New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-24
EFFICIENCY PLAN
FOR CITY SCHOOLS
Writ Would Save $1,000
900 and Improve Work
at Same Time.
TO PAY TEACHERS
FOR MOTHERHOOD
Letter Protests Against Stopping
Salaries of Those Who
Are Absent.
By HENRIETTA RODMAN.

By HENRIETTA R0DMAN.
talked with Mr.. Writ yesterday,
and gained some respect for big
business As | understand "b. b." II
is ordinarily the management OF large
affairs for the benefit Of few people,
but Mr.. Writ is a big business man,
who manages large affairs for the bene-
fit OF the whole community.
He has apparently all the practical
efficiency Of the manager of great
corporation, but mis- shareholders are
the parents 0; the school children ana
not the owners Of stock.
There are twelve schools IN lne
Bronx" said Mr.. Writ, with 10000
more children than there are seats.
As n result, most of the children are
on part time. II you build enough
schools 20 house these children by the
usual system they will cost nearly
$1,000. 900. But S1,000.000 spent in re-
these schools according to
the Gary system will take care Of these
10000 children and 1000 more. Will
give them each a full school day OF
six hours and an all around develop
ment. They will have plenty of out
door play, and indoors they will not
only spend more time on reading, writ
ing and arithmetic than they do now,
but they will also spend part OF their
time in science laboratories, swimming
pools and shops Of all kinds.
"Our mistake was at first that we
built our schools almost entirely OF
classrooms. ClassrOoms cost $500
pupil. Do you realize that a child can
have a fine time in forty square feet
Of playground? Except IN the most
congested parts of the city classrooms
cost much more than Fairgrounds.
Then we have had euditoriums and
gymnas.ums which were empty when
the children were in their classrooms.
Our idea is to have classrooms, audi
forums, gymnasiums, shops. studios
and Fairgrounds all fully occupied all
Of the time. In this way the children
get a much richer education for less
money"
Not all the advantages OF Mr.. Wits
system which, by the way, he never
mentions as his-can be realized at
once. But step by step our elementary
schools can be made. and will be made,
what we have always wanted for our
children, but have not been wise enough
to get. This is the greatest oppor-
tunity, | believe, that New York has
ever had to get the best for the chill
dren.
1t has been widely announced that
Mr.. Churcbills appointments of mem
bers of committees Of the Board Of
Education have been purely non-par-
tisan.
The control OF the schools is chiefly
in the hands cf five committees-those
on high schools. elementary schools,
vocational schools, bylaws and NOM
nations. There are thirty-seven mem
hers of these committees. Just two Of
them are from the group OF eight new
members appointed by the Mayor on
January l. This is one-third the
proper proportion.
On the Committee on Lectures, which
has almost nothing 10 do with the
schools, we find such dangerous persons
as Mr.. Fosdick, Mrs. Mullan and Pro-
feesor GiGdings- where they can do the
least harm.
MADAM: An enforced leave Of alb
sence, without pay, is certainly penal
ling motherhood. 1t is, in some cases,
restrictive, or even prohibitive, of mar
riage.
III an unmarried teacher can be i'll
for ninety-fve days and receive al
most full pay, why cannot a married
teacher? Why should the married
teacher receive nothing because her
absence is caused by childbirth?
"A grave injustice will be done the
mother-teacher if she cannot return TO
her old position, if she desires. She
has perhaps served the city faithfully
for some years. Because she marries
and has n child she is TO be forcibly
Put out for two years. and, upon re-
turn, made TO go, perhaps, down on the
East Side or out in the wilds of Staten
Island, while a nSw appointee falls into
her place. That is not at all fair.
"There should be no discrimination
in the schools against the teachers
who marry and bear children. They
should have the same right TO promo
ton, and, in case of absence, to refund
of salary, to return as soon as they are
able 10 teach, and to return to their
former positions.
"To have our teachers all marry
would work TO the infinite advantage
of the schools. A. l.. PARROIT.'
But there is Mrs. Wagner, you know,
who insists upon returning TO the
"wilds of Staten Island"
1t would be an advantage TO the
schools, | think, il the Board of Edu-
cation would grant leave of absence in
all cases by terms, so that classes
would not be disturbed by changes Of
teachers. Many teachers who are i'll
would be willing to remain out OF
school for the remainder of term,
though they might not be able to af-
ford a longer vacation.
This would make it necessary TO pay
teachers salaries in ten monthly in
stalments, instead Of twelve.
The New York City Association OF
High School Teachers OF English held
it3 third regular meeting for the year
on Saturday at the Washington Irving
High School The principal subject
for discussion was "Co-operation Be
tween Other Departments and the Eng
lish Department 10 Secure Better Writ
ten and Oral English"
FIVE YEARS