New-York tribune., 1919-03-08
$4,000 Pupils
Lack TeacE1ers.
Society Ayers
Public Education Associa-
ton Urges Immediate Ac-
ton by School Board
Higher Pay Is Advocated
Officials Refuse to Discuss
the Matter; One Member
Says 'sNever Heard of IT.

because of the shortage Of teachers
between 10000 and $4,000 children in
the greater city are being deprived of
educational opportunities in the public
schools.
This situation was revealed last night
by the Public Education Association.
which in a long statement urges that
immediate action be taken by the en-
tire community to safeguard the cause
of Americanization through the public
school system. The gravity of the
condition is dealt with in detail in the
statement, and it is pointed out that
the only solution to the problem is in
offering more adequate compensation to
the instructors.
Board of Education officials Drofcssod
surprise when informed Of the state
ment last night and refused to discuss
It, Joseph Yeska, member Of the
board, when asked concerning the 80
600 teacherless children, said:
~ never heard of such q thing
would like to have further nforma-
called to the attention of the Board of
Education that ] know Of"
Remedy Is Discussed
In giving a detailed description of
the teachcrles classes the Public Edu
cation Association statement explains:
/. That where children are deprived
Of their regular instructor through i'll
ness not only the class suffers, but the
whole school.
2. The continuity of instruction is
broken and additional burdens must be
placed on teachers who arc already
struggling with diversified classes.
}. The organization and discipline
of the school are broken up and much
of the time normally devoted to the
Fundamental principles of education is
lost In caring for the tcacherless class
4. Substitutes are not available to
take the places of absent teachers
In discussing the remedy the state
ment continues:
eve are called upon to decide
whether or not, through indifference or
stupidity, we shall permit children in
the public schools to be deprived from
day to day of all opportunities for ed
ucatiOn.
"The responsibility for this condi
tlon does not rest primarily upon the
school authorities, but upon the citi-
zens of New York and upon their rep
resentatives in the Legislature. who
alone can provide the funds which will
furnish the remedy.
"As IN the army and navy, the fun
damental problems of public education
resolve themselves into personnel and
'material'
"For several years we have been
deeply concerned with the woful short
comings Of the 'matdriel' of education
in New York City. We have watched
with alarm the shortage of accommo-
datlons and the rapid increase of part
time from $4,000 q few years ago to
nearly a quarter of a million this
year. We have noted with dismay the
meagreness of our school equipment
and the lnadequacy of our course of
study. In the face of overwhelming
and ever r-increasing costs, we have
almost lost hope of achieving our cher
ished ideals Of education. We have
urged, in all sincerity, as a means of
salvation, the utilization of the school
plaht 10 lull capacity and the mOblliZa-
tion through the school of all educa-
tive forces in the community. We have
honestly believed that we could elimi-
nate part-time and secure much
richer education for all of our chill
dren, within available funds, through
wise adaptation of the so-called dupli-
cate plan to the city schools. We have,
therefore, contended vigorously that
the sound solution Of cur 'materieP
problems lay in the continuous use of
all school facilities"
The statement concludes by assert
ing that public education is the bull
wark of democracy and the work of
the teachers should be given full
recognition in the form of increased
compensation. 1t also states that the
Board of Education is cooperating with
the. teachers in formulating salary
legislation.