New-York tribune., 1921-01-27
Take Schools
Out of Politics.
Ettinger Urges
Superintendent Advocates
Non Partisan Elections.
Separate Tax and Board
Responsible to Public
Hylan Regime Is Assailed
Buildings in Worst Shape
in History Because Funds
for Repairs Are Withheld

Arate school tax and full responsibility
to the people by the Board of Educa-
tion in school affairs, thus taking the
city's education problem out of City
Hall politics. were advocated yesterday
by DR.. William l.. Ettinger, superinten-
dent OF New York City schools, in view
of the crisis into which the schools
have come under the Hylan admiaistra-
tion.
With the failure of the city admins
tration to appropriate s27,000,o00
needed to operate the schools for the
current year, with many buildings in
q dilapidated condition and VITA con-
geston in the schools the worst in his
tory, DR.. Ettinger pointed out that Gun
less the Board of Education can man.
age its own affairs and have financial
independence such conditions will recur
and recur."
'New York schools are to-day shy
$4,000 seats" said the superintendent
"and over 250,0O0 school children are
using classrooms in such manner
that one room does for two groups. The
part-time system has spread from the
elementary schools. whe"e it was first
adopted. to the high schools, where
a3out 1900 older students are now
affected.
Money for Upkeep insufficient
"Money has not been appropriated in
the proper quantity either for new
buildings or the upkeep of existing
property. Assuming that the city's
school plant-all huildings-1s worth
$200,000,000 at present property valua-
tion, we should have $6,o00,000 annu-
ally from the city to cover deprecla-
ton"
DR.. Ettinger pointed to records show
ing that instead of required 8 pei
cent of the total value Of the schoo!!
plant annually for repairs, the Board
of Education has never received l per
cent from the Hyan administration
No funds will be available either Tor
new buildings or repairs for l92a, un-
less the Board of Estimate is able to
wipe out the $27 100000 deficit for the
'Taere has been a sad lack Of pre-
vision in the past as to school needs,
said DR.. Ettinger, "and until the BOARD
of Education Is given free rein nc
relief is in sight. The dual-system OF
<school control has been failure
Schools always have been congested
since 1892, but never so much as now
There never has been a sane building
program providing for future needs and
existing property upkeep. Upkeep al
Sowances have been gradually cut down
while there has been q constant up
ward curve in property valuations"
DESPITE DR.. Ettinger's admonltlon IN
his annual budget report that "a de-
termined effort should be made TINS
year" (by the Board Of Estlmate) ana
''sound business sense demands tna'
Grafton" because "the interest and vel
fare OF The children make it impera-
tive" the Hylan administration made
no provision at all for repairs and up
keep of schools during 1921. The Trib-
une pointed out specific cases IN an
article Yesterday how children were
packed into fretrap buildings, where
fighting, sanitation and Ventilation
were ieplorable and in ssme instances
in violation of the state laws.
School for Deaf in Bad Shape
The annual report of DR.. E. P. Shallow
assistant superintendent Of schools
(revised to May, 1920, among other In
stances of deteriorated school property
school for the deaf-Public School al
on East Twenty third Street-"is poor
ly lighted and badly ventilated, flanket
on both sides by tai! commercial build
inxs and in the rear are livery stables
and garages"
The Public Education Association
which has just completed genera
physical survey of New York Clt!
schools, reports that about hal
million chilren are to-day in over
sized classes of forty pupils and more
Of the total in abnormally larg
classes, 250,O00 are in classes of NOR
than forty-five, about 5000 in classe
of fifty and over, and about 5000 II
classes of fifty-fve and over. The sit
uation, according to Howard w. Nudd
director of the association, is due t.
lack Of building provision, and n
teacher can adequately handle sucl
large classes.
"The Hylan Administrations tall
about providing funds for new school
has proved to be a simple 'bunc'
game,'" according to Mr.. Nudd, VIII
added:
"The Mayor, under fire of criticism
sought to praise his administration
few days ago. Turning to education
he boasted that S25,000,000 had beel
appropriated for new schools. AS
matter of fact sl0,000,o00 of this wa
part of bequest, appropriated for tn
same purpose, by the Mitchell admins
tration. 1t may be stated as fact ths
the Hylan people have doled out bu
$l5,000,o00 for new schools in thre
years, which is comparatively nothing
Repairs Would Cost ss000000
"The owner of an apartment hous
figures depreciation Of his property a
about per cent annually, and con
siders the life of the building at thirt
years Schools suffer far greater wca
and tear than apartment houses.
would undoubtedly cost at least 81, 900
900 to put existing New York school
in shape, where they might suffice wit
an expenditure OF 3 per cent of thei
value annually The Hylan admins
trasion has never appropriated sufi
cient funds for repairs and upkeep"
In 1913 the Board Of Education sub
rnitted three-year building program
fl9l3-1a20) calling for an expenditur
Of $2e.007,330 for new schools an,
$3,:06325 for school sites. Owing t.
the increased costs of building ma
tsrials and labor the estimates yer
revised, making the requirement TO
the three-year program S13,2Se,437
year.
Board Allowed Mitchell Legacy
For 1913 the Board of Estimate ri
lowed $4,000 900, the Mitchell admins
tration's legacy, and authorized $1,000,
coo for 4al9 and 50 600 900 for 1920
No building progress vas made il
j9lS on account Of the war Govern
rnent restrictions on building material
made this impossible. This aaadica
WAS lifted, however, after .hc lfrs
year ard tnouuh the 3ncreuxo1 .n.1 -