New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
A SCRAMBLE FOR THE OFFICE.
CANDIDATES FOR THE VACANCY IN THE
ROYs, HIGH SCHOOL IN BROOKLYN

NO REST FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE Co"-
MITTEB IN CHARGE-THE QUESTION NOT
LIKELY TO BE DECIDED IN HASTE.
TIL. difficulty experienced by the Board OF Educa-
ton or rather by the committee on the Boys High
School In getting rid Of principal long known 10
be unn. for his duties Is a powerful argument III
favor OF a change In the system whereby prh-
cipal or teacher In the public schools OF brooklyn
IS practically unremovable. one OF the objects
aimed at by the Advisory Committee on PUBIC hd-
ucaon in the scheme which 1t devised was to MAKE
4, easier 10 dismiss members OF the teaching force
who for any reason had outgrown their usefulness
Al present when one secubs position as teacher or
principal. he she considers that the tenure Is ior
ufc This has direct tendency TO smother en-
thusasm and interest in school WORK anu ~ pre-
vent Improvement the part OF the teachers
on the contrary. a principal or teacher should De
made 10 feel that his her retention Is to De deter
mined by the maintenance OF good character ana
by earnest and intelligent devotion to duty
The Hugh School incident furnishes good mus
tration OF what ought not &c be. on account OF MS
personal habits which have caused him to lose the
resDect Of his pupils entirely. Mr.. McAllister tho
principal should have been removed from his once
long ago. The good OF the school ana the hohor of
tn. school system demanded this. But there were
powerful influences behind McAlster. Among other
things was the fact that ne was related to hugh
| Mclaughlin. the powerful Boss OF the Demo-
cratic party and still man whom Democrats as
a rule regard with unboundei veneration There
was no way OF getting rid OF him save by trisI OF
! charges which would OF course have been pro-
ductive OF great scandal Anxious TO AVOID THIS
the committee in charge OF the school have en-
! ployed every means in their power TO induce him to
! relnouish his place voluntarily. and finally. on
threats OF public exposure OF his numerous oHences
! they have induced him to resign. Had he been Oh
durate. the threatened scandal could not nave oe'"
avoided
! sho
/ than another evil Of the present system disclosed
Itself II did not In truth walt until there was a
vacancy The selection OF a new principal rests
! with the local committee in charge OF the BOYS
! Hgh School. The members OF tina; committee are
! Messrs Culyer. Teale Maxwell, Hooper, BILL
! somers and Black For most. II not all OF them
! lie is now being made q burden by the importu-
| mites OF the candidates FOR the vacant place and
their friends At least score OF the principals OF
public schools have put forward their claims ana
are bringing pressure to bear In their behaIf one
| member OF the committee says that on one oay MS
| Office was invaded by twenty principals ana 'ne'r
friends all pleading for the appointment ana tha'
he receives so many visits that ne has scarcely time
| 10 attend to his own business More thsn thd' ms
mail ed with letters reatng 10 ms sidn bure S
/ Win letters soliciting their influence win ne un,
Ssppy member OF the Board Of Education IN behalf
In plain English there W. 10 scram nI for HSa an ,a
Office which carries salary or S"p yea. hi,u -
/ looked on as OF the fat prizes In the teaShlns
profession So great Is the pressure upon tne ie'
hers o, the committee that IL would scarcely De
s9rprt,ins L they we're to at early DECISION
r. nrie- 70 promote their personal comfort. Their
/ general disposition. however. seems 10 be 10 20
soyy and secure for this responsible post the pcst
Z man who can be found FOR Il. II Is by no means
! certain thu; Brooklyn man Viii get me appoint
/ ment .,.. 1. ~ an,
; po!ntment OF Superintendent Maxwell as prlnclpal
3 -, mo BOYS High school thus leaving a vacancy
I'm the office OF Supcrin tendent. by me bllI 20"
pending at Albany the powers OF the SupeTn;"noeht
are enlarged. and Il said that BROOKLYN VII! ne IN
! a position II that bill Is enacted. 10 command the
! services Of the most experienced ana capape man
! i'm the country for this office Il Is not known now
! ever that superintendent Maxwell would care 70
rel!nquish his present ONCE Tor me otneF "e S
l. "A precedent Tor his doing 40 In the fact that ms
predecessor. Calvin Patterson. was made prlhcipliI
stui holds the place. This solution would appear TO
be contingent on the passage OF the pending phi or
one eu,bodv!ng the principles, and II clrcuii-
| stances point toward ts adoption the h!ng OF me
| vacancy will probably be postponed until AFTER me
| Legislature acts.