New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-04
FOR NEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS
BILL TO EQUALIzE THE DUTIES AND
PATRONAGE OF TRUSTEES

rrArr-Rrs or TIE MEASURE PREPARED BY
COMMISSIONER sTRAUss-THE PENNY PRovI-
DENT FUND PLAN NOT SANCTIONED
By COMMITTEE
The Committee on School System OF the
Board Of Education met at o. O'Clock yesterday
afternoon TO consider the new school Dill winch
has been prepared by Commissioner Charies
Strauss The members Of the committee present
were Commissioners Strauss. chairman; Montait
Holt. Hurbut Hubbell and Robert Maclay, presi-
dent Of the BOARD Of Education. ex-offico men,
Der.
There was an informal discussion Of the pro-
nosed new law and Il was found that some or
the committee were not thoroughly familiar with
q number of its provisions 1t was, therefore,
decided not to present the h.ll 10 the Board OF
Education for its approval at to-days meeting
but to postpone such action until the committee
has had further time for delberafion
II was said yesterday that the bill would IN
all probability. be presented TO the boaro III '''
near future without any essential oranges IN 'ne
present draft; and 1t is expected that the hoaio
will recommend the bill to tn, Legislature as d
wise measure tending to the solution OF the pres
ent difficulties in the school system
Commissioner Strauss has been at work upon
the bill since last April Before attempting to
IL,
Trustees asking them Sive their views III
writing on the various questions TO be dealt with'
The opinions of the trustees have thus peeh ELL
bodied in the draft. and they are the people WHO
are most seriously affected by the redls'f1c'hs
plan proposed by Commissioner Strauss
The redistricting of the city is the most impor-
tant point in the bill. The plan PROVIDES LOT al al
lotment Of the districts 80 that the same NUMBER
Of schools shall be under the SUPERVISION oi ea an
I
trustees have thrty-nine schools under their
charge while in another the trustees nave no
schools at all to look after. IN their commuhica-
lions TO Commissioner Strauss the trustees coll
trolling the larger number OF schoois eNPresseu
their willingness TO give up parts oi tnelI err
tory in order to secure an equal dstrlDuton Oh
the work All that they ask for Is a falr ana III
partial method of redistrictins .
In the present ward system. some or the trustees
have n great amount of patronage while DINERS
have only few teachers to appoint or perhaps
none at all. The chief object of the new bill Is 10
remedy this evil. - 100,
nrises n school district The new plan provides
that the city shall be divided into forty districts
and that each Board of Trustees shall have about
Gve schools under its jurisdiction. In order 10
conform to the Increased number Of districts, IT Is
also provided that the school Inspection uls'ricts
he Increased from eight TO fifteen. .
The new bill II Is said, Will not faVor the di-
vision system of superntendents in place OF the
nresent system. 1t Will be urged, however that
iInon the superintendent and his assistants shai,
rest the sole responsibility for the schools ana
that they shall be held accountable lor the man
ner In which the schools are maintained
An important section of the new bill is sald 10
nroyide for an eligible list of school principals,
which deprives the Board of Education OF an
power ~ Interference in the appointment oi piii-
cipals excepting the right to confirm ,
The Committee on School system last evening
discussed the question whether the Penny froVi-
dent Fund should become a part OF the puolc
school system The idea had been suggested 10
the committee by eX-Mayor Hewitt wh" Is ondIi-
man Of one of the committees of the PENNY
Provdent Fund. c,.oo, -.
Mics Julia R!chfnan of Grammar School -
Miss C.ordela s Kilmer. of Grammar Schooi ~;
William A. Owens. principal Of Grammar SchooI
Sc and jaime. Kiman. assistant in Grammar
srhool qG w,re questioned b. Chairman Charles
Strauss and other members of the comm'ttee a.
IN how such a scheme that proposed oN MI
Hewitt would work In connection with the
schools They all agreed that II could be carried
ont without much difficulty. The members Oh
the COMMITTEES however decided that. while the
scheme was laudable one. they could not recon-
mend the Board Of Education to make IL par
Of The school system as 1t might interfere with
some existing arrangements