New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-14
School Heads
Favor PLAN TO
Resg,radePaa pils
Adopt Resolution 10 Inves-
tigate Scheme TO Relieve
Congestion; Son,ers Tells
of Its Success Elsewhere
Would Solve Problem,
President Ryan Gets Power
TO Act in Queens School,
as Children Are Shut Ont

A report and resolution advocating
a thorough investigation Of the plan
of regarding pupils, in an effort to
lessen the congested condition in the
public schools, was adopted yestcr-
day at the meeting of the Board Of
Education. The report was submitted
by Arthur S. Somers, chairman Of the
committee on finance and budget, and
contained the recommendations adj
vanced by that committee at one of
its regular meetings.
The plan, which has already re-
ceived some publicity through the ac-
tivity in its behalf of George j. Ryan,
president of the Board of Education,
consists briefly in regarding the pupils
on the basis of their ability, or lack
of 1T, to forge ahead more rapidly than
those who are less proficient. In adj
dition to cbviating the injustice to the
brighter students, through holding
them down to the rate of progress of
the less able, the plan has the adj
vantage of saving thousands of seats
a consideration of vital concern.
Cites Success of Plan
In advocating the adoption of his
resolution Mr.. Somers declared that
the plan had been tried in several cities
in the United States with seeming sue
cess and asserted that the New York
officials could not afford TO overlook the
possibilities of the scheme. He added
that there was a danger of an ingrow-
ing attitude on the part of the authori-
ties OF the city and said that he was in
favor of sending one or more experts
of the department on n tour CT the
country to bring back the best features
of the various educational systems as
they found them.
President Ryan was given power by
the board to act in the matter of the
Broad Channel School, in Queens, where
the forty-eight pupils found them.
selves locked out of the leased build
ing last Tuesday, on the ground that
the city had failed to pay the rent fol
last year and this. Mr.. Ryan said he
learned the situation was brought to
the attention of the Sinking Fund Com
mission last July, but the board mac
not heard of it until after the affair
of last Tuesday. He announced that
he would see the Corporation Counse.
to-day in an effort to adjust the mat.
ter quickly. In the meantime the chill
dren are being cared for in the school,
at Rockaway Beach.
AS a means of relieving the con-
gestion at the De Witt Clinton High
School the board approved the leasing
of the building known as the Institu-
tional Synagogue, 81 to 43 West 116th
Street, for an annex. 1t was explained
that this building, which will be ready
for occupancy on October l., will have
| twenty-four class rooms and will &C.
commodate about 500 pupils
pIonc ~ e
schools in Brooklyn were also ap.
proved. Public School 1872, at Eight
centh Avenue and Forty-seventh Street
will provide for 1903 pupils and Public
School 1913, at Avenue L and Twenty.
sixth Street, will have 1889 sittings.
In addition the board voted to amend
the 1922 building program by adyan-
cling two items from the 1923 program
This provides for the building of 6
sixty nine-room school near Neptune
Avenue and West Twenty sixth Street
Brooklyn, and an addition of twelve
rooms to Public School 33, Queens.
Since the corporation counsel hac
rendered decision in regard to the
doubtful legality of the group appoint.
ment OF teachers subject to assign
ment by the Superintendent of Schools
the board voted that hereafter the
superintendent should accompany his
recommended appointments with list
of schools to which they are to be
assigned, the appointments to take
effect when approved by the Board Of
Education.
Mr.. Somers announced that his de-
partment had recently purchased $4,000
tons of coal at prices ranging from
S9.3S to $10.4S per ton. This in addi-
ton to the supply left in the bunkers
from last year, he said, was ample foI
their needs until regular contractors
could begin to make deliveries.