The New York herald., 1921-09-13
SCHOOLS OPEN WITH
PRECEDENTEDJA JAIN
Estimates Place Number of
Part Time Pupils as
Exceeding 100000.
OVERFLOW IN BRONX
Erasmus Hall Unable to
Admit All Students on
Regular Basis.
HYLAN TOURS BROOKLYN
Mayor Expressed Conviction
That Reports of Congestion
Are False.
OVERFLOW IN BRONX
HYLAN TOURS BROOKLYN

The elementary and high schools OF
this city reopened yesterday to face a
condition OF congestion unparalleled
in their history Rough estimates
placed the number of students on part
time as more than 100000, with the
possibility that the total will exceed
10000. Twelve new school buildings
that threw open their doors did not
take care of even the normal increase
in registration. The double training
system was instituted in several
schools.
Conditions in the high schools were
so bad that Erasmus Hall High School
Brooklyn, went on part time for the
first time in its history because ap.
proximately 5000 students clamored
for admission. Morris High School o!
The Bronx had registration of A.575
an increase Of 10 per cent. over last
year.
Mayor Hylan and Aiming s. Prall
, president of the Board Of Education
started out from City Hall a few min
utes after s n'clock In the morning to
see the opening of some Brooklyn
schools. They took along with them a
group of reporters on what proved to be
"a personally conducted tour" In an ef-
fort to dsprove the claims of overcrowd-
ing. Eight schools were visited. and
they were new buildings. When the tour
was over Mayor Hylan expressed him
self as satisfied the congestion reports
were false and characterized the visit to
the schools as "the happiest day OF my
life as Mayor OF New York"
The tour was confined to the new
buildings, ID was explained, because of
the pressure OF official business. The
Mayors party worked down toward
Coney Island. through the Heights Sec
tion of Brooklyn, and doubled back
through the Flatbush. Bedford. Stuyve-
SAINT and Williamsburg sections. More
than four hours was consumed in the
tour, the Mayor not getting back to the
City Hall until after the noon hour The
Mayor then explained that buildings
now under construction will give seats
to another 10000 pupils before the next
term OF school begins In February.
Some schools of the city were hardly
filled. This was due. the principals said,
to the fact that many parents still had
their youngsters away in the country.
On the other hand. Public Schools Nos.
80 and 80, In The Bronx, had 3.255 and
$500 pupils respectively. Because of
this ovcrcrowding the double training
system had to be instituted In these
schools. Under this system there vir-
tually are two schools In one building.
One set of scholars and teachers oc-
cupies the building for five hours during
the carly morning and afternoon and
then the building Is taken over by an
other set OF teachers and children.
Although two OF the twelve new build
ings and additions to older structures
were opened in The Bronx, the school
year in that borough started an inves-
tigation showed, with the pupils In two
thirds OF the schools on part time. Simi-
lar conditions prevailed in schools in
Harlem and Washington Heights. Two
new school buildings under construction
In West Harlem arc expected by the
Board OF Education to relieve some
what the congestion in the schools OF
both these sections. 1t will cause a
lessening all along the line, which, IL Is
thought, will be felt even in the most
northerly points OF Washington Heights.
FigureS could not De obtained yester-
day from the Board Of Education rela-
tive 10 the registration. Or. William
l.. Ettinger. City Superintendent Of
Schools. Is available for interviewing
purposes only on Thursdays. between 3
and 5. and Mr. Prall was explaining to
the Meyer committee how the schools
had been run under his leadership. In
their absence no one could be found TO
speak officially for the board or depart
ment. All inquirers were asked to call
back again Friday. when a complete
report OF the city registration will be
available. Last year the registration
totalled more than 100000 and this year
II is expected to be about 100000.