The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-17

Recommendations concerning the city's
public school system amounting to an
educational revolution we're made yes
terday by Comptroller Prendergast In a
| report 10 be laid before the Board OF
Estimate to-day.
As Mr.. Prendergast is chairman OF
the Committee on Education Of the
Board. the radical measures which he
advocates stand a good chance of adop-
ton.
Thomas W. Churchill, President OF
! the Board OF Education. and many OF
his fellow members agree that sweeping
changes are necessary In the public
school system, owing to the ever increas-
Ing number Of children. but they do not
lndorse all the Controllers proposals.
In particular. his recommendation that
the increase In the 1916 school budget
be eliminated is regarded as absolutely
impossible by most of the school board.
Strong opposition to the Comptroller's
plan is also expected from the teachers
organizations. since longer hours and a
longer school year are advocated. The
recent attitude of the Comptroller toward
the bankrupt teachers pension fund will
also Intensity the ~antsgonisn of the
teachers, 1t is thought. Enthusiastic
support OF the Comptroller's plan by
representatives OF the taxpayers assoc
Citations is expected since. according to
Mr.. Prendergast, It will result in a
material saving.
Radical Changes Suggested.
Briefly. the aims OF the Comptroller
are:
IlfnNtpntfAV 80 -, aR.u.a d. ,ha
1916 school budget, a saving of si.-
900. 900.
Elimination Of part time and over
crowding, accomplished by intensive
use Of existing school buildings. New
construction will be limited almost ex-
clusively to new districts or where
present buildings are in bad condition.
Extension OF the school year of
forty weeks to forty-four weeks.
Lengthening Of the school day from
five to six hours.
Elimination Of extra pay to teachers
for service In vacation schools, and
other forms OF extra pay for persons
employed on annual salaries.
A reduction Of 10 per cent, I'm the
number Of positions for teachers
made possible by lengthening the
school day and the school year.
A change in the system Of promot-
ing teachers. whereby merit alone
shall control. This means the eradi-
cation Of the system Of paying teach
ers more for service in the seventh
and eighth grades, and the substitu-
ton of a plan whereby each teacher
shall teach the class for which she is
best ftted.
Reduction Of the common school
course from eight to seven years.
THE Board Of Education has had
suggestions similar to these IN the report
Of Mr.. Prendergast under consideration
for some time. said President Churchill
yesterday. The Writ pima, features Of
which are embodied In the Comptroller's
suggestions. Is designed. however, not
for the purpose 81 e~conomizing, but
rather for better education.
Cannot See saving at Once.
mir. Prendergast. viewing the sltua-
lions as he does as Comptroller. puts the
financial side forward as the most i'm
portant, while We members OF the board
favor the educational side. o We are
going TO drop 3 1000, 900 or 81, 0hO, 900
from our budget 10: the coming Year on
the assumption that the Gary or Writ
plan will work and save this amount OF
money the first year, l must confess !
don't see. ! have been considered an
iconoc,ast in educational matters, :
I'm not hat kind % an ~iconoclast who
throws a monkey wrench into a ma
chine containing 100000 children.
~ am tn favor OF doing away with
the last year OF elementary school and
! am not opposed 70 six hours Of school
work for pupils In the higher grades
The board has been thinking OF a means
70 change the system 80 as 10 have al
longer schoo day. We are trying Out