New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-30

Tho hill 10 rporganIzc the Department oI fhu'
cation IN this city. Of which Assemblyman Bel
I Is thc SPONSOR and which Is now before DOM
hrancbcs of the Legislature does not deserve
70 be supported by any sincere friend or the
common schools Nor Is 1t likely, We think. 10
obtain the support Of any such person providH
bc takes pains to consider what its probable
effects would be- We do not say that 1t Is nor
NOW favored by DISTINGUISHED and intehigent
citizens Of New-York and members OF the Legs
lature We have. for instance, no thought OF
imputug insincerty or incompetence to MI
Roll: hut we are convinced that whatever non
os, opprobation the bill may have won thus far
* due 10 an imperfect comprehension OF It's
character.
Tho most obvious feature Of this measure vs.
tho, If provides for an expensive system IL
.ro,tes five Commissioners To hold Office Tor
ION wears M an annual salary Of $4,000 apiece;
, Sunorintcndcnt al n salary Of $500 year Tor
six wears: n Superintendent Of School Buildings
n a. 600 for six years; Clerk al $4,000: m IN
definite number Of Assistant Superlntendents ~
81 900 apiece for six years; Counsel 10 INC
Board al 81 600: m Auditor nj Si.VD Tor SIX
voars and rs large staff of other assistants
NJ variois grades as may b. required. II Is 10
lao noticcd also that the qualifications PR"
/ .crihed Tor these several officials are vague ana
/ practically of no account. In some cases inc
salaries proyidcd in the bill might not he cx'
,.siv. II the quality Of the ncumben's couid
hc guaranteed, and II the proposed system were
,,cb ~ IN utiliz, their peculiar talents. but. as
, whole the payroll is exceedingly extravaganza
and involves a wide and dangerous departure
fran sound principles of school administration
| Tho nronosliIon to create a paid Board ~ Ed,
,,,,on f.. fundamentally wrong. The five Com
/ mlssloners 10 b. appointed under this bil. IL II
| Loc,,,c n law would draw from the pubic
,ronsurv during their term the great sum OF
Sluuun II the only argument against 'hls
,.,,urc ~ the bill were it's costncss, 1t would
suu no necessary 10 show that extraordinary
advantages might be confidently expected 10 re-
suIt from so large an outlay. But the fact Is, az
n sacms 10 lis. that the expenditure OF money
,ould Inc the least II the evils which such pro-
vision would entail Appointment TO Board
80 Education should be-. and almost universally
10 regarded ~ an honorable distinction. AFFORD
ing large opportunities for unselnsh service 10
/ Tho community The general experience Is mat
such labors are performed cbcerfully and with
/ increasing intelligence. Not merely the nature
~ tho work but the circumstances In which II
| - n.rformed constitute a substantial security
against unfaithf,Ilncss aud Incompetence. Inc
s.ctrity Is not absolute, but 1t Is doubtless the
/ hc.t that could be- devised The proposal L"
anon these places " sacred trust AMI obligation
! T., the competition Of ayaricions and conscience
lcss schcmcrs l. MS serious menncr I" me
schools AS their worst enemy could suggest
Under any party and any conditions 81 munic
/ i,ol r,lo which II Is reasonable 10 anticipate
/ In a ,lfy like Ncw-York. the tendency OF sys-
/ ten crysiazcd around highly pald BOARD oil
rducotIon would be toward decentralization.
The Introduction Of this bill III Albany II To
/ IN, regretted not merely because II Is Dad III IL
self but because II may be used IN hndcr
! thc progrcss toward enactment Of the OK
! ccIl,nt measure which Il sub committee Of
,h, Committee Of seventy adopting with
| slight notifications the plan proposed by
| the Mayors commission last year. has
recommended 10 the public and the Legislature.
The Pavey bill. To which We refer, and which
we have already made somewhat familiar 10
orr renders has the Endorsement OF Il large
number of citizens specially qualified to estimate
IFS mcriis. including many educators Of long cx-
noriencc We should no' object To seeing IL
changed In one or two particulars the reten-
ton. for example Of the trustees even with re-
strictcd functions appearing unnecessary and
possibly mschcvOus but II Is In the main a
comprehensive simple. practical and thorough
measure Of reform which deserves Il chance To
demonstrate it's utility, and which ought to DO
enacted without waste OF time.