New-York tribune., 1922-12-29
Hylan Assailed
BY Ettinger on
Schools Report
Says Ryan's Statement OF
10000 Siiiings Lost in
CIassrooms Is ''ShOi
Through With Error"
Challenges spotlight
Superintendent Declares the
Mayor Should Not Hide
Any Infamy of 'Ring'

william L. Ettinger. superintendent
Of Schools. wrote yesterday 20 Mayor
Hvlan that the conclusions drawn By
the unknown investigator" Of George
l.. Ryan. president Of the Board Of Edu-
cation. IN regard 70 the part-time
school problem we're "as inaccurate as
one could reasonably expect Of an In
experienced or intellectually dishonest
investigator"
Besides eritleizing Mr. Ryan's inyes-
tieation report. Dr. Ettinger challenged
tho Mayor to turn the spotlight Of
publicity" on any one in the school sys-
tenn supposed to belong 70 the "Roeke-
fcller-Gary ring" The Mayor ire
oucntlv has referred 20 such persons
as detrimental 20 the schools.
81 note I'm this mornings press said
Superintendent Ettinger. "that you FOR
warded % the president Of. the Board
~ Education. under date Of December
27. 1922, n letter commencing him for
his recent report on school sittinRs' IN
which he alleged that $4,000 sittings
were lost.
Points Out Discrepancies
MAY relieve your anxiety with
reference TO the matter AZ issue7 De-
spite the fact that the schools are not
in session and that our cheek-up Of
such erroneous statements had 10 be
made In a few hours, our official rec
ords show conelusively that the data
and conclusions OF the presidents un-
known investigator are as inaccurate
as one could reasonably expect OF an
inexperienced or intellectually dishon-
est investigator Indeed, am inclined
10 share your we'll known prejudice
against expert investigators, for this
and previous reports Of the president
disclose mistakes that even hcChulay's
proverbial schoolboy would blush 10
sponsor.
As I pointed out AZ the Wednesday
session Of the Board Of Education, IN
% the $4,000 lost sittings IN
the president overlooked the
following essential facts: fa) That his
figures crroneously included q group
Of 1882 slttinRs fully accounted for.
but duplicated in his total, because Of
tho failure 10 interpret data properly;
tbl that the total number Of new sit
tings for the year ending October 81.
1922, amounting 20 29,iS4, does not
represent the net gain IN sittings. be-
cause from such total must be deduct
ed approximately 1000 sittings lost %
the elementary schools because Of the
Of buildings unfit for use
or allotment 70 continuation schools
~ lfrrH ashmWNm HNa % AtNnaa
Of 200 Sittings due % repair work
that must be carried on through the
school year, and approximately 500
emergency sittings, giving a net elm
ination Of 400 sittings.
Asaails Ryan's Statement
Add these 400 sittings 90 the
original error o. 1852. md accordi-v
20 our Official figures, as distinct from
those used by the preEident. the net
amounts 70 $50 sittings.
city-Vidc through more
than 800 schools. This difference will
easily b. accounted for as soon az The
schools reopen and we are able 20
ret first hand information from the
morous factors that often lead 20 the
7 AHAAfAAAN VI lIfHFNh EAkAAUkHs
As a man OF vision and large busi-
ness experience. you are perfectly COM
petcnt TO pass judgment on the pro-
priety Of the presidents action in re-
leasing 70 the press on Christmas Day
& statement affecting our schools, shot
through with error and given publicity
In advance Of formal presentation
either 20 the Board OF Education or the
Superintendent Of Schools. The presi-
dent So entitled 20 ask for infoTma-
ton, but has he the right 20 make
unwarrhntcd accusations1 Was not
such an act not only a violation Of
professional ethics but Of sound bust
ness procedure, especially in view Of
the fact that. as Mark Twain remarked
regarding a premature announcement
Of hia death, the statements, while in
tcrcsting. were slightly exaggerated
Furthermore, you congratulate the
president Of the board on the ground
that, according 90 your lucid i-'r-n-"-
otion Of events, he IL turning the spot.
light on the Rockefeller ma ...
and takers In our public schools. who
neither want new schools eonstrueted
nor tho children grounded in the fun
damcntals" Presumably such whirling