New-York tribune., 1922-09-12
Bright Pupils
To Give Seats
10 Dull Ones
Ryan Devises Plan TO Ease
Congestion I'M Schools by
Helping Smart Students to
Finish I'heirW orkQ Quickly
New Scheme Is Needed
With Record Enrolment of
1000, 600 Many Must
Stand at Least One Period

A new plan for lessening congestion
In the public schools. made imperative
through the record enrolment Of APP
rroxi.nately 100000 pupils yesterday,
has been devised by George j. Ryan.
nresident OF the Board Of Education.
Mr. RYAN revealed last night that
ha was working on scheme to re-
.r.de nup;is which will allow those Of
s.eieient ability to finish their school
inc in the shortest possible time. He
faels that there is no just reason why
uupil who has the ability to forge
sbead should be kept back by those
uLo are slower In the assimilation of
4he;r subjects. In addition and what
& more to the point at the present
+;mA--th;s scheme would save thou-
s.nds os seats. and Mr. RYAN predicts
that shouidthe plan be accepted there
woatd be seat for every child in New
York within eighteen months.
The complete returns on registra-
Sion will not be available until next
Friday, hat school officials are agreed
that the enrolment will be record
breaking.
with the figures at hand there seems
little doubt that the problem of pro-
viding accommodations will be equally
as serious, If not more so, as last year.
The situation in the high schools is
particularly acute, and while double
sessions and part time have become
eosfs m nf N
have to resort to triple sessions TO
take care of ali their pupils.
1000 More Sittings
Only about 1000 additional sittlngs
have been provided this year in the
high schools to Offset an increase of
more than 10000 students. Besides
these there are many entering the sec
ord year eff high school from the
junior high schools, and officials frank
" admitted yesterday that many of
these students would have to stand
during at least one period of the day.
The De Witt Clinton High School re-
ported an enrolment of 5000 boys,
The most ever to be registered in one
school in the history Of the city. In
BROOKLYN, great overcrowding was re-
ported at Erasmus, Boys and Manual
Training high schools. At the close Of
school last June there were 10000
pupils on part time in the high schools,
out OF a total enrolment of 10000.
This year there will be more than
100000, with fully half of them on
part time.
Dir. j. Herbert Low, principal of
Erasmus Hall High School, said yes
terday he would have a registration of
about 5000 for which he has approx
nately $500 seats. AS a result, he
will have to arrange for two full ses-
sions day, with classes starting at
1850 a. m. and running until sos p. m.
This is the first time that. we have
been forced to have a double session
to meet The emergency" said DIR. Low,
"and the teachers as we'll as the
pupils viii have to work in shifts.
We have new buildings planned and
noney appropriated, but of course no
issstantial relief can be expected for
ssYsral years"
Grades Overlooking
In the case of the elementary schools
great overcrowding was reported, with
but few exceptions, from all parts of
the city 1t had been hoped that the
five new buildings and the more nu-
merous portable and temporary struc-
tares ~ouid aUord some relief from
the acute congestion of last year, when
at the close of school there were
10000 pupils on part time.
The total additional seating capacity,
however, for the elementary schools is
about $4,000. Taking into considera-
ton the fact that they will each pro-
vide for two pupils, since they will all
be used in double sessions, approx
mately 10000 additional sittings are
available.
According to the school officials, the
average enrolment of new pupils in
the elementary schools is about $4,000,
Dat since this figure probably will be
exceeded this year the additional Sit
nngs VIII play no part in reducing ap-
preelably the number of part time
Mr. Ryan and DIR. ]. A. Ferguson,
chairman of the committee on buildings
ana sites, are also working on plan
70 facilitate the task of providing more
sci sehoci buildings. According to DR..
1Ssfgason, there are now in construc-
tlon torty-five new buildings, but the
req tape surrounding the letting of con-
tracts causes much delay Plans are
oelng made to seek new laws in the
aext Legislature which will allow the
BOARD M To4, ~.