New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
THE BROOKLYN SCHOOL BILL.
HOW THE ADVISORY COMMITTEES WORK
Is VIEWED.
sour ontrcrroNs TO THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
CoNsIDERED- KEEPING POLITICS OFT
OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SOME OBJECTIONS To THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
Observation-Disclosures POLITICS OFT
or THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
When the bill affecting the public school system
n, prooklyn whrh has been prepared by the Ad'
ysory Committee appointed by Mayor schieren' Is
introduced In the Legislature. as 1t VIII be carry
this week II will be found that one or two slight
notifications have been made In 1t by the commit
tee since the report was handed TO the Mayor nearly
,wo weeks ago These changes DO not after t'r SUP
stance OF the measure or the general lines OF the
.vs,em which the committee set out to estabush.
Apparenty 1t has been thought wise to reduce the
form q, the Commissioner OF Education so as TO
Mace that official on the same footing as the heads
OF the other city departments Al the same tlme'
no IL not TO take ONCE February az the other
Commissioners do. for that would bring new man
into the educational department In the middle OF the
school year Members OF the Board OF Education
in Brooklyn have always entered their ofnces on
Julv and that arrangement Is to be continued II
tho new plan goes into effect. both In the case or
members OF the board and Of the Commissioners
The action OF the Advisory Committee has on the
whole awakened less opposition and criticism than
was to be expected Perhaps the opposition Is wait
ing until after the bill Is placed before the Legis-
lature before manlfestlng itself Snguiarly enough
one OF the things alleged against the new scheme
Is that II will tend to throw the Department OF Ed
ucaton into politics. although II Is evident that this
Is the very thing which the committee strenuousy
strove to avoid. II IL recognized on all hands. as
essential to the success OF school system. that 1t
should be kept free from political influences as far
as possible. Under existing systems OF government
the entire elimination Of the political element Is out
OF the question.
In a good many cities the boards OF education
are elected by the people. and the school adminstra
ton Is thus brought directly into the political field
In places the superintendent OF Schools Is
he TIA A
best that members OF school boards should be ap-
pointed and the common practice IL for the appoint
Ing power to be lodged In the Mayor though In GER
tain cities his appointments have to he confirmed by
the City Council Some appointing power there must
be- and hence the danger arises that places
boards OF education will be regarded as political
"spolls." Given good appointing power and an
Ideal Mayor this danger Is reduced a mini
num- The people Of Brooklyn would unhcsitatingly
commit the appointment OF school officials to a chief
magistrate like Mayor Schieren: but OF course In
enactirg such a plan the committee appointed BY
him has proposed II must be borne In mind that
Brooklyn may have In the future Mayors o, the
stamp OF Whitney Chaplin and Body
One criticism made upon the bill comes from al
exceptionally intelligent source and Ia stated in
about these words: The committee has undoubtedly
tried TO arrange plan that would keep politics out
OF the schools. but greatly fear that the one
recommended would tend TO bring politics in The
committee distinctly states that Its purpose has been
to secure separation OF the business and the
scholastic departments In the educational system
u seems to me that the mistake has been IN attach
ing too much importance to the business depart
men whereas In reality the educational side Is the
essential thing. Instead OF the Commissioner ap-
, pointing the Superintendent. II would seem to me
more logical that the Superintendent should appoint
the Commissioner don't mean to say that ] seri-
ously propose this but 1t TO me that II would
b. more consistent TO have such an arrangement.
AS far as the present system OF school administra-
ton In Brooklyn IL concerned, f. has. the whole.
been fairly successful In keeping politics out, In
spite OF the fact that have had numerous Demo-
cratic Mayors each OF whom has appointed his
quota OF members to The Board OF Education.
With good Board OF Education the present syv.
tenn Is all right 50. too Is the system OF local COM
mittees all right II the right scrt OF men make up
the committees. 1t scems to me that the proposed
system IL full Of dangers. and. while do not In
tend TO take ant active measures 10 oppose H. l
am convinced frtm the examination have made
OF II that II ought not to be eracted into law with
out extensive notifications"
The name Of tbs author OF ~ csc critIcisrs Weut
ARkcNA MMa3k " " -Mlkn .i0nslio1n2 DAG W. ~ ~ADk