New-York tribune., 1920-03-20
City to Face
Shortage OF
1000 Teachers
500 Vacancies Will Be In.
creased by Withdrawals
and Positions in New
Schools Opened in Fall
$4,000 Seats Are Added
Lack of Facilities Expect
ed To Be Relieved by
City's Building Program

Where the Department of Education
Is going to find teachers for the eigh-
teen new schools and additions to be
ready next autumn is a question that
is giving the department heads seri-
GUS concern. With 500 vacancies al
ready existing here it is estimated that
there will be fully 1900 more by next
fall because of Withdrawals and an
increased number OF positions.
Although the construction program
approved last fall by the Board of
Estimate is not being carried out in
its entirety because of labor troubles,
lnclement weather and differences be-
tween the Comptroller and Board of
Education, 1T was said yesterday at
the office of Building Superintendent
Snyder that an average of one con-
tract week was now being awarded,
and If pothing unforeseen occurred
the eighteen new structures and addi-
tions would be ready for occupancy
next September.
These buildings will provide about
1928 new seats for the public school
population of the city. The buildings
are so located as to make possible a
more advantageous disposition of
pupils At the present time, it was
SAID, there were more seats than pupils
to fill them, because of the disprepor-
tionate growths of the school popula-
tion IN some districts,
Thousands on Part Time
This unequal distribution has re-
suited in overcrowding of some schools,
necessitating transfers of classes, dis
missal of hundreds of others and plac-
ing thousands of pupils on part time
instruction.. The improvements now
under way will greatly alleviate this
condition, but the shortage of teach
ers, it is feared, will more than offset
the advantages gained by building
construction.
The elementary school population Of
the city on December 81, 1918, was T5l,-
600, and, according to percentage esti-
mates, this number will be augmented
by at least IL, 900 next autumn, Eugene
n. Nifenecker, assistant director of
research and statistics OF the Depart
ment OF Education, asserted Yesterday
Since the additional buildings will
provide about 1900 more seats for
both high school and elementary pupils
there would be more than a sufficient
number of seats to take care Of the
increased school population in Septem-
the present time there are $4,000 pupils
on part time.
Check Up Contractors Work
superintendent Snyder has asked
each contractor to report the approx
mate date on which work will be COM
pleted and definite information as to
the work allotted him. The request
is in line with DR.. Ettinger's suggestion
that all Information possible be OBJ
tanned regarding the ability of con.
tractors to complete their work in the
length of time specified so that nc
more extensions may be granted thar
actually needed.
OF the accommodation to be ready
in the autumn the greater part viii
be in Brooklyn. That borough will ge
1886 new seats; the Bronx will have
1852; Manhattan, 1890; Queens, 1880
and Richmond, $40. Three of the
Brooklyn construction projects are in
the Coney Island section, where the
congestion is said to, be the worst
About 5000 new seats will be provided
for Brownsville and East New York