New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-26
Part Time Increasing

70 the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: There is now pending before the Board
o; Education a proposition 10 spend sl,5ll,-
500 TO eliminate part time and double ses-
sions for $4,000 children by recognizing
forty-eght additional schools on the dupli-
cate pan. As in the overcrowded Bronx
schools two years ago, this plan Is substl-
tute for the erection Of new buildings which
would have practically no influence in sov-
ing the part time problem. The last meet
ing of the Board Of Estimate before the fall
will be held on Friday OF this week, and IN
less the Board of Education acts declslvely
at its meeting on Wednesday, the appropria-
ton for this much needed reorganization viii
b, indefinitely postponed and work which
could proftably be begun during the summer
vacation Will not be undertaken
There is. apparently. concerted effort to
Ciscredit the city administration by dragging
the public schools into the political arena, IN
anticipation of the forthcoming municipal
election, by giving the uniformed public the
false impression that the authorities are sac
rifcinC the children BY refusing to erect new
school buildings. This assertion, which IS
being repeatedly made in carefully manipu-
lated "neighborhood meetings" in public
rehool houses throughout the city, as well as
unon the floor of the Board of Education, is
without foundation. The funds appropriated
70 date provide for several new buildings,
and the alteration and equipment of existing
buildings are of distinct value to the children.
The matter has been hanging fire for some
time. and. at the last meeting was laid over.
without apparent good reason, at the request
Of six minority members.
There has indeed been too much delay al
ready in carrying out the duplicate school
reorganization for which the Board Of Esti-
mate has appropriated approximately $1,000
COO during the last two years. OF this amount
over 100000 Is for five new buildings in
sections where the reorganization of existing
buildings would not solve the problem Of
congestion, and the rest for cquipplng forty
five existing building with facilities essen
tial 10 the duplicate school plan. This reor-
cpnization when completed will eliminate
part time and double sessions for over $1,000
children and provide longer school day and
an enriched school life for $4,000 children.
But endless red tape and innumerable OBJ
structions. clearly due to the unwieldly busl-
ness methods of large Board Of Education,
have prevented the expenditure of more than
Il per cent OF this amount As result the
great mass of part time which the total ex-
p,ndture will ultimately eliminate still per-
ssts As matter Of fact, because Of this
unfortunate delay there is actually more
rart time in the schools than there was two
years ago
Under tho circumstances 10 docs not seem
unreasonable to insist that the Board OF
Education take immediate. steps 10 speed up
during the vacation not only the uncompleted
work provided for in the foregoing appro-
nriation. but also the work covered by the
additional 1859 ,036 which appropriated
BIZ the Board Of Estimate on May Is last. at
the request of the Board of Education, for
six new buildings, seven new additions and
tie reorganization of fifteen existing build
ines TO eliminate short time for $685. pupils
and provide for n future growth OF 362
classes. or l4,4s0 children. The expenditure
OF these sums, aggregating sll,275,352, to-
cether with the expenditure Of the sl,5ll,529
above referred TO. which is still pending be-
fore the Board of Education for approval, II
vigorously pushed. would eliminate within a
short time all but 1900 OF the existing 1885,
coo part time and double sessions
HOWARD W. NUDD,
Director Public Education Association.
New York, june 20, 1917.