effected 10 save
money for the taxpayer o. 70 reduce
the size of classrooms or otherwise
enrich the live. of the children. 1t 10
obviously not Mr.. Wirt's business TO
decide how New York wishes 10 spend
the money thus saved. His present
task is simply to reorganize New YORK
schools on the work-study-and-play
plan on the basis Of the present class
room registration.
Large Schools Not Created by Writ
Plan.
As this department pointed out on
Monday. Mr.. Metcalfe's other state
ment. that large schools are created BY
the Writ plan, is not true. OF all the
schools on which Mr.. Writ has made
reports he has suggested more than
seventy-two classes for only twelve
and these recommendations were made
necessary because of the existing size
of buildings II was New York thai
put up the buildings. Of these twelve
schools four are double schools, that
is, one for boys and one for girls; o.
the remaining eight he has recon-
mended annexes for four. and the re-
naming four, for which he has recon-.
mended eighty-four classes, are large
schools, all of which, except one, al
ready have sixty classrooms and more
There is, furthermore, nothing in Mr.
Wirt's recommendations TO substantiate
the statement OF "The Globe" that IN
double schools are to be consolidated
under one principal. Such action could
only be taken by the Board of Educa-
ton.
More on the Religious Question.
Dear Madam: The Reverend Mr.
Hess, of The Bronx, is a very remark
able mantle only man | know OF
who can ride two horses going in OPP
posite directions. In his zeal for keep
ing the churches and school entirely
aloof and apart he got his church TO
supply the school with building. Not
content with that feat, he now pro
poses that his church should supply
the religion TO be taught. Religion is
20 be kept out of the schools by paying
instructors to teach the particular
tenets of religion which are preached
by Mr.. Hess in his own Congregations.
Church.
THAT Italian priest who is conduct
ing outside religious instruction for
his children in Public School 45, must
be slow. They say he is paying for his
own building and teachers. What he
ought to do is to build a good, bic
school and rent IL to the city until the
debt is well reduced. In the meantime
he should wrap himself up in the Amer
lean flag, wave the Constitution over
his head and announce TO the educa-
tional authorities that he will stand for
no clerical interference with the school
and that he asks nothing except that
competent lay instructors shall visit
-------------------------