New-York tribune., 1921-01-25
Education Last

up w any uellldluS maze upon MIN.
Education Last
A graft-ridden, poltically-owned
Police Department is dangerous
enough. Corrupt contracts for
city building are a wicked
and shameful waste of the tax
payers money. But neither of these
conditions constitutes as grave an
indictment of the Hylan administra-
tion as its appalling muddling and
decentralization of our public schools.
"Education last" is the literal motto
of Mr.. Hylan. His action in refusing
to appropriate $27,000,OOO of the
money needed for the actual running
expenses of next years schools is Il
disgrace. Authorities of a country
school district who attempted any
such monkeyshines would be ridden
out of town on rails. What is the
motive behind the Mayors prepos-
ferrous stand? Cheap political clap
trap, in part-an effort to hoodwink
the taxpayers. But also, and more
important, typical revelation of
just how low the Mayor rates the
schooling of the boys and girls of
the city. TIE money must be OBJ
tanned somehow. The schools can
not be closed down. But no thanks
to Mr.. Hylan that they are not.
AS The Tribune's survey Of the
situation shows, this last cheap trick
of the Mayors comes as the climax
of political Juggling with our
schools that has demoralized the
teaching force, degraded the Board
of Education to a warning body of
political antagonists and reduced
the educational facilities Of the city
to their lowest ebb.
Mr.. Hylan made tremendous
noise about the 10000 children on
part time under the Mitchell admin.
lstratlon. Under his stupid and
negligent messing of the problem
that number has increased to 76,-
600; and 100000 other children are
subjected to demoralizing sched.
ule, alternating classroom and idle.
ness, particularly vicious form OF
part time.
Mr.. Hylan scof'ed at the Gary sys.
tenn, which at least was an orderly
and scientific system for promptly
securing full-time schooling fo,
every child in the city. He has at
tempted to find no substitute for it
His promise that he would supply {
seat for every child was an empty
and ignorant boast.
Mr.. Hylan put his own persona
appointees in as members Of tn,
Board of Education-and in self
respect they quarreled with him. H,
has done his best to demoralize thi
vital body in the functioning of th,
city's schools. He has shown tn,
same petty Incompetence here as i,
other departments Of the city.
Mr.. Hylan fought an increase il
the pay of teachers while the fore,
was losing strength daily. Had h
had his way he would have lowered
the bars and let in teachers of lowe
standard In such spirit has hi
whole policy been conceived. Any
thing was good enough for the chill
dren of the city-provided the poll
ticians were taken care Of.
Is there corruption in the schoo
system--mattcr which Mr.. Whit
mans grand jury can properly TAKE
under advisement? The Tribun,
does not know; and if there is sucl
corruption it is of slight importance
compared to the fact that the chill
drcn OF New York City are not be
ing adequately educated; that thei,
health is endangered by poor air, bat
hight, overcrowding. A communit,
can arm itself against crooks. Stolcr
funds can be replaced. A genera
ton OF boys and girls parti,
sehooled, poorly educated, present.
a loss, sets motion peril, which
can never be repaired.
/ A legislative inquiry is needed fo1
constructive investigation in the Pc
lice Department. 1t is demanded
even more cryingly in the schools o,
the city. Mr.. Hylan has contcmptu
ously handed on the problem to tn.
state In his refusal to pay the xs4n