New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-20

Of Mr. That the Gary
Daxh the IocalEd uatosP

expert layman a way out Of the dilemma
For. Of course, the crux Of the whole matter
( is not alone per capita cost, but efficient in.
struction.
/ To his own satisfaction Mr.. Nudd proves
that the per capita cost pupil month IT.
der the Ettinger system as illustrated IN
Public School 81. Manhattan, is II cents
greater than under the Writ system, as illus
trated in the partial organization OF Pubk
School As, The Bronx.
Apart from the unimportant fact that ne
attendance figures upon which Mr. Nudt bases
his calculation Of per capita cost are ineo''
rect 1881 pupils having been instructed H.
stead of POI pupils), it should be noted aa'
his analysis fails TO include such points "
the following:
(a) At present Public School IS, The Bronr
is inadequately equipped, and the choice Of
shopwork is limited 10 pottery, joinery, prin'
ing agriculture and millinery, whereas ne
pupils of this school have the choice OF ten
shops. including machine practice, saee'
metal, plumbing, electric wiring, printing
sign painting, garment designing, joining 'ne
trade drawing. feel confident that II the per
capita cost is based on the pupil hour unit
the ccst of our shops will be less than tina,
of Public School As, The Bronx because Of
the greater number of hours Of shop ins,rue
ton and the larger size Of the groups "n'e'
our shops accommodate.
Instead of basing his computation OF We
assumption that only POI pupils were taugn'
in our shops during the month of Nay ~
& matter of official record that Ssl paPN'
were instructed during daily periods ast1s
from one 20 six hours, depending up0a
whether or not the pupils were averaged p0'
pills from the intermediate grades, a'ens'
pupils from the sixth, seventh and signS
wear grades, or adolescent scholarship pop'"
sent to us by the Henry Street Settlement
Il REQUIRES no deep thinking to pereens
that by reduction Of the daily shop tlns y.
each Pupil we could accommodate graz
number of pupils, but our aim is the accom-,
mediation of pupils who in terms OF pareH,-
approval, personal inclination and aohiV,
sire to do prevocational work, rather 'As.
the imposition of shopwork on all upper grow
pupils. despite their desires and Abilities
Ib) II should be borne in mind IN ahsn'
ing the organization Of Public School o. -.
Bronx, that none of the labor or expense 80"
dent TO regular instruction Of the ehho,e' =
Public School 81, Manhattan, Is Borne
cial agencies, social workers voeauonsi ~.
perts or clergymen, as is the case IN Is.
School Is. The Bronx, in the CONDUCT 81
school garden and farm, the organiIs"v
paeeants and exhibits, and the giving " "
ligious instruction. ,,i,
Ic) Moreover. no attempt Is made IN W.,
school to reduce the cost Of superis,0H
instruction by the reintroduetion OF W. .,sI
repudiated Lancaster pupil teseher ~. ,,,t
of teaching and supervision. IL may 49,,
depriving eight classes OF otneisi ~,
may not be what Mr.. Nudd has IN m'nu s.,,r
he explains the lower per capita COS, a. .sIr,
due 20 the fact "that the burden OF .rr,
is more evenly distributed over 70. "a
teaching staff" Another fact 70 DC 's IA,
mind in organizing Public SenooI 80 ,,.,,.d
Bronx, is that the assignment OF eAp' .,.A
teachers to the exclusive supervision I,f
activities as physical training, folN 49,,
and programme supervision. means ~ IA.
very high salary Is being paid Tor ~o,.
could be secured for a much lower "se5,
In conclusion. do not doubt .ne s,,,s.
% Mr.. Nudds advocacy Of Mr. WINS wr;sy
nor do undervalue Supern.eaden, MA
contribution 10 the problem Oh a ~, ,ss
school organization. but DO believe W. .avo.
az, ra,oo'r, claims OF well meaning s',A
900 lite Mr. Nudd simply cloud the ssu. .,,,y
undulv DELAY the formulation OF s,,i,l
that would conserve not only tne ..,, rors
resources Of the city. but the inn"'""
valuable resources Of CHILDHOOD .,;su sr
Should the tone Of this comman "s,, 4, tcr.
pear at all acrimonious trust Vs. oses-
given. but truly ones temper Is fu.'II..soricsl
sonally by the final judgments CT go e ,osth-
pogberrys, and at such moments J, ). n. ui
ing 20 recall Jobs ironicai reouke ~, ~ ussps
counsellor: "No doubt bu. ye arc ''s -
and wisdom shall die with YOU. ,a..;,aL
WILLIAM E. GRADY, iylk
Public School "a, Manhattan SepN :"