New-York tribune., 1921-06-26
Teachers Urge
Survey to End
School Scandal
Union Suggests Nonpartisan
Inquiry Into Sanitary
and Safety Situation:
Wants Politics Ended
CITY Hall Attacks Nudd
New Retort ON Expose of
Conditions Lashes Public
Education Association

A concrete proposal to solve the
menacins situation now confronting
she public schools as a result of the
Indifference and inefficiency of the
Hvlan administration has been put for
ward by the Teachers Union. The
union through its president, Henry r.
Liuville, suggests that q commission
oil school sanitation and safety be es-
tablished to ascertain all the existing
facts and TO publish them without ref
eYenee to the blame that might be at
taehed to any administration.
1t is suggested that the New York
Academy of Medicine and the en-
cheering societies find volunteers
among their members to form the com
mission, and upon the completion of
the report take steps to remove the
schools from the realms of politics
After making this suggestion, Mr.. Lin
sille adds:
"Shall we undertake venture of this
sort, or shall we continue to win and
lose municipal election campaigns with
the schools as the shuttle-cock of the
game?"
Speaking of the recent report which
revealed the shocking sanitary condi-
tons of the schools, Mr.. Lfnville saws
III his statement:
aThe recent report of the civic or
ganizations on the physical conditions
prevailing in forty schools has met
with well deserved publicity. The
teachers of this city, if they were free
70 speak. could testify TO the accu-
racy OF the report as far as it goes.
and could show how the report even
falls short of giving complete view
of the facts.
Disclosures of conditions in the
schools have been frequent, but moth
ing fundamental has been done. A po-
iitical group gains a temporary ad-
vantage over its adversary, and few
contractors get little profit in fixing
things up while the political campaign
is going on. Although the civic bodies
unsanitsry,' the fact is the teachers
and the children living there may not
have thought of the place in that way.
so accustomed are the teachers to the
conditions that their notions of stand
ards Of iecency have become vague and
Imperative
Commissioner OF Accounts David
hirshfield yesterday took up the cud-
gels in behalf of the harassed Mayor
and issued bitter attack upon Howard
". Nudd, secretary of the Public Ed
Eeation Association, one of the organi-
cations which took part in preparing
the report that has caused the Hearst
ayian-Ianimany administration so
much concern. The attack of Hirsh-
!ieid follows along the same general
ines as the violent editorial published
IN hearst's American. Hirshfield starts
by saying:
1t IS rather amusing to note how
those who are supported by Rockefeller
and are fed with Rockefeller money are
ashamed of the sources CT their sup
pprt- Here is this man Howard w.
Audd, secretary of the Public Educa-
Ton Association, denying that the
Rockefellers are the main supporters
OF the Public Education Association,
claiming that while Mr. Rockefeller
happens to be one of the 1900 members
ne has never given more than small
fraction OF the annual budget of the
association. Mr.. Nudd further asserts
that his education association is not
political organization, but is solely
concerned in presenting facts regard
ing the schools.
Cites Roc.Sefeiler's Gifts
"Let US analyze these denials:
IN 1914 John D. Rockefeller desig-
mated that SI7,5oO of his Foundation
money be contributed to Mr.. Nudd's
association. The report OF the Rookie
feller Foundation shows contribution
Of s17,5e0 during the years 1914, 1915,
1916 and 1917. The Foundations re-
pert for the years 1918, 1919 and 1920
are not available to me. There is no
doubt that Mr.. Rockefeller's generosity
during these latter three wears has in
creased and not diminished"
Hirshfeld then takes up the line OF
argument that has been ordered by the
forces of Hearst-H -HylanT ammany as a
means of meeting disagreeable truths,
and confusing the minds of the parents
Y ss#A T O O. 4