New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-30
VIEWS ON THE SCHOOL BILL.
DENIALS THAT 1T is a TAMMANY
MEASURE.
WHAT COMMISSIONERS STRAUSS, HUBBEIL AND
MACK AND SUPERINTENDENT JASPER SAY

The proposed new bill looking to the improve
ment OF the public school system OF this city. which
reported by the Committee School Systems
TO the Board of Education on December Is and 10
now being carefully considered by that body. Is
meeting considerable opposition from dherent
sources. 1t has. been charged that the new bill
| IL Tammany measure and that the scheme en-
bodied in it-that OF increasing the number of
the schoo, trustees-gves to a large number or lay
men too great control the schools and still
leaves 20 the trustees ample opportunities Tor the
distribution of patronage in appointing teachers and
principals.
The Committee on School System consists Of
Commissioner Strauss. chairman. and Commission
! crs Mortant. Holt, Hurbut, Ketchum, HupoeIl
| and Hunt.
! y Tribune reporter called upon Commissioner
Strauss at his home No. 3l7 West Seveny-hfh-st.,
last evening Mr.. Strauss appeared very Indignant
what he considers the entirely unjust and I'M
called for criticism of the proposed BILL He said:
THE idea Of calling this bill Tammany measure!
II is preposterous the face of it. am the only
approach to a Tammany man among all the men,
bers of the committee, and l have never taken
enough interest in that organization ever to at
tend any of its primaries even. II any one Is dis
satisfied with the provisions of the bill, let him
propose something better, and We will consider 1t;
but for anybody who knows anything about the
committee or the BILL to dub the a
Tammany trick. is nothing short of insanity"
HIS ANSWER TO COMPLAINT.
Some people complain that the redistrcting Of
the city into forty-five school districts and the ap
polntment of five schoo! trustees to for each
district is calculated to increase the patronage
which has been connected with the appointment OF
teachers and principals by trustees in the various
wards In to this objection you can say
for mo that, according to the provisions Of the
BILL Board of Trustees appoint either a
teacher or a principal in their schools unless the
names of such appontees appear upon the eligible
/ list Of candidates for such places. More than
this, before the names OF any candidates can be
placed upon the list, he or she must be specially
examined, receive superintendent license and be
on probation for time / consider the proposed
! bill an ideal in every particular under the
existing circumstances"
WHAT MIR. HUBBELL SAYS.
Commissioner Charles b. Hubbell one of the MEM
| bers of the committee. was seen by a Tribune re-
porter at his home Mr.. Hubbel said
quite contrary to the idea that the redstricting
of the city is the fruit of any political Vaccinations
the of this is true. This redistricting was
first proposed by myself a separate bill, prepared
| think, four five years ago. and was defeated
and stranged by political influences. 1t now looks
as though that opposition had been overcome, and
that the Board of Education will soon be able to
omit the annual farce of appointing five school
trustees in ward in which there are no schools and
at the same time appoint in another ward the same
number of trustees to administer the affairs OF up
ward of forty different schools in which there is
corps of 500 teachers Every bill that has ever
been proposed. including The bill of the Committee
of Seventy last year, has recommended this re-
districtlng of school territory.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT POSSIBLE.
THE best men in Board believe that our pres
ent school system admits Of very great improve
ment
MY name appended to the report of the
committee in such A way to indicate that was
accord with all the features of the proposed
bill attached to the report. In fact. several of the
/ committee do not concur in the provisions OF the
bill in It's entirety. l haze felt since l began
| to study the administration Of public school
system that It's greatest weakness lay In lack Oh
the concentration of responsibility. Whatever form
the administration of our system may take, the
excellence Of schools and the work resulting
from their maintenance depend upon the quality
and the efficiency OF teachers That system
will prove be most successful which includes IN
its machinery a method which will make the ap-
pointInent OF teachers stand on merit alone, ana
not on pull. Whatever system Of administration
we may have, If the aristocracy and supremacy OF
pull is to be retained, we can only expect condi-
tons that will be satisfactory We have In our
system to-day hundreds OF faithful efficient and en-
terprisng teachers who are ever studying 10 I'M
prove themselves and uplift the system. 1t s with
a view to increasing class and making it i'm
possible for inferior teachers to get in that changes
in the methods OF appointment are believed by
many to be necessary before any great improve
nent can be expected.
ONE CENTRE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
Every business great department must have
one centre Of responsibility In this city contend
that we ought to hold chief supervisory officer
and his staff absolutely responsible for the peda-
gog!c conditions In schools. IT, however, he Ia
permitted to make the appointments OF teach
ers. it does seem little unreasonable to hold him
responsible for the results OF their work The same
thing may be said OF the appointment Of principals.
Il not able to agree with some OF my col
leagues In thinking that the eligible lists of prin
clpals and teachers, recommended. will solve this
problem. What is to prevent some OF the best can
ddates the eligible list of teachers and prnci-
pals from remaining there indefinitely If the trus-
tees are to retain the selecting power. while the
superintendent has no power, either TO nominate or
appoint in each Individual case.
My conclusion therefore, has been that 1t is best
for the system that men trained to degree that
has made them experts in selecting the instructors
OF youth should have the power to provide them,
and that the question of appointment, promotion
and transfer should rest with this expert super
vsory body, who should be paid and have expe-
rience and knowledge of the requirements OF the
school situation. That of course. means that in my
opinion 1t would be unwise to continue the present
powers of school trustees and in that opinion think
am supported by the best and most disinterested
trustees in our system to-day.
why any citizen should to make himself re-
sponsbe for the kind OF instruction that shall be
given at q school In which he Is a trustee | am
unable to Speaking a school commissioner
should like TO be relieved OF that responsibility to
the fullest extent possible. The that
makes II undesirable for local boards appoint
teachers makes 1t equally undesirable that they
should be appointed by commissioners.
Il think, however, that IL would be unwise this
time entirely do away with local school officers.
The public schools are the peoples schools and the
people, rich and poor, interested in them. 1t is
most desirable that this interest shall be fostered
and retained. and to that end II seems to wise
give to duly accredited people. men and women,
the official right to visit our schools and to stand
between the scholastic forces and the people.
THE ELEMENT OF PATRONAGE
"If the element of patronage can be made to dis
appear as | confidently believe the best people
among the school trustees quite willing that IL
should. can with great advantage in my opinion.
retain inspecting or visiting boards that will be use