New Britain herald., 1915-07-02
Teachers Hold City Authorities to
Blame for Lack of Summer. Schools
Injustice to Instructors to Encroach Upon Their Vacations
AS Contracts Imply Ten Weeks Rest-Teachers Are
Already Overloaded With Responsibility.
(By Henrietta Rodman in New Yor
!. Trihlne.l

(By Henrietta Rodman in New York
Tribune.)
superintendent, : principals and
teachers protest that they are not
Sinking their responsibilities in per-
hitting the schools to remain closed
this summer.
A number of school officers met in
conference at the Municipal Building
on Monday afternoon, and expressed
their convictions on the subject. :.
Il regard the city authorities as
morally bound not to encroach upon
the teachers vacations without COM
pensating them for the loss of free
time" said superintendent I. E. Cold
wasser.
Implied In Contract.
The present vacation period was
implied in the contract between the
teachers and the city authorities. To
decrease that period would be an in
justice to the teachers.
IF the city authorities cannot pro-
vide additional money for summer
schools let them present the situation
directly to us and we will do our best
to help meet it. We know where
money or teachers services might BIO
saved and made available for sum-
mer work.
For example, in my own districts,
six and seven, we have been able to
save several thousand dollars by
children from half empty
classes to fill the seats in other
schools. Thus teachers have been set
free for employment elsewhere
Fill Vacant Seats.
by filing up vacant seats through
out the city teachers could be saved
for the summer schools.
This is but one possible way to save
within the system. Another way
would be by putting all school equip
ment under single authority SO that
books, lanterns, typewritcrs,s4 sewing
machines and tools might be avail
able@for use at all times.
In many schools equipm ent used in
the evening is not available for the
day school, and vice versa.
Dealt With In Open Forum.
Questions which involve. the well
fare of the teachers as closely as does
this sumner school proposition should
be dealt with first in an open forum
70 rseveral weeks If necessary, giving
all sides opportunity to express their
views
The city's need was not put prop
erly before the teachers" said 4. DR..
Simon Hirsdansky principal Of Public
School 4, Bronx AN Official request
was sent us that we volunteer our
in the summer schools. We |
felt that it was too large question /;
Of policy for us to deal with as in
dividuals.
Manyaof us would have been glad |
to- make d personal sacrificea for the |
benefit Of the children, BUT we were |
not willing to establish precedent !
which might be used to force others |
to make what might be far more |
serious sacrifices for them than FOR |
U.S.
& Cause False Position.
That's to- say that although we
wanted to. be generous--to respond TO |
the call Of the city for volunteers,l
we were not willing to do anything
which might place our fellow-work
srs in a false position.
Had this matter been presented to
to the teaching force through its rep
resentatives, believe that there
would, have been very different re-
sponse.s In my school I have no doubt
that not less than twenty-five per cent.
of the teachers would have volunteer
ed If they had not feared to be dis
loyal to their fellow-workers
mo teacher felt that she had