New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-12
Hylan Praises
Hylan School
Record In Note
Blame for Wretched Condi-
tons Unloaded on Gary
Crowd as Mayor Ex,ols
Self and Assails Nudd
Tells Prall All About 1t
His Honor CraciousIy For
gives Women Who Pro-
test Fire Traps and Perils

Mayor Hylan came vigorously to the
defense Of the Hon. John F. Hylan yes
terday by writing a letter to Aiming
S. Prall, president of the Board of
Education, regarding the condition of
the public schools. In it he vigorously
attacked Howard W Nudd, director of
the Public Education Association, but
graciously excused those misguided
women who made the report upon forty
of the city's schools that mas caused
Hizzoner so much pain and discomfort
in the region of public opinion.
The occas sion for the letter was the
report addressed to Mrs. Rogers H
Bacon, chairman of the committee on
plan and program of the Associated
Women's Civic Clubs, which Mr. Prall
made public on Saturday. Mr.. Pralls
report was reply to the one made by
the women's clubs, which alleged that
such wretched conditions exist in the
schools that the children's health is
menaced
Inquiry at the Office of Mrs. Bacon
yesterday elected the information that
she was in Canada for the time being.
Miss Olive Wade, secretary of the COM
mittee said that Mr.. Prall's report ad-
dressed to Mrs. Bacon was only re-
ceived yesterday morning. and would be
transmitted to Mrs. Bacon. Mrs. Nudd
also was absent from the city yester-
day.
Mayor Answers PralI
The Mayor, in addressing the presi-
dent of the Board OF Education, hailed
him as Dear Commissioner" and then
said
Your report on the conditions of
the schools referred to by Mr.. Nudd
(who wants to paralyze the schools in
this city, shows that the report OF
this man Nudd is woeful misrepresen-
tation of facts.
when report is made that no re-
pairs have been made on school in
three years when the true fact is that
repairs are under way and g new school
building program costing in the neigh
borhood of $1,000, 900 is in progress
this is sufficient to condemn not alone
the report, but the man who made it.
The report in question was made by
the women's clubs.
Many of these old schools His
Honor continues, have been in' exist
ence for from fifty to. seventy years
and no rest rooms and play rooms
were provided Nudd's report princi-
pally complains that there are no rest
rooms for teachers and no play rooms
! for children III these old schools. This
condition existed in the Mitchell ad-
ministration and past administrations
as many Of these buildings were con
structed over forty years ago, and NJ
one thought of rest rooms and pla,
rooms for children at that time.
There are many children on par
time and we need more class rooms
! Why take away class rooms in these
old buildings and remodel them into
teachers rest rooms and children s
play rooms? In new buildings such ac-
commodations are being provided
The whole desire of this Gary
school crowd is to stop the construc-
ton of new schools, to close up old
schools and to change the present
classrooms into restrooms and play
rooms, and delve into all sorts of fads
and fancies; in fact, do everything but
give the children the proper school ac-
commodations and proper elementary
training, all of which tends to fit the
child for the mill and factory, the pro-
gram of the Rockefeller-G Gary educa-
tional propagandists
1T is to be regretted that Mr.. Nudd
attempts TO use some of the good in
tentloned women of the city to carry
out his Gary program and use the
schools as political football