New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-20
TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOLS.
FREDERICK w. DEvoE. EX-COMMISSIONER
SUGGESTS RADICAL CHANGES. d
HE OUTLINES Ills PLAN FOR LETTERING TIE
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OF THE
CrTY-THE SUBJECT OF GROW y

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OF THE
C1TY-THE SUBJECT OF GROW =
ING IMPORTANCE.
Ex-Commissioncr Frederick W. Devoe has
given his views as follows 10 the School COM
mission in regard to changes in school laws he
has addressed his letter to E. Elery Anderson
chairman of the Committee to Revise the Laws
Affecting Common Schools and Public Educauoi'
in this city, Mr. Devoe says:
NV ideas as to the necessity Of important chan a
in the present laws governing the school sys,v IN
Growth of number Of years of hard service freely
given the city. During that service nave nwrr5ed
w sGne dfsfsvor sTadua into sS;
system but am convinced Of the sheer nSss n
der present conditions One of the important Iea IL
nrss 81 annuay eSpended It the
educational system over $5ooo0o and u mus Hs'
steadily .n r & re reou 1h. an .ne expenaure d
90 or 100000 yearly. Any practical business MAJ,
always attended with more or less waste ana my
experience has taught me that DIVIDED fespoi III
bity cumbersome management and delays are lhe
frequent Of waste in money and loss OF val AZ
liable time These defects. am convince nay n os
largely remeded by radical change IN sis oue w
administration 4 compact working body, piVp erl
selected and made directly 81 tne so S sir M
provements. There thirty Assembly, ds 5, ,n
,ar ' school districts among which the school pop
uation would be equtably distributed
An ELECTIVE AND sALAEIED BOARD.
The Board of Education should be composed u nd
more than fifteen Commissioners. Ten oil t"eSr
should be elected from these ten school dist lcts
one Commissioner from each district and voted l."
IN the general city ticket. same as the mayor
and the Controller. This would give an indi-
yidual representation of all sections, ana also
general expression with regard to them. In addi-
ton to these ten elected five more shou be APP
pointed by the Mayor, each one being taken from
should be elected appointed for term OF three
years: but at first might be elected or az.
fOin'eab fo ,er snorec certain number OF them say
about onethird, should expire eaca year anu ",
pointed or reelected, or others selected for their
places for the full term of three Years no p eIShI
for this Office The members Of the Board Of
Education should be paid regular salaries MOer
at the rate of s22O per annum The board sh1I Io
have saeG pesps the month Of
August For every absence from ron tines S Of
.acb wSn SO absent and member
absent from three successive stated meetings nls
promptly notified and new appoin.pent made 10
the Vacancy within twenty days TINS w, would tos
think insure attention to the duties OF the once
and prevent the work from devoying upon ooi lew
o o TIME and building should be visited and in
spected by some one Commissioner every month.
WIDER RANGE OF POWERS.
Not less than eight members should constitute
Quorum Of the board. The board should have
power. by a majority vote to suspend principals
or teachers for cause, for a period not exceed
ing one year. without salarv, and two-thiro1
vote should be required for 'h' removal OF any any
board should have full power 20 transfer any prh-
So l far and expsdea reqairss Amy
pupil to attend the school nearest 10 us resioehce
W These INF should also form the
of ps Sr , fSr so s adj
dItion In each instance OF the president OF the COZ
ege These boards should have and eae
trustee should receive in payment for his service
salary II 6 Of @ OF m sSo
be made for every absence from a stated meeane
absence After three successive absences the
board should declare the place vacant which you'd
The clause relating to conversation and remova
Sot less o than nine trustees should constitute
quorum. The Mayor should I'll any vacancy.
WORK OF THE INSPECTORS.
- would abolish the system OF local boards or
trustees, and also inspectors, and would enact
law for a new board of inspectors. These inspectors
should be appointed by the Mayor, three from each
school district. making thirty in all. They should
serve for term OF three years; their terms TO be
ARRANGED at the start, so that about one-thrd or
the number might expire yearly. They could Or
ganize board OF inspectors, TO hold regular
monthly or semi-monthly sessions. as they might
determine; and they should be allowed for tne'r
be provided with a suitable meeting room; neces-
sary books and stationery to be furnished them
lowance for clerk. Their duties should be TO visit
the schools of the city and TO report monthly or
oftener the Board of Education all such matters
as might require immediate attention. These re-
ports should include everything of importance that
buildings An annual report should be made by the
Education. Of their doqgs for the year containing
also such ma sxS as IN their
to remove any inspector for neglect of duty ana
TO fill any vacancy The inspectors should also
have the same jurisdiction over each Of the col
ditons of the colleges should also be reported
month TO the respective boards Of trustees. 1t
should be mandatory that every school depart
buildings should be visited and inspected at least
once each month by an inspector.
ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW SCHEME.
The selection Of sites and the erection of build
ings should be under the direct control OF the
Board Of Education The Board Of Estimate and
Apportionmert should retain the power 1t
now has with regard to the appropriations and
finances.
Quite much power as that now held by the
police and fire departments to regulate and con.
Education. The City Super!ntendents department
should be made Of more Importance and In closer
ASSOCIATION with ,he Boara OF h a.n1
of Buildings should arrange his Office so that his
assistants could act promptly 10 tne a and shon
Of to-day there need be no delay In responding to
them The great object 10 be oy osese
eject speedy transaction OF all business connected
with the educational system Each board. coInnhs-
eioners trustees and inspectors. would nave It's own
Tesnonsibility fxed apon IT, and the Mayor. as the
head OF the city eorernment, would be likewise re-
sn e ,o 70 reprssent him Through its City su
perintendent Of sepoos and It's superintendent OF
T ,h executive officers. and for such
length OF terms as II might think advisable