New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-12
TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOLS.
MAYOR sCHIEREN APPOINTS A SPECIAL
COMMITTEE.

DEFECTS IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM TO Re
| REMEDIED PECULIAR QUALIFICATIONS OF
THE MEN SELECTED FOR THIS DuTY-THE
| BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL co OPERATE.
| Several weeks ago Mayor Schieren announced his
intention OF appointing special commission to con-
slider the welfare OF the public schools OF Brooklyn
TO compare the system OF education in the city with
| the systems In use elsewhere. and In general 10
| suggest improvements tending TO Increase the ell
| fciency OF the schools The idea was probably sug-
| gested by the commission which did similar worK
| for the New-York schools last year. making an
elaborate report the Legislature. which. however
failed to take any action regarding 1t. Later 1t was
| announced that Mr.. Scheren had selected the mem
| beers of the commission. committee. but was
waiting until assured of their acceptance before
| announcing the names II is understood that al
least one Of those invited to serve in this capacity
| declined TO do Finally the names OF the COM
| mittee were given out on Thursday.
BY common consent the committee Is an excellent
| one Dr. Backus. DR.. Cochran and DR.. Levermore
are In charge of the three leading private educa-
tional institutions of the city: Mr. Swanstrom Is
the President Of the Board of Education Mr.. Hark-
ness has had many years experience In the Board
and Messrs Greevey and Kelley have likewise served
| as members OF the Board. All of these men have
| had large acquaintance with educational matters
| and ali of them have the welfare OF the puohc
schools at heart. II has frequently been remarked
that Mayor Schieren has been remarkably fortunate
| In securing the services In PAGES OF responsibility
| of men of business training who could not anord
for the salaries paid them devote their attention
| to pubic duties He has enjoyed the same luck
in the selection of this committee II Is no small
matter to induce busy men like the principals OF the
| Packer the Polytechnic and the Adelph TO give the
| time and attention necessary to make thorough
| examination of the pubic school system and TO
| klyn In
| To do this thoroughly will consume considerable
time and cal for the outlay OF good deal OF labor
| That 1t will be done thoroughly. the names OF the
| members OF the committee constitute a sufficient
| guarantee.
A member O, the Board of Education who was
seen shortly after the public announcement OF the
committee said: 1T is an excellent committee. and
| good cannot but result from ns labors. am sure
tina, II will receive from the Board OF Education all
| the assistance render. | also feel certain
| that :he committee will not go about It's work In
| preudiced attitude. with desire TO find fault
| indiscrimna,ey The fact that four OF It's members
| have been connected with the Board OF Education
| and that one OF the four Is It's president Is
sufficient Of this. And OF course the high
character of Messrs. Backus. Cochran and Lever
| more that they will do their part of the
work with the utmost thoroughness. and with a
| desire to conserve what IS good in the existing
! system and TO sift out what IS bad and objection
| able ! rejoice exceedingly that Mr.. Hardness Is
member OF this committee. The people Of Brooklyn
| do appreciate how much they owe 10 him In
| making the schools OF the city what they are. He
| was a member OF the Board for fifteen years. and
during that period he devoted two thirds OF his
| time-I think 1t is safe TO say two-thirds-'o the
| schools leaving only one-thrd for his private bust
ness which. nevertheless. he conducted successfully.
He Is a remarkable man. and was much surprised
| at his going out OF the Board OF Education TO take
| an Office Ike the presidency Of the Board OF AS
| SCISSORS, which is an ugly place.
| During all the time he In the Board he gave
special attention TO the construction OF school build
ings and II is due to him more than to any one else
| that the school buildings OF Brooklyn are what they
| are Now IN the matter OF buildings and school
accommoda It is easy enough find faul, with
| the Board OF Education but the fact is that during
| the last year OF Mayor Boody's administration no
! money was provided for schools. and the consc
| quence IL that far behind the demands and
| needs OF the city We ought really TO have at
| five buildings to accommodate 200 children
| apiece But II the Board of Estimate does not fur
| nish the money the Board Of Education can do
nothing.
Now should like to say that whatever defects
IN s e o the 81 of hess 70
| No matter how good your system u.s. II It is In
e cannot get good results And With good men and
women In the Board OF Education 1t IL eos!ly pos
an 1's deal " one Everboy knows that the system in
Brooklyn Is not up to the times 1t was established
the charge that the Board of Education is too large
But no radical improvement is to b. made by
few Changes Of that sort What is needed is a
guarantee that good men will always be appointed
on the Board How can that be provided? ! con.
| the appointments to the Mayor but If the peop.e
eject bad Mayor. what then?
to be abolished and people should be free to send
their children to any school in the city where there
is room for them In point int. OF fact, the downtown
crowded. Another thing should Ike to brought
about Is a change In the district committee system.
| AT present there is committee OF three for each
school, and this committee has the selection Of
ntendents certificate. but in spite OF that the door
always for The ds S OF ayossm and
Any school system to be successful must have good
teachers. That Is foundation fact. and hope the
| committee Will be abe to help us In this matter.
| but If II devses an ideal system OF conduct
ing the schools there is assurance that It Will be
| in New-York the iabors OF similar committee
came to naught this year on this account. In that
| too sweeping and radical. The committee seemed
| 10 think that a reorganization from top to bottom
content as to DO away with some Of the defects its
work might have Received legislative and executive
| viii not Only open the way for improving the school
| administration. but will do its work In such way
| from IL. OF course there will be considerable OPP
| position from people who don't want to see Mr.
schieren's administration accomplish anything The
work thoroughly. sure it will not go about II
in fault finding spirit. but will endeavor to con
that are irremediab.y bad. AZ the same time. II 1t
Is wise II will bear in mind the necessity OF intro;
results may be reached when the matter goes before
| the Legislature
SUIT FOR DAMAGES SETTLED.
The suit Of Benjamin Franklin Warren. a civil en-