New-York tribune., 1921-03-08
Citizens Storm
City Hall for
School Relief
Demand Board of Estimate
Act Immediately OH Plans
for S63, 900, 900 Program
TO Relieve the Shortage
Classes Held ON Stairs
Pupils Compelled to Sit on
Floor, Teacher Asserts;
Aid Was Vetoed by Craig


Mothers OF school children, teach
srs, taxpayers, representatives Of civic
organizations in the different boroughs
end members Of the Board of Educa-
ton crowded the Council Chamber in
the City Hall yesterday at the hearing
held by the Board OF Estimate on the
s6Sooo,o00 program of the Board of
Education for the construction of new
school buildings. When Mayor Hylan
suggested that those opposed to the
program would be heard first, not
soul responded. When he requested
that all those in favor Of the program
say "Ayel' mighty chorus responded.
The crowd overhowed the chamber
into the corridors. 1t was 8 demon
strative gathering. A score or more
sneakers from every section of the
city raised their voices in protest
against the present inadequate hous-
ing situation in the schools, and de-
manded emphatically immediate ac-
tivi.y on the part Of city officials
toward providing more schools. Pa
.hetic stories were told of the over
crowdng in some of the schools in the
eongested districts.
Mayor Hylan and other members Of
the Board of Estimate showed deep
interest aud concern in the unanimous
sopeal made TO them, and promised
TO do sl they could to relieve the
situation. AT the suggestion of the
Mayor however, the matter was re-
ferred to the Committee on Finance
and Budget for further consideration.
The Mayor did not intimate whethe err
the board would feel disposed to ap-
propriate the S63,O00,00O requested by
Inv Board Of Education.
Prall Explains Program
Aiming S Prall, president OF the
BOARD Of Education, and Edward B.
Shallow, Associate Superintendent of
Schools. explained the program. They
declared that if it were carried out
it would provide q seat to every child
on part time throughout the entire city
and materially reduce the number Of
double session classes.
The program calls for the erection
OF forty-seven new elementary school
buildings and additions to present
buildings, twentY-six new portable
buildings Tor elementary sittings, six
new high school buildings and an addi-
ten - one building, one new training
sonoo. for teachers, new parental
scnool purchase of a new vocational
sch building and improvement of
rounds, fire prevention, etc.
D 81 allow said there were seven
,e.a reN schools and ten large addi-
soy : existing school buildings now
erected. He thought if the board
g appropriation between thirty
r;y more buildings could be be-
g. by the end of this year. Refer
r,r the portable buildings, DR.
S....or said they were needed for dis.
ir.c.s where it would not pay to put
Up large buildings. He declared that
!. required ten new school buildings
ea,h year to take care of the children
becoming Of school age. and that the
city was ten years behind in its con,
s:ruc.ion work.
Held Classes on Stairways
4 teacher from Public School 81
East l15th Street, told the board
that that school was so overcrowded d
sittine Oh the stairways, and that they
also had to sit upon the floors in some
Of the classrooms- She said there
We 100 more children Yn the school
than could properly be taken care Of
- eeclared that the situation in that
district called for immediate relief
and could not wait on the carrying
out OF the proposed building program
She sand that two vacant buildings ad
coming the school would afford relief
Il utilized, but that although they
had been vacant for six years no one
I. nad been able to get the Board of
Estimate or the Board Of Education to
permit their use for school purposes.
Mr. Prall explained that the case Of
School u had been brought to the at
tention Of the Board OF r,ducati> two
years ago, and plan for utilizing the
vacant buildings and building an addi-
Iioh to the school had heen sent tc
Oomptroller Charles L. Craig for ap.
Qroval and had been returned disap
proved. Mr.. Prall said that most OF
.he proposals of the Board Of '-duca.
uoh about that time met the same
1ate at the hands of the Comptroller
\, Among others who spoke in favor OF
we program were representatives OF
tne Bronx Board of Trade, the Tax
payers Alliance of the Bronx, the
queens Chamber Of Commerce, The
Msomen Voters League of Brooklyn
"a. me Kings Highway Board of Trade
m Inc Albany Heights Association, the
hamilton Community Council ant
"ehIy frlce, of Jamaica.