New-York tribune., 1920-02-12

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Educational Offices Suffer
The facts that can be gathered about
the condition of the New York schools
are startling and alarming, though ever
the school officials do not know exactly
how bad the situation is. This is be-
cause the deterioration of the teaching
force is duplicated in the administra-
tive Offices, and there are not enough
clerks, and those there arc have not
the experience necessary, to compile
accurate figures. There is a single of
fee at the Board of Education, for ex-
ample, which has had forty persons
working at the seventeen jobs in the
place within sixteen months. Those
there now are mostly boys and girls OF
less than high school rank This is
one of the Offices from which detailed
figures should come-and do not.
superintendent Ettinger called fol
reports from all the district superin-
tendents last week on the shortage of
teachers. Two districts were unable to
respond. Those that did report showed
that in the five school days between
January 2S and February 3, inclusive
there were 1.180 classes sent home for
lack Of teachers. AS there are about
forty-one pupils in a class, this means
allowing for the missing districts, that
between $4,000 and $4,000 children were
sent home during that week. This re-
port took no account Of the other thou
sands, which were sent to their rooms
and kept off the streets some way"
More startling yet are figures com
piled by the Principals Association
but less recent. This association has
undertaken to make a survey of the
schools on given day each month
That for December was made on the
10th, and 144 out of 466 elementary
schools reported. That day was a fine
one, there was no epidemic to cut down
the teaching force, and the conditions
shown may be taken as better than
normal The January report, which is
still incomplete. will be far worse.
The report on December 10 showed
1913 positions in those schools for
pointed.
695 Glasses Lack Teachers
695 classes without teachers for that
day, there being 16S absent on leave
34Z on sick leave and 80 absent fol
other causes.
492 classes which were "doubled'
10,494 children were sent home.
There had been III teachers who had
been appointed in efforts TO fill the 1855
vacancies, who had refused to serve
In one school there had been four ap-
polntments made in the vain effort to
MI single important post 1t still is
vacant
There were 387 classes taught that
day by substitute teachers--which ch
practically means that the children
made no advance in their education
during that day. The best of substi-
tutes, coming in for day or two to
take charge of children she has never
seen before, picking up line of work
in the middle, attempting to follow the
regular teachers methods. which she
does not know, has very little chance
to 90 much for the children. But not
all or the substitutes are the best. AS
a rule they are people who for some
reason or another arc not qualified for
regular teaching positions. 1t happens
occasionally that in teaching ability
ana experience they are up to the aver
age or regular teachers, but usually
ehey are interior. SO, in general, the
school children suffer when substitutes
nave TO be used.
Bad as conditions are, they will be
worse, the school men and women agree
The worst effects of the present sit
uation will not DC felt for some wears
yet" Dr. Ettnger declared. "There
still are in the school system thousands
OF the Older, better trained teachers
who cannot or will not get out, many
OF them born teachers, whose LOYALTY
and public spirit hold them to their
posts in spite of heavy sacrifices. But
as they drop out their places are not
being filled
The psychology of the situation has
turned ~, against teaching as a profes-
sion. Those who are resigning become
propagandists against teaching. and
each one is likely to turn away from
!he schoolroom more than one promis
ing young man or woman who is very
badly needed. The longer this lasts
the worse it will get and it cannot he
stopped till we have the meansWtbe be q
money--not only to hold our present
1orce, but to attract enough candidates
so that we shall have Something to
select from and can get the cream of
the young people, instead Of having 10
scrape the bottom of the pam
Practically all school heads aoree
with him. Of 1,700 superintendents
over the country at large who have
answered QUESTIONABLE sent ort h,,
the National Education Associat;on
l,o9l reported that the most prom;s;ne,
young men and women are now avoid.
ing the teaching profession.
No Disnufes Ha Wr,.