New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
Somers, Finley and Nudd
Urge Divorcing of Edu.
cation From Politics Of
Hylan Administration
S27,000,0O0 Must
Be Raised by Fall
Legislature or Some Other
Outside Agency Should
Act, Officials Assert


Immediate investigation by the state
Legislature, or some other outside
agency, into the school situation in
the city was suggested yesterday by
persons in close touch with educational
matters here.
Petty politics is held responsible in
d great degree for the crisis in the
city's schools-for the facts that more
than 25o,ooo children are on part time
and that the Hylan administration has
failed to appropriate s27, 100000, which
must be provided if the schools are to
remain open after the summer
The school situation is getting
worse every day and there must be
some kind Of action, very, very soon, y
says Arthur S. Somers, member of the
Board of Education and president Of
the board during the early part Of the
Hylan administration.
"The school Situation in New York
City to-day is deplo orable and l believe
the state Legislature should take firm
hand in an effort to divorce education
from petty politics." says Howard C.
Nudd, director of the Public Education
Association, which has just completed
a survey Of the school situation.
DR.. Finley's View
''The Commissioner Of Education has
long been urging the complete lnde-
pendence Of the Board of Education,
with direct responsibility to the people
and separate school tax. That has
not yet come about. 1t means leglsla~
tion," says DR.. John II. Finley, who
has just resigned as State Commits
sioner of Education.
New York's schools are at the COM
plete mercy Of petty politicians in the
city government" said Mr.. Somer5, who
has been in close touch with New YORK S
school affairs for thirty years. He
added:
1--WE are up against financial stu
alton entirely beyond us. The city has
grown to- extravaganza beyond any
reasonable degree. Every city depart
ment has gone the limit. What is need
cd is strong hand to take hold Of
every department, reorganize it and
restore that vitality that will give hon
est value in service for every dollar
spent. If we do that we will get money
for our schools and not before.
Zone Of the most unfortunate things
is the present state Of the Board Of
Estimate, in which the chief officials
are at loggerheads. Petty personal DIFF
fcrences have been allowed to dominate
and everything else has been subordi-
nate. They are all quarreling, and
education suffers from petty politics" !"
Suggests Regents Act
Mr. Somers believes that in view OF
the failure of the Hylan administration
to provide proper school facilities or
money to run the schools during the
present year some agency like the
State Board Of Regents should take q
hand.
'Such board could study the situ-
alton and make suggestions for rene
dial legislation" said Mr.. Somers.
"There is need Of law enactment at
Albany to deprive the Hyian admins
tration Of it's power to direct and
shape school policies. l do not mean
that the City Comptroller should not
be allowed to handle any school funds.
He should be permitted to scrutinize
our vouchers, but not to assume con-
troll of school matters just because he
too much petit politics in the New
York schools, and to eliminate this
evil will certainly lead to = healthier
and finer professional spirit"
Mr.. Somers believes tnat the Hylan
administration's S27oO0,0O0 school
deficit should be met by separate
school tax. "The situation" he said,
'',s getting worse every day and there
must be some kind of action very,
very soon."
The Public Education Association
would favor legislative inquiry into
Hylan's school affairs, according to Mr..
Nudd, it's director. Mr.. Nudd con-
tends that the trouble with New York's
school system is Mayor Hylan's in
ability to get along with education Of
1icials Of his own appointment.
THE Hylan administration was
first" said Mr.. Nudd sit has reversed
this order and put education last. This
education last condition is the direct
result of squabbling over control be-
tween the Mayor, his city officials and
his school officials.
when the Mitchell administration
left Office the Legislature made it pos
sible for Mr.. Hylan to appoint a COM
plete new Board of Education. Then
Superintendent Of Schools Maxwell be-
CAME III and retired and this gave the
Mayor an opportunity to appoint Will
(Contiauod en- nasff uassV