New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-17
REoRGANIzING THE SCHOOLS
A Project Providing New Opportu
mites and Saving Millions.
the Fdi.or Of u Tribunt

Under consideration by the Board Of Educa-
/ ton for recognizing a group Of twelve schools
in The Bronx along the lines worked out in
7 Gary and successfully adapted to New York
conditions is that millions Of dollars in initial
outlay and thousands in annual upkeep and
operation can be saved only upon the condi-
tior that more Fairgrounds, shops and other.
long. desired educational opportunities are
afforded the children of the public schools
/ /. removes these opportunities from therealm
OF things merely to be desired, which they
| rave heretofore occupied, to the realm Of
things absolutely essential.
/ Il has been customary for the Public Edu-
cation Association and other civic bodies and
citizens interested in the welfare of the public
schools 10 appear annually before the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment in support OF
the requests of the educational authorities
for sufficient funds to provide such oppor-
tunities. But the enormous initial cost and
the expense Of subsequent upkeep have rem
dered them largely prohibtiye. 1t is there
fore most gratifying that Mr.. Writ not merely
makes it possible to secure them without ad-
ditonal outlay, but actually makes them the
means Of saving millions Of dollars. Such
proposal, killing two birds with one stone as
il we're, should therefore meet with the I'M
qualified approval of educators and taxpayers
alike.
The manner in which this is to be accom-
plished in the twelve Bronx schools is very
simple There are only $4,000 seats in these
schools, while there are $4,000 children TO-
occupy them, a situation Of extreme conges-
ton, in which a shortage Of 10000 seats forces
/ 90 600 children onto part time. To cope with
this situation the Board Of Education is
planning to spend Sl,OOO.0OO for two new
/ buildings. which will furnish about 1000 ad-
/ ditonal seats. If these buildings were COM
pleted Immediately there would still be 6'OOO
seats lacking. placing 1900 children on part
| time. Il would take two years. however, to-
complete them, by which time the registration
would so exceed the additional accommoda-
tons that the situation would be even worse
than now. The present building policy of the
Board of Education in this connection would
therefore seem to be hopeless
BY cxpending $75OOOO, on the other hand,
or S25O.OO0 less than the proposed eXpendlt-
ure Of the Board of Education for the two
new schools, Mr.. Win; would add Fairgrounds,
shops, swimming pools, auditoriums, gymna-
Sums, Libraries and other educational oppor-
tunties to the present facilities in the exist
ing schools, which would enable him to put
into operation his double school plan and
accommodate 10000 children without erecting
single new building. Several important
economies would thereby be effected:
First-The city would be relieved Of the
necessity of erecting number of new build
ings. at an expenditure # approximately
! S45OO.OOO, to care for the additional 10000
children as would be required under the old
plan of reserved seat for every child. A
seat would be provided Immediately for the
/ full period of academic instruction for each OF
the $4,000 children now on register, whici
would take care of the 10000 now unprovided
for and eliminate part time completely. Room
would also be provided for 10000 more enough
to care for the increase in register for the
next two years and afford leeway to make
provision in advance for the natural growth
in population after the maximum facilities
Of the new plan are exhausted.
Second-Not merely seats, but swimming
pools shops, Fairgrounds, auditorlums and
! gymnasiums would be available in short
! time for $4,000 children, facilities which
would have to be provided under the old plan
! in addition to the reserved seats above re-
| ferred to. at an additional cost of at least
50 900 OOO making q total Of at least $500, 600
| for the facilities provided by Mr.. Wirts
S75O.OOO. Even if it were possible to spend
/ this enormous sum, however, il is doubtful
whether comparable results would be secured,
because of the lack Of fcXibilty under the
cid plan.
! Third-Nany thousands would also be saved
annually for heat, light, janitorial service and
Supervision, since no additional buildings
would be erected. Furthermore, it would not
be necessary to increase the size Of the teach
ing force by appointing additional teachers
FOR special subjects, since only half the stall
at present necessary would be needed for
purely academic work and the other half
would be replaced through transfers and new
appointments by teachers skilled in vocational
subjects physical training and special activ-
/ tiles. Under the old plan, all such teachers
would have to be hired in addition to the
present full staff of academic instructors,
/ involving an increase of from % TO 80 per
cent in salaries This saving in operating eX-
penses and salaries would approximate $780,
600 annually.
| Briefly stated, then, for S75OOOO Mr.. Writ
would provide educational facilities which
under the old policy Of the Board Of Educa-
ton would cost at least Sf5o0,000 to introduce
and at least % TO 30 per cent more TO operate.
/ In view of the fact that the Board of Edu-
cation is contemplating an immediate ex-
penditure Of $l,OOO,OOO to apparently little
purpose, il would seem highly desirable that
careful consideration be given to the fore
going proposition. When it is further realized
that this remarkable economy in reorganizing
single district of only twelve schools can
be duplicated in many others, such as the
lower and upper East Side, the need for such
consideration would seem to be imperative.
/ It would lift the entire city out of an intoera-
bic situation in which thousands of its chill
dren arc at present without even housing &C
commodations
/ It has been rointcd ont that there are over
10000 children receiving less than five hours
instruction in the public schools that is, are
on part time. Any plan which would alleviate
this condition within the city's present finan-
cial ability and at tie same time greatly en-
rich the school life Of every child in the sys-
tenn and enable teachers to teach in the fields