New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-17

the week and more hours during the
day than in the United States.
Pointing out that while the sumner
vacation here extended from ten 10
eleven weeks, it was only six weeks IN
Paris, FIVE weeks in London ana loui
weeks in Berlin, the Controller add'u'
at is evident that public opinion u,
against the extreme length OF teachers
vacations, and, take II. justly so
Surely. 20 continue the present system
Of vacations would be TO proiong Il
condition that has now become a pup
lie scandal. Until well toward the
middle of September the teachers were
absent from their posts. while ING.
children continued 20 run the streets
Lengthen school Year.
Speaking Of what could be accom-
plished by increasing the length OF the
school year. the Controller said:
IF the school year were now TO be
extended to forty-four weeks instead
Of forty weeks, as at present the eIe-
mentary school course could be com
pleted in seven years instead OF elgnI
Seven school years OF eleven months
each will afford seventy seven months
Of instruction. as against eighty IN
oiobt wears of ten months each. Inc
added hour Of instruction day mere
matter recommended Will more than
compensate for this difference Of three
months. And. besides, il we are to add
gardens, Fairgrounds, .gymnaslums' AIRY
studios. music studios, sclentihc 'hu
historical laboratories and workshops
Of all and various kinds 20 our present
elementary school facilities, as rs no"
contemplated, the educational oppOr-
tunities afforded the children OF inc
city will be so enlarged and enriched
that the results certain to be achieved
in seven years will far outrun those
The system y permitting persons
EMPLOYED in the Department OF tduca-
tion on annual salaries TO make extra
compensation by teaching IN the hlghI
and vacation schools was vicious, the
Controller declared.
Outside Work Wrong.
.If the temptation TO turn the yaca-
ton months and evening hours INTO
financial profit by teaching IN summer
and evening schools, whether here or
elsewhere, for extra compensation were
removed" he added, 81 feel sure that
no teacher who is in normal health ana
Jealous for the advancement OF the
children would have any cause TO quar-
rel with me on the proposition ! nave
advanced | hold that the vicious sys-
TEN of extra compensation for persons
employed by the city on annual saIa-
ries. which has gradually found place IN
the Department of Education, should be
abolished forthwith. Experience has
proved that it is both wrong in princl-
pie and demoralizing in practice.
II venture the remark that ITS ten
dency is in the direction OF graft
Either the regular work suffers or II IS
insufficient IN quantity. teachers
should not be tempted to check their
application in regular work to get extra
pay for extra work. A serious admins
trative error has been allowed to de-
veloD in our school system on TINS
score. 1t should be cast out, root and
branch, through an advance IN the or
ganization of the teaching service. rac
be il from me TO inslnuate In any way
that the public school teachers OF TINS
city, as a class, are mercenary and de-
voted only to their own narrow inter
ests. As matter of fact, believe the
very opposite of this to be true"
Salaries Paid Too High.
Asserting that the equal pay law had
cost the city ST. 100000 during the four
years Of its operation, the Controller
pointed out that the average salary here
was 81 1877, as against Sl,l24 in san
Francisco and 81 034 in Chicago, the
two cities paying the next highest
rates, while salaries in other large
cities of the country ranged from $l,OOl
to $655.
As means of doing more work with
fewer teachers and no more plant, the
Controller recommends the adoption OF
the Gary plan of William Writ, whose
suggestions for the reorganization Of
twelve schools in The Bronx have been
approved by the Board of Education.
lie intends to conduct 1876 classes in
eight of the schools, with 44S teachers.
His work-study-play schoolhouse Of
forty-three rooms would house seventy
two classes, which would be taught by
forty-eight teachers. Under the old
method there would be as many teach
ers as classes.
Thomas W. Churchill, president of
the Board of Education, said last even
ing that he was glad Of Controller
Prendergast's interest in school pro.
blems and that his suggestions merited
careful consideration. Mr. Churchill
favored reducing the course of study
from eight TO seven years, but did not
agree with the Controllers proposal
to curtail the funds for the promotion
OF teachers.
at is not possible" Mr.. Churchill
said, "to run the schools properly next
year for the same amount of money
provided in this years appropriation.
This year the Board of Education has
not had funds sufficient TO enable it to
appoint the teachers needed"
HEAT KILLS SIX;
%-Y YrT NYYS IA