New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-01
HANDs OFF TIE SCHOOLS.
REPELLItG ASSAULTS ON THE SYSTEM
TEE REV. DR. JAMES NJ. KING WARNS PoLITIoA
AND CHURCH lErRrsuERs

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TEE REV. Oh. JAMES NJ. KING WARNS POLITICAL
AND CHURCH IsTRIGuERs
The Rev. Or. J,mes NJ. King, pastor of st. Andrews
Methodist Episcopal Church, IN west Seventy frstst
near Ein'haye., delivered an address last evening on
tho subject OF Assaults on the School system .
me discourse consulted principally Of an analysis OF
the hfiis now befon the Legislature providing for
changes In the mctA,d Of selecting members Of the
Board OF Education, ana for State aid for various
charitable educational institutions DR.. King said
that be had been to Albany to aiook after those
Bills and from what he Jaw there he had become con
WINGED that the average Assemblyman was not a
statesman.
Assembly bnl No. 3a1, introduced by Thomas
Smith, ir., was act t. provide for the better
equalization OF representation in the Board Of Educa
ton, Of New-york City. Tfp act proposed that each
Assembly District, should hive ono member of tho
Board Of Education, to DO appointed by tho Mayor
There were many objections 70 this bill, Dr. King
said. 1t granted no new powers 10 the Mayor. but
restricted his present powers Tie Board of Education
not being legislative body, shod not therefore, be
representative body. It's duties were simply adj
mdnistratve There seventeen assembly Districts
south OF Forty secondst., and only seven north of
that thoroughfare. A law such as proposed by this
b0l would put the educational Interests OF the city
IN the hands Of ignorant but powerful political
class The ignorance of tho masses in many Of the
lower districts appalling, and in this ignorance
Dr. King the greatest possible peril % the CITY,
to the State and 10 the Nation Besides, tho bin
would convert the Board OF Education into political
machine. 1t was bad enough, Or. King said to have
boards OF trustees with their appointing powers over
tho teachers, without having the Board Of Eflcaton
so constituted as to present no restraining influence
at ell M any Of tho school districts.
Bill No. e94, introduced by Mr. Blumenthal DR.
King said, was an act to amend section 1900, chap
ter zto Of tie laws Of 1882. 50 to include amsng
the Institutions TO receive state aid az oSst three Of
an uiioubted soctaran character. 1t was significant
that. although the Board of Education was given
supervision over these schools they were 70 be undoy
the direct conhrol OF their own trustees. If this bin
should become law, IL would divert from It's lcgitL
mate uses the common school fund. Another objec.
ton was that It makes appropriations from tho school
moneys Of the State and city to institutions under
seetarian control for the payment Of sectarfan teach
ers It's enactment would make the State party
to the teaching Of the tenets OF religion ovr which
it has no supervision and would constitute dangeE
Gus connection OF Church and State II the inmates
OF these institutions TO be the wards Of the State
the State should the right to supervise thar In
| an entering wedge foqced by sectarian hands. 1t
would result In the establishment of denonhnatisna
tom DR.. King thought there was particular danger
In the recognition BY the State OF sect that teaehs
tSis SoSernmen Such teeebIps he eSnSdsT S es
relation upon, both teacher and pup.l. :,
y would be betSer, said Dr. King t9 let al
IN his opinion, should pay taxes. well all other
honest debts, without consideration from the state.
posing Roman Catholicism. He was arraycd against
the principle Of using public money for sectarsn par
non school SYSTEM vas the pdc and glory "
great Republic said be: q let political and church
We want no foreign dictat0n to American voters and
no Church and State in American politics.