The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-01
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
What 1t Means-Bad Features Of the Law
Disastrous Results from Its Passage-A
Dangerous Interregnum Probable in
the Management of the Schools.

Inc Vaine and efficiency OF the publlc school sys-
ten OF New York have been frequently spoken
OF In the columns of the HERALD, and are, indeed,
generally so well known, that il would be almost a
work of supererogation to refer TO the subject
were 1t not that bill has been introduced into the
Legislature which, while it would seem to be, at
hrst blush, good law, viii, If passed, prove be-
yond n doubt most pernicious in its effects. The
Board oi Education, or rather the Department OF
Public instruction, as at present constituted COM
prises several Of the most highly respected
members of commercial and professional
circles, as well rs gentlemen whose name
and fame, as leaders OF men in the field of
literature, are world. wide, and all OF whoa are
foremost among the friends and advocates OF popu-
lar education. The chief objection to them Is that
they were appointed by the late Chief Magistrate OF
the city, gentleman OF ne ordinary literary
qurements, and who could and did appreciate the
fact that the schools should be removed far as pos
sble from the fell miasma which always arises from
the dirty pool OF politics. The present ''reIOrm"
Legislature has now before it bill, introduced by
Mr. Patterson, OF this city, providing for entire
change in the organization OF the Department OF
Public Instruction, which means simply that the
present officials shall be turned out and new set,
more in consonance with the views OF the majority
OF the Legislature, appointed in their stead. The
| bill az introduced is as follows:-
An ACT relative to schools in the city of
The people of the State of New York represented In
Senate and Assembly ,n 81 DO enact as iollSwsm
Eshs
aG& lfsse
district Fiseenth and Eisieenth wards siSa d,s
and 1 wards Seventh dis
board srS a bic e sy q that sss mark
which e vested The rabs N
under this section The terms OF office Of the present
shall end their Slei tons cease and SAID be,
partmiSnt Of Public Instruction be abolished at the
sEc sT6s Mayor Of said city shall witls ave days
iA d
lot S & IN az. @ sa the ass
OF the Mayor as follows :none commissioner in each
commissioner each district hold Office a'iil ,he
district TO hold oiide until the rsi January 1876
said eonmssioners shall enter their duties at the ex
places Of the present Commissioners OF the Department OF
Public instruction, whose terms OF office terminated
appointed his act shan possess succeed
to Al the powers and perl9rm and succeed to al The
% a"S n: aar and o said il. board
appoint III each school district commissioner Of
January next sncceens and hold Office for the term Of
o an sco Is e Sfs G or
Otherwise shall be filled by the Mayor the
SIC. 5-Wheneyer in any laws the words BOARD OF
shall occur said words shall be taken 70 mean and com
So the Board Of and Com
SEQ. 6-withln fifteen days after the organization Of
s S 90 a Spa S IN said
rs Of 70 e Gd o Se or r or e
years, one for one year rom such date and one until
ia each Board Shall
Term Of i've years from the Of January then nex
they are seSefy De RESIDENTS OF me war Dr when
& SS OF e ~ eee OF SSw e
appointment OF their successors by the Board Of Educa
trustee s,9So, b death rsais
cation tor the unexpired term
The bill has been somewhat amended from the
above, but the plan OF change Is the same 10 pro-
vides according to the amendment, for tweniy-one
members TO be appointed from the city at large,
and opens up excellent opportunity for persons
OF corrupt inclination should such be appointed to
form most despotc ''ring" and control IN q most
INSCRIPTIONS manner the direction OF the schools
and the destiny and good order OF the scholars
and through Them in fact, the destiny and good
order Of the city and the STATE for on the rising
generation Will depend, in great manner, the
prosperity and welfare OF not alone this city nd
this State, but also the entire nation. The bill is
intended TO be sort Of tender to the charter, as
! there is no provision in the charter Tor Depart
Inent OF Education, and DO section or sentence
which provides for any management or supervision
! OF the schools between the time the charter be
comes Jaw and ten days after the passage OF this
extraordinary measure. Thus it will be seen that
DANGEROUS INTEREEGNUM
is very probable II may not be Tor a great length
of time owing to the persistency OF the partisans
| who are pushing this matter, but long enough TO
cause serious "trip up" This is o serious matter
for the thousands Of parents and others interested
in the schools to consider IL may be argued, now
ever that inasmuch as there Is no provision in the
charter fer doing away with the present Depart
ment OF Public Instruction, it will exist
during the time allotted by this bill The entire
act viii repay careful consideration for It's am
biguity and the very "thin" cover it makes for
the real intent and purpose OF those who have
fatnered it and who are now urging its passage.
The fact that 1t gives the appointing power 10 tne
fairness of those under whose direction the bill has
been drawn; but anybody VINO knows the clarac-
ter OF the present composition in the Board OF Al
as to give thar Board the right OF confirming noini-
necs TO tins Department, as well as controlling
Mr. Uaycmcycr yields TO their desires in the naming
OF school commissioners they VIII get square"
| with him on others. In fact some oil them nave
! already declared that such is their intention.
The bill ~ very faulty In another respect. It
makes no provision Tor the removal OF commits,
sioners or trustees, but leaves the schools and all
| connected with them at the mercy OF the oflcia )
! appointed under the act however INSCRIPTIONS
they may be. In relation 10 the provision respect
THE LOCAL BOARDS
or trustees ia the various wards the provisions OF
| the proposed law are undoubtedly dangerous 1t
may be argued that the Boards OF Trustees, as
chosen by the people IN the various warts are not
citizens: that miserable politicians in small locali-
ties have hitherto had controlling voices IN The
selection Of the trustees and that to meA, many OF
whom stood sadly in need OF schooltrainiDg them
selves were entrusted the selection and appoint.
ment of teachers and the direct voice In mans aging
the public schools. To great extent this is too
true. There are on record cases In which the local
officers have levied taxes on the school teachers
or those applying for appointment as teachers
and although in a majority OF the cases the poor
girls who made the applications could lily afford to
satisfy the Mober-ikc cOnscences OF the gentle
men who controlled the local boards, they were
Obliged to raise the money and pay it to these
IGNORANT AND BRUTAL COBM0RANTS
before they could secure any appointment. Cases
such as these are record IS having occurred IL
the Fourth ward and in the Seventeenth ward
In the former poor, lame girl was obliged to PAL
| to certain members of the Board lone OF whom /:
| now a memher of the city QnYcrnmenfl The sun