New-York tribune., 1880-02-07
THE PRESENT SCHOOL SYSTEM
WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS THINK OF SUGGESTED
CHANGES.

WHAT THE COMMISSIONERS THINK OF SUGGESTED
CHANGES.
The bill introduced in the Assembly by
James L. Wels VINO represents two wards north OF the
Harlem River, created general surprise In education
circles yesterday, aud the subject OF much discus
SION 1t is proposed to egslae" the present Board OF
Education out Of office In twenty days, and hereafter to
allow the Boards of Trustees choose the School Com
ulssioners, taking the appointing power out Of the
OF the Mayor II, however, gives tie Mayor the
power appoint the trustees bui not uu the terms Of
the present ncumbeuts have expired.
Stephen A. Walker president Of the Board of Educa
ton said yesterday that he Thought the best argument
against the bill the fact that the present system
was working admirably. and was not the ground Of
complaint Al present each body composing the educa-
uOnal system chain was check upon the other
The new bill, he thought had many bad features.
Commissioner Manierre said II the person who
drew up the bill had intended TO break up completely
the educational system think he has gone at II IN the
proper way. The proposed plan seems TO be one by
which the tail IS going TO Ypg the dog The system
couldn't be better than II Is at present Then why
change IT. We have three bOdies each distinct and
separate who watch other and guard the interest
of the schools The highest Of these bodies is the Board
OF Education. II you remove the members OF ihe
present Board and allow The trustees TO appoint ne"
members, t mixes things up. Ine trustees now aie the
OF the Board Of Education, aud yet they WIZ
nave the power to appoint their superior BODY II the
ward wny tue local politicians viii be at work ana tle
boards OF Trustees Will pe composed wholly Of poll
ti,ians. These politicians Will appoint probably one
member OF the Board 10 represent tue ward IN the
Board Of Education Ia this way politics VIII control,
m a great measure, tie administration Of the school
system. We allow politics to enter INTO the con
sllrraUtOu or matters IN the present Board III
fact, 1 do not think the members generally
know the political opinions Of the Other
Commissioners. Ifa Comm ssOner were appOu uted Dy
tue trustees OF ward he wOul0 feel 10 his duty TO hSnt
for tnat ward. OF the lower wards, when only
have two OF three schools would have the repre-
sent ton as the wards uptown where there are
Board OF Education Is the body which settles all dig
putc and would feel that as long as they
appointed Commissioners the latter ought TO uphold
nil The sections the IL tne bill should pass
s'npOse two-thrds OF the present Commissioners
would DO turned OF office Even such radical
change would have moot disastrous elect oa the
COMMISSIONS West said IL would be Il very bad
change 10 have each ward represented III toe bOald or
by a Commissioner. The bad effects OF the
old aystem he in the city now. Each member
lOugnt Tor uls own neghbO rhOOd, 10 matter hOW much
other parts OF the Clty would have 10 suffer.
rnrro are some schools In the city close
one to the other. They can't bottled with children,
although there is the greatest need for schools else
where This caused by the schools being Duit IN
different but near ihe dividing lines. The
Commissioners now do not represent any particular
part O the city. There two or three from some
wards and none Ht all frOm Then the idea OF
allowing Boards Of Trustees to appoint the members
would for District Court Judges to appoint tine
Court OF Appeals. II wOud destroy the whole system
Eufus q. Benrdstc said ne failed 10 what adyan-
tage Was to be gained by the change.