New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-11


OF DOUBTFUL FoLICY-IuE SUPERIORITY Oh
THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
To the Edttor Of The TrtbUne.
SIR: AZ the yearly meetings of the state
Lelss.ature proposition 10 change our school law i
generally introduced, sometimes by representative
who the educational system ana honestly
seeks TO Improve #. but most often by those VINO are
totally ignorant OF the fundamental princip e. upon
which the system rests and from winch It derives is
Whaling foFce. or all the absurd plans That have
been Matched from year year by ambitious legislators
and their mlScheyous aDtt.ors. none bas ever been
marked by such ridiculous features the ono which Mr.
Wells has TINS year presented Tor the approval OF or
Albany law makers and which was reported favoraby
to Hous0On last Saturday morning by the Assembly
Committee on Public Education.
THIS new bill proposes sweeping and thorough
change. Itreyerses al the conditions Of the past II
illustrates in It's provisions. the Scrpiura idoa that
the Lass shall DO first and the first snail be ast =
for iustead OF having Central Board OF Education,
ne at present composed Of gentlemen selected from the
city at large and ndcpendent OF local control In the
exercise Of their important duties It proposes to make
this Central Board a subordinate authority whose MEM
bors shah derive their appointments from the local
school trustees II anything can exceed IN grotesqne
folly scheme OF TINS sort must come from the uralH
OF q lunatic.
The agowed reasons for the passage OF this measure
a. stated by its advOcaie, % that the school Com
nsioners should present districts aud be acquainted
with the wants OF localities IN which hey reside
and % they should be men OF experience 10 7choo
Affairs
rpaoubcdy IL "a desirable that the members Of the
Board OF Education should De familiar with every
branch OF tie school service ana should understand IFS
needs ana tne scope grand mission. But VINO VIII
say that the present School Commissioners are unequal
TO their high trusts fail in intelligent appreciation
| Of their important o1hcesi VINO viii say that
/ a Board chosen in the way that MI Wells
| Inn IaNG
would better administer the schoold system than the
officers who are now charged with this grave re'ponsi-
! buuv1 AT any rate, Il would seem but fair that the
reasons upon winch judgment IN favor OF this latter
| proposition is formed should be publicly stated he
fore the mere assertion shall pass for nrgu-
,pent What are the facisi or the twenty mcmb rs
Of the Board Of Eductto am informed, seventeen
Of them have had an average OF seven years. expe
r,uce each in the work and duty OF school affairs and
IL NAV be very grayey doubted II the oca! trustees can
Vow ns 10 the question Of residence. Prior TO 1863
three school Commission were elected 10y the people
frnn each OF seven school districts, ana they
0ured to residents OF the district from winch they
we're chosen. 1t is indispuiaby true thar
| under fhis system many serious abuses existed,
and a species OF "log-roling" prevailed N the
! Board Of Education winch was a Disgrace 10 our
was tlat in compliance with a general demand on the
part OF the people ana me r%sPapeS, te ou INV WaT
most IN force was adopted Inc
i,c i featnrea of lie law under which the present
Sysfrf1 IS organized, are
E,rsi Each of tho twenty wards is rcprcse ted
by five Trustees, who are appointed by The central
Board ..
| seutcG by three Inspectors
third The city large il represented by tweuty-nne
ConmissI0nors who. IKE the School Inspectors, ar" a
pointed by the Mayor, oncthrd gong out Of once az
/ the end oil the year. , .
The merit oi this arrangement consists in The fact
that Of representation finds prOpef rccog
uiiOp and while the local Interests are watched over
nv local officers there IL central board having general
Jurisdiction winch Is wholly removed from lOca prtlu-
dcrs aud Influences. Under This plan wholesome ANA
MIS-. system checks and balances prevails and IL j.
difficult either branch OF the school administration
IN ,o A II felt Inclined Tie bill
Introduced BY Mr. Wells reNerses the order OF things.
nv is provisions the school trustees 10 appoint
Tie COMMISSIONERS who instead OF exercising general
/ fractions will have their duties circumscrbed by
he it~rsts OF the particua districts which they
reside Surely this cannot he regarded as an improve
nout bv any friend Of educ ,tOn upon system which
| has worked satisfactorily FOR the last ten
| wears. Nor IL bt supposed that Commis
s,omrrs elected I'm the way indicated by the new bi
viii h. ~ free and untrammeltd 10 their actions as Com
uiseioners have heretofore been Bcsdes, II may DO
stly questioned whether or not Inc local trustees nave
ry specal ntnesS for the duty OF making appointments
OF thls kind. . 49, - - -. ,
snail content self with pointing out the mschlrVOu'
| purpose OF the bill and the injury 10 me
system which would follow its enactlneht. WIG
n IL that asks for the passage Of uli'
| measured what has occurred since 1873, when th'
nreeeut school passed by Republican leglsla
re 10 weaken the popular confidence IN the sch oil al
nnisIatIon3 May not be tha there are personal "a
we'll as public ends be subserved by The adoption or "a,
change in the School law proposed Dy Mr. West Al III
events IN Legislature should hesitate o-tOrc ~ lhdose
scheme so radical and extraordinary as hat undel
| considerations ID
| JorE Mari O..