New-York tribune., 1921-10-07
.Hylan School
Neglect a Blow
Parents Dependent Upon
Overworked Teachers ;n
0vercrowded Glasses TO
Act as Cl1ildren's Guides
Mothers Make Protest
Different Hours Which pu-
pills Are Forced to Keep
Halnpering Housework

Tho children Of foreign parentage
are the greatest sufferers from the
congcsted state OF the public schools,
'nasmuch IS large classes deprive them
not only Of physical comfort, but the
guidance and personal attention Of
their teachers.
The teacher is absolute monarch over
the soul Of the child Of the immigrant,
and often teachers dicta rule the fam
lly life, too. What kind Of influence
can teacher" exert when she ministers
to seventy and eighty children in I'll
hour?
These werc the problems which came
to light in a visit to tho east Bronx
yesterday, where most of tho parents
are Of foreign birth end speak little
English in the home, but arc deter
mined that the children shall have q
good education.
. Plea Made for Children
4 mother whose children are in
crowded P. S. said:
" wish that my little girl could have
more help from her teacher. Children
Who are bright get through all right.
MY boy fairly rushed through school,
but the little girl isn't so quick and
can't help her much. The boy now goc
TO high school where he has afternoon
sessions, so that the children src rot
at home at the same time and ne con-
not help her. OF course ] suppose it
doesn't matter so much when all OF
the 1amlly speak English"
INC burning zeal Of many foreign
mothers for an education for their
children leads them to endure rrste-
iully conditions against which Ameri
can parents would revolt, but even in
! the Bronx there are signs that the
mothers are becoming perpiexed. Tbev
! iealize that even q long school day. if
IL be cut up into double sessions and
stuoy hours Ill ovcrcroVded halls. does
the children little good.
We don't mind The Inconvenience to
the mothers" sighed one woman wait
ing at the gate with a pail of hot soup
ior ner chlld's lunch, "but the classes
are just as crowded with this double
SESSION, and the children cannot study
IN the room with SO many.
Household Routine Upset
II nave to get two breakfasts for NV
chlldren and make three trips to the
school building" she added, speaking
OF her ou,n grievances as an after
thought, but I am glad TO get the
breakfasts, and do not mind bring
lns mem their lunches. My oldest
girl has to leave the house very early
70 be at the Roosevelt High School by S
o'clock, and ] let the little children
sleep longer. The girl in the first grade
mas to be in school at 8, but the bow
OF ten does not go until 1O:3O. If he
went at the same time she does he
could watch OUT for her in the streets
and | could stay at home and do nv
cooking
How can they expect the mothers
20 orlng the children up right if they
make it SO difficult?"
II will take at least two new school
| Public School ID, on Interyale Avenue,
according to the analysis OF one OF the
| teachers.
To-day this school takes care Of
the almost unbelievable number Of
3,7oO children every day. Classrooms
/ equipped to seat thirty five or forty
children row seat seventy" she added
Two classes are carried on in every
room aud there is also the overlapping
ana changing schedule known as the
double session. The children sit two
in seat, and there are strange look
ing high chairs where two children
can sit-one in the chair and one on
the step below. 1t makes US wonder
what would happen IL another family
should move into the district"
Glass work here is done bv grouu
system, which allows two teachers to
carry or work At the same time in
the same room. Each class is divided
into two sections and they gather close
about the teacher for fifteen or twenty
minutes. then there is a general shift
and these children do paper work while
tie others recite to the teacher. With
seventy children in the room the ef-
feet is appalling"