The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-28
Important School Legislation.


regret to those who have the best interests of
our Public School system at heart. The sec
tional Boards Of Directors are elected by the
people, and from among their own number
in each case they select one to serve upon the
Board of Control for the term of one year.
To this method there are many serious OBJ
jections. In the first place, the Controller
thus chosen is dependent upon the Sectional
Board for his continuance in Office, and he
necessarily lacks that independence which is
so essential in an officer of this character.
The only way in which he can secure a re-
election is by obeying every wish and whim of
those who have elevated him to his position.
Moreover, his action as a Controller is fire.
quently fettered by positive instructions, which
are often in direct violation of law. At the
present time one of the Controllers, in obe-
dience to his Sectional Board, is endeavoring to
force upon the schools a teacher who does not
hold the certificate of qualification required
by statute and a similar violation of
the law has been perpetrated three several
times within a recent period.
Many of the Sectional Directors are men who
are fully qualified, not alone for their own per-
sonal duties, but as well for the selection of a
person to represent them in the Board of Con-
troll. Such men, however, do not hold the
sway The majority of the Directors are elected
solely through political intrigue, and are not
in any degree better qualified for filing respon-
sble public positions than the traditional log
rolling and wire-pulling ward politician. Sec
tarianism, likewise, plays leading role in the
Sectional Board. The fact is notorious that,
in several wards, it is impossible for a Protes-
tant to secure an appointment as teacher,
while in several other wards Catholic aspi-
rant is as effectually excluded. This sectarian
influence is also exerted in positive as well
as in a negative manner, as teachers have fire.
auently been removed solely because of their
religious predictions.
1t is not surprising that the Controllers
and Directors elected through such infu-
ences are in very many instances mentally
and morally unequal to the responsible
ties of their position. One member of a
Sectional Board, indeed, has been in
dicted for assault and battery, the ofense
being based upon an attempt to kiss lady
seat in state of intoxication, and more than
one earns support by the sale of spirituous
liquors And even when a Controller is fully
capable, and has been permitted to remain in
the Board long enough to become cOnversant
with the duties required of him, if he do not
truokle! in every instance to his Sectional
Board he is liable to be dropped, at the expi
nf for Ona NUhO will
prove more subservient.
In the view of these facts, it is not surprising
that the people of this city, each and every one
of whom has such deep and lasting interest
in the public schools, should demand a change.
The subject has frequently been agitated, and
at last the change draws near. The following
bill has been reported favorably to the lower
House at Harrisburg, with every prospect o
securing its passage
ANACT 10 Provtde tOr the 4ppointmera Of, Control
lerS Of The Public Schools Of the First School Dis
trtct Of Pennsylvania.
Representatives Of the State Of Pennsylvania in
General Assembly met. aud itls hereby enacted by
Public Schools Of the First School District Of Penn
sylvana shall hereafter be appointed follows VIII:
IL shall be the duty OF the Judges Of Court of
Common Pleas for the city aud county Of Phiiadel-
siiy and scaSsS R6iiaSdelp6la' . apPSiat under
their HANDS ana under the seal OF the said courts
respectively, twentyseven persons, citizens OF said
District. 10 serve as Controllers OF Public Schools
in manner folIOwing1The Judges OF the said Court
of ofCOmmon Pleas shall appoint fifteen of said twenty
seven Controllers, and shall designate the names Of
1868 five them for two years from January
/, 1865 hye OF them 10 serve for three years from
And The judges OF said District Court shall appoint
twelve of said twenty-seven Controllers, and shall
designate the names OF four OF them TO
year from January l. 1868; four OF them TO for
two years from January 1868; four of them
fnrt Nh III
And shall also be the duty OF the Judges of the
said Court OF Common Pleas on or before the first day
point five citizens Of said district to Control
ers OF Public schools OF said First District, Tor the
term of three years. commencing on the first day
January next succeeding their said appointment.
And Il shall also be the duty OF the Judges Of the
said District Court before the first day OF De
cember in each year after the year 1868 appoint
four citizens OF said district 70 serve as Controllers of
three wears com nlniencing the first day of
airy next succeeding their appointment II shall also
appointments To select one Controller from each
ward of said city, and they sha!l MI az vacancies
occasOned by removals, resignation. death, or other
cause Oy appointments trom the ward in which such
Section The said persons 50 as aforesaid TO be
appointed shall constitute the Board of Controllers Of
the First District of Pennsylvania ana snail meet nu
organize the said Board annually, on thehrss Monu@y
Section The said Board of Controllers shall have
which the present existing Boafd Of Controllers of
Psoie schools Of said District now lawfully mas: :.
section d. The Controller so as Aforesaid appointed
from each ward, shall during his term of office by
virtue OF SAID appointment be member Of the Board
membership. vs. ~
Section s. All laws or parts of laws so far as the
same may conflict with OF repugnant to the pro
visions OF this act, are hereby repealed.
A careful perusal of this act shows that it
fully meets the requirements of the case. No
1aaas NJ man in the cor,ro,,,,;.,, - - Ill