New-York tribune., 1921-10-04
Hyian's 5 School
System Makes
Mothers Fret
Smaller Children Must Face
Dangers of Streets Alone
Because Part-Time Plan
Often Prevents an Escort

Often Prevents an Escort
Many little children who used to be
escorted to school by older brothers or
sisters are now obliged to face the
dangers OF the city streets alone under
tho part time and double session
schedules which the overcrowded con-
dition of the schools has necesstated
This is another peril to the lives of
children which the mothers of New
York City are charging against the Hy
Ian school administration.
1t is the youngest children who are
expected to be at school at 10:3O
o'clock in the morning, while the older
ones report at $3.50 o'clock This
means not only that the little ones are
deprived of the company of their ed
ers, but that the protecting policeman
who stands at the corner at $3.50 has
gone his way at the later hour, leaving
them at the mercy of rushing automo-
bles at the busiest time of the morn
ing. Mothers. too. who work for their
living could take their children to school
at $3.50, but at 10:30 the Youngsters
must so alone. These dangers were re-
yea led IN conversations yesterday with
mothers whose children 90 to Public
School 5, at Edgecombe Avenue and
140th Street
Six-Year-Old in Streets Alone
Mrs. Blanche Campbell, of 1852 West
143d Street, said:
Il take my little girl to the place
where | work at $3.50 o'clock. She stays
there until 1920, when | have to send
her to school alone. | get away for my
own lunch hour at 1880 o'clock and
spend it taking the child's lunch to her
Mt school. She has to go home alone in
q G, 4 ,,.I
mother to send a siX-year-old out into
the streets alone, but what can | do?'
Mrs. Julia McGee, of 1873 West 143d
Street, said:
Il had to give up working, for it
takes all of my time TO take the chill
dren to school. | have one child who
gose to school at $3.50 o'clock and Two
smaller ones that I have to take to
school two hours later. IL the little
ones could go with their big brother
| could continue to work. | have to
stay at home with them until 10:30
Then | come back at 1880, and if the
older boy is a little late | have to
leave his lunch for him and come on
here for the children. I bring their
lunch and all the while they are eating
am thinking that the boy may leave
the door unlocked or SON ething-he is
only ten.
men HI lue AFTERNOON ! nave TO
come back for the two little ones, and
the boy, meantime, is out on the street,
anywhere. 1t is always hard for
mothers who have little children in
school, of course, but this way it is
simply terrible"
Mrs. H. Henderson, 675 Lenox Ave-
nue., thinks it is "high time we took
the schools away from the politicians"
Mother Barred from Working
81 have only one child who goes to
school at 1920 o'clock" said Mrs. Hen
derson, "but can't do any work to
earn a little money-and l need it ter
ribly-for no one will employ a woman
who cannot be at her desk until after
1880"
"Worrying all day long, running
there is in life these days, according
to Mrs. j. A. Broker, 142 West 142d
Street
~ have boy who goes to school at
$3.50 and a six-year-old who goes at
fo:30," Mrs. Broker continued. "Now if
the two went together l should not
worry about the little one, and could
stay at home with the two babies. AS
it is, l leave them alone and | am
matches and all the other things that
happen to babies. The children should
all be on the same schedule and then
the mothers would have some time to
make home for them"
The friendly traffic policeman. who
stands guard over the children when
school is dismissed is never around
when the sx-year-olds approach the
building. Lines of small pupils wait
on the sidewalk outside the school for
chance to enter vacant classroom
There is little discipline and much
pushing and chatterinC, for the teach
ers have their hands full with the con-
stantly changing throngs inside the
structure.
Another disadvantage of the double
session system is that it encourages
truancy, the teachers admit
"The children take advantage Of the
Irregular schedules" said a worried
teacher "If a truant officer speaks tc
them for being on the streets in schoo
hours they can simply say that they
are on later schedule, and the truant
officer has no way OF checking up or
them"
Public School No. has large play
room on the first floor, called the
yard" but the children are getting
no benefit from it because it is being
painted.
at will be all nice and clean before
Election Day." the teacher added, "bu'
It has been vacant all summer, and
cannot but wish the painting had moth
Ing to do with election time