Newsday from New York, New York • 30

a -5: i 4 A BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOODS S. Phone Items to (718) 520-0505 BROOKLYN CLOSEUP BROWNSVILLE Experiment At PS 41 Wins National Praise An experimental program at PS 41 has been hailed as a model for American elementary schools by the leader of the nations largest teachers union. Albert Shanker, chairman of the American Federation of Teachers, said during a luncheon in Washington last week that the school has gone beyond the current reform efforts, which have helped just the top 20 percent of students. These people are developing a bottom-up approach and trying to reach the 80 percent of students we never really educate, Shanker said. PS 41, an elementary school with about 1,000 students at 411 Thatford is in the first year of a three-year experiment for children 4 to 8 years old that allows them to learn at their own rate and eliminates what some believe is an unhealthy sense of competition that exists in conventional classroom settings.

Michelle Bodden, the United Federation of Teachers chapter leader at PS 41, said the school does that by eliminating traditional groupings, such as first grade, second grade or kindergarten. Instead, students are evaluated fay a system of skills check lists, and moved along at their -own speed regardless of their age or years in school. Because there are no grades, the stigma of remembering that other students were doing better in those earlier years is eliminated, said Bodden, who met with Shanker at the Washington luncheon. Some children learn faster than others, she said, but it doesnt mean they are smarter. This way we can keep a child at the level that suits the childs development.

Herbert Ross, the schools principal, said the next three years will show whether the experiment ran produce children of fourth-grade age who have a better grasp of basic reading, writing and math skills. Boss said it also allows teachers to develop because it calls for them to work in teams of three, with each teaching their specialty to wider range of children. Michael Moran Nevada? Viorel nmescu David Teitler, president of Temo, at the disputed site in Maspeth, Queens. Brooklyn, Queens Firms Battle Over Plot of Land BROOKLYN HEIGHTS Art Covers Subway Station Floor If subway riders passing through the newly modernized Clark Street station on Thursday seem to be staring at their feet theyll have good reason. The new multicolored floor they will be walking on will be more than something on which to tread, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

It is art. What the MTA calls a feast far the eyes and a puzzle far the mind is artist Ray Rings terrazo floor in multicolored geometric patterns featuring a red circle, yellow triangle and gray-white square leading from the elevators to the platform steps. Transit Authority President David Gunn is expected to attend a dedication ceremony for the artwork at 11 a.m. By Caryn Eve Wiener Its not a large piece of land measuring about 10,000 square feet at most but it is large enough to have become a sticking point for the two businesses that want it. A Brooklyn iron works company has been seeking the property, which is in a Queens industrial park, because the city has condemned the companys Brownsville land for housing.

A Queens paper distributor wants the land too, because it is right next door, convenient for the firms planned expansion. The vacant plot on 48th Street in the West Maspeth Industrial Park was appraised at $140,000 last October, while the city Public Development Corporation discussed its negotiated sale to Naiztat Iron Works. Naiztats attorney, Corey B. Kaye, said the companys owners, Henry and Herbert Naiztat, have since invested between $60,000 and $75,000 in architectural and other preparatory work for construction. Naiztat believed that the citys willingness to sell, first declared in August, 1987, would expedite their firms relocation from land where Ne-hemiah Plan housing is to be built.

It appeared that everything was going full steam aimed, Kaye said. So when Queens Community Board 5 met on Nov. 11, 1987, to review the lands disposition, Naiztat believed it was realty. The brothers certainty turned to surprise. David Teitler, the owner and president of Temo, a West Maspeth paper goods distribution firm, attended the meeting to state his own interest.

Having built a headquarters next door three years ago, Teitler hoped to eventually buy the contiguous parcel from whoever the owner was and expand his firm, which serves a buty tristate wholesale market. Teitler arrived at the local meeting, still reeling from a surprise of his own: He said he had only found out by chance, just before the meeting, that the city owned the land and was about to sell it. Joannene Coppinger, CommUnty Board 5s district manager, was also surprised. Teitlers appearance came out of the blue, she said, but it certainty heartened her that she had made the proper decision some weeks earlier: The PDC had asked Community Board 5 to simply waive its right to review the matter, she said, and she turned them down. Angry, Coppinger said the PDC obviously was trying to expedite getting Naiztat away from the Nehemiah land But we dont waive our right, ever.

The community board recommended that, consistent with Mayor Edward Kochs year-old policy on public land disposition, the PDC give first option on the land to interested adjacent property owners, such as Temo. And now, because the Board of Estimate has concurred, Teitler seems as certain hell have that chance to purchase as the Naiztat brothers were certain last autumn. On March 10, the Board of Estimate passed a resolution introduced by Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, directing the PDC to consider Temos interest before negotiating further with Naiztat. If Temo wants it, PDC will mk its best efforts to sell it to them, said PDC spokesman Lee Silberstein. But we were hoping to close the sale with Naiztat soon.

Now we are back at square one." Kaye contends that, had the PDC simply contacted Temo earlier, the situation would have come to light sooner. But Silberstein said the PDC was not obligated to do so because, undecthe mw city policy, it was allowed to deal withNaiztat on a sole-source basis, because it served an important 'public purpose helping clear land for Nehemiah housing. We are continuing to help Naiztat, Silberstein added. We want them to stay in the city. But Naiztat is hardly sure it can stay on its land, or even in business, Kaye saidr A court order directing the firm to leave Brownsville has been stayed, but only until June 30.

NEWSDAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1968 NY-B EAST FLATBUSH Health Day Program Slated by Hospital Health for all by the year 2000 is the goal of the World Health Organization, which is sponsoring World Health Day on April 17. Kings County Hospital Center will celebrate the day 10 days early on Thursday with a free health education program focusing on AIDS, cancer awareness and prevention, breast feeding and substance abuse. The event starts at 10 a.m. in the outpatient department lobby of the building on die hospital campus. There will be a video presentation on quitting smoking and early detection of breast and testicular cancer.

Registered nurses will be on hand to answer questions. 3.