New-York tribune., 1922-10-14
3O,l89 More
On Part Time
In City Schools
Situation Far Worse Than
Year Ago Despite Al, ,O23
Additional Seats Provided
in As New Buildings
Promised Relief Fails
Delayed Plans Hold Little
Hope to- I-53, loo Children
Facing Severe Handicap

Ihe public school situation to-day, in
comparison with the status of year
ago, holds out little hope to the parents
of the 153,186 children who are being
compelled to take their education in
small, part-time doses through lack of
proper facilities.
nve Aew structures have been added
since September 1921, to the city's
educational system, with provisions for
al,o23 more seats, there are actually,
ior some lncomprehensibl reason, 3d.
tSs more children on part time to-day
ehan there were year ago. This takes
INTO account that the increase this year
IN the number of pupils registered over
that OF last year was only 22,103.
The total number of part-time pupils
In both the elementary and high
schools at the present time, according
TO fgures given cut at the Board of
Education offices, is 1896 In Sep
tember OF 1921 the figure was 122,977.
Where Is Promised Relief?
With the registration this year
bringing in only 1859 more pupils"
remarked an official Of the Public Edu-
cation Association, "and As new build
ings, with 41,o23 seats prepared with
IN the last year to take care of these
and some Of the part time children of
ao,ls9 more pupils on part time than
we had last year at this time. What's
happening? Where is that elaborate
program we have been hearing so much
about for the elimination of this part
time evil?"
With this mystifying situation, as
ne expressed it, staring one in the face,
the official asserted that he failed to
see how the present plans Of the au-
thorities for attacking the problem
could mean anything.
Il understand, and the figures may
be obtained at the Board of Educa-
tion's Offices" he said, "that there are
now under contract and in course Of
erection AZ projects for elementary
and high schools which are to provide
49,S02 more seats. When these prof.
ects will be ready heaven only knows.
But this is clear--if despite the As
new schools and buildings provided
during the last year the number of
part time pupils has actually in
creased from 122,977 in September,
1921, to 153,168 this year, the AZ new
projects will certainly not do much
to remedy the situation.
Plans Aren't Buildings
"It is true that plans are being
drawn for thirty-six new buildings,
with capacity for 49,110 seats, but
these plans are merely being drawn,
and their fruition certainly is not to
be looked for in several years, so that
they can hardly be said to- enter into
the present crisis"
The serious nature Of the situation
was barely limited at by George j.
Ryan, president Of the Board of EGuca-
ton, at It's regular meeting on Wednes-
day He insisted then that the condi-
tions in the administration Of the ele-
mentary schools "seem to warrant i'm
mediate action by the Board Of Educa-
tion."
DR.. William L. Ettinger, Superin-
tendent of Schools, said yesterday that
a reply to President Ryan's remarks
was being prepared Asked about the
conditions with respect to the ade-
quacy Of the teaching stats Of the
schools, DR.. Ettinger said that the bill
granting teachers increases in salary
practically had eliminated the problem
Of obtaining the necessary number of
teachers and that the schools to-day
were amply provided for in this re-
spect.
Figures Analysed
An analysis of the part time figures
show that in September, 1921, there
were se,15s elementary pupils and s6,-
s24 high school pupils on part time.
In September of this year there were
94,2S2 elementary pupils and 58,984
high school pupils on part time. The
total number Of part time children last
year at this time was 122,977. This
year the number is 1896. The num-
Der Of pupils registered last year WAS
s18,764. The number registered this
year is 83O,867.
During the period between Septem-
Der Of 1921 and October of this year
there have been added eighteen new ele-
mentary schools, ten additions to ex-
listing buildings and twelve temporary
structures, with total Of 86,347 seats;
one new high school and three addi-
tions to existing structures, with 4,a76
seass s sa and one tt s1hSo 10 Il w
additional seating facilities.