New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
THE PROPOSED RETISION or THE SCHOOL


The public schools of this city cannot be SAID
IN he suffering for want of attention from our
lawmakers at Albany. \ score or more OF bills
have been introduced during the session whose
purpose Is 10 accomplish something directly or
Indirectly for the schools or if not for the schools
proper, for the teachers who conduct them or
the Board Of Education which supcryiseS them.
But thus far only one of these many measures
has become law, while it is pretty safe to pre-
dict that the prospects of most of the others OF
reaching the statute-hook this year are exceed
inglv gloomy Included in the list of those
which are pending and ought not 70 be allowed
to fail is one Which provides for revision OF
the school laws. This is a measure entirely free
from partiSanship or Objectionable features OF
any sort, and its passage Is urgently demanded
by those who. having no selfish ends to serve,
are honestly intent upon conserving the educa-
tional interests OF the metropolis.
The simple statement OF the fact that our
school laws have not been subjected to IN ade-
Quate revision for nearly half a century certain
~ raises the presumption that they stand badly
in need of thorough overhaulIng. But still
the bill is opposed. In the course of a recent
interview Commissioner Guggenhemer, who is
chairman of the Board of Education's Committee
on Legislation, stated that the committee de-
clined 10 indorSe II. But while so doing the
Commissioner conceded that revision was neccS-
sary. The committee, he explained cOmbated
the measure ION the ground that there is al
ready committee of seven which has been APP
pointed by the Board of Education for this very
purpose. We believe the appointment Of any
additional committee would only confuse the
matter and thus do HARM 1t appears, there
fore. that the supporters OF the bill and the
Board of Education substantially agree They
all realize that the school laws ought TO be re-
viSed, their only difference relating 20 the means
for the accomplishment of the desired end. The
bill provides fer a commission Of five to be APP
pointed by the Mayor. This commission is to
90 through the school laws, is to receive
suggestions from members of the Board of
Education, school trustees, teachers and other
experts and of all who desire to be heard. Dis
cussing this subject School" newspaper
which is devoted to the public schools in par
ticular and educational interests in general, pro-
nounces in favor of the commission. 1t believes,
it says, that this is the only practical way in
which thorough and salutary changes may be
made in the present school system" 1t adds
that "for ten years or more various Boards of
Commissioners have abored TO bring about this
result, but the result has only been spaSmodic
efforts followed by sudden relapseS which have
contributed to the existing .incongrItieS in the
system, and which are continually bringing
down upon the schools the severest and in most
instances undeserved criticism"
I'm the debate in the Board of Education which
preceded the adoption of the report OF the Com
mttee on Legislation disappearing of the Re-
vision bill some of the members took narrow
and petty view of the important question They
seemed to regard the bill as an encroachment
upon their prerogatives. Without attempting
to show that the work Of revision could be as