New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-07
TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOLS
AN INVESTIGATION RECOMMENDED


THE COMMITTEE on REFORMS ACCEPTS SEW.
ERAL AMENDMENTS TO IT'S SUGGESTIONS
Bernard Mcfarland, Of the Ninth Ward p,..
sented q communication 20 the Beard ~ Ednc.-
ton yesterday, asking for investigation OF the
conduct of School Trustee f. j. Tinsdale. OF that
ward. He charges the trustee with bringing dis
credit on the school system by expellng pupil,
from the Grove Street School. A report was also
made 10 the Board condemning this action and
recommending that all the pupils be readmitted
to the school Mr. McFarland's communication
was referred 20 the proper committee, and it was
stated that there will be an invest cation Of
the school affairs OF the Ninth Ward
Commissioner Webb, chairman OF .he Com
mlttee on School Reforms, surprised the Board
with several amendments 10 the committees re-
port, which was the special subject Of discussion
for this meeting. These amendments we're the
result, IL was afterward stated, OF a concession
on the 1art of the committee, as we'll as by those
who did not favor the report as originally pre-
sented. One Of them strikes out the classification
Of teachers into two grades, maximum
and standard provided by the report,
which has been severely criticised, leaving the
classification as il now stands Another amend
ment provides that teachers who for five sue
cessive years secure the highest standing and the
best results in their classes shall be reported by
the Superintendent TO the Teachers Committee
as exempt from future examinations so long
these good results continue The amendments
provide that this plan shall go into operation in
June, and teachers will be classified on their
standing for the last five years. These amend
mcnts were recommended by vote Of thirteen TO
six, and will be acted on by the Board at it,
next regular meeting in two weeks. Mr.. Sanger
presented several amendments on tie report
which will come up for consideration at the
same meeting
memorial was received from the Public Edu-
cation Society, of which Professor j. ). Newberry,
of Columbia College, is president, in relation to
defects in the public schools. The memorial was
gnea G{ uter cg ,bd Ry 6p Icbrg ssteree
John b Pine and Kate Y. Thompson. IL stated
that the society believes that the present public
school system OF the city Of New Orl is defective
III in respect 10 accommodations provided: ~ IN
respect to courses and methods OF instruction; l5)
in respect Of administration. In support vi thls
the memorial continues:
According TO the report for the school year enalns
December 81 1857. for the gammar schools theIs
were provided 1873 teachers, and for ne primary
schools I.Tf teachers. Thus. though NO primary
classes aimed 40 176 more pupils than the grammar
classes only 1866 more teachers were alOited 10 ulem
Furthermore though the primary children outnumosItu
The 5rammqr children by 40 276, only twelve more
schools were provided for their ac,ommodaion INC
nrimarv department Is invariably the lowest moor
5hpre there /, the least light the greatest anOnt o.
dampnc,s and the greatest amount or exposure 10 iou
unpifa,Ant or unhealthy surroundings.
The examination system IS examined ana cru;
cisod n, not in accord with recent educational
methods, In regard TO the administration oil the
schools the memorial says
There are intricate questions OF finance and 40
mr., uriann the details Of expenditure ana OF mfcid
administrations etc, which must De dlscisscd ana ae,
irrmned on and there also the great educaoh.i
questions with which the board should busy llsflL
IL * manifesty impossible for the same UoaI1 I'D
deal properly with these two sets Of problems moss
relating to business and those relating to educaton-
and any system OF government by commlI"c9 -,
10 RESPONSIBILITY and grave abuses ihal ue'o
should be- associated with the Board Of Educau0h
council or commission. composed OF persons moL;
particularly skilled and experienced IN cuuCd"uai
matters and more particularly lifted TO deal WIN
them * a suggestion worthy Of careful consideration.
We earnestly recommend that steps be taken 10 M
prove the efficiency of the schools IN the dlrecuQns
indicated We are Of opinion that this investigation
can be best undertaken BY special commission ap'
pointed for that purpose. For the constitution OK scn
a commission legislative authority may De necessary
but the Public Education Society will DC pleased 10 ap
pont a committee 10 cooperate with ComHituee OF
the Board OF Education in drafting Dill 10 De SUI
mltted 10 the Legislature now IN session. pfoVMLB
for the appointment Of a commission 10 lnVesug1to
the operations of the school law I'm this city, 10 revise
and codify the same and to recommend Improvements
I'm the school system.
The memorial was referred without discussion
IN rho Committee on School Reform