New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-24
CRIES OF "NO! NOr
A LOUD CHORUS OF PROTEST AGAINST
THE SCHOOL BILL.

GREETED WITH LITTLE FAVOR
SOME MISSES AND PLENTY
or LIVELY COMMENTS
THE WOMEN HAVE
LOTS TO SAY.
Determined opposition by the teachers of the
New-York public schools TO the compromise school
bill now pending in the Legislature was manifested
again yesterday afternoon at a meeting when had
been called ostensibly favor the passage of the
bill 1t was a lively meeting, at which all OF the
regular speakers argued long and earnestly Tor
the bill. and the audience talked back. expressed
dissent and asked many disconccrting questions
II ended in confusion. when the persons who had
called the r'eeting abandoned the platform in de-
SPAR and the teachers. by almost unanimous
vote passed a motion Condemning the bill.
The meeting had been called for p. m. at which
hour the large assembly room on the top moor OF
the College of the City of New-York At Lexington
ave and Twenty-third-st. was we'll filled with
teachers. most of them women. School commas
sioner Charles e. Hubber, l. Elery Anderson,
President Thomas Hunter, Of the Normal NoHege'
and Payson Merrill. a trustee OF the IWentN-HrS'
Ward sat on the platform when the meeting was
called 10 order by Mrs Runlle the president of the
Wonens Association for the Improvement OF fno-
lie Schools Mrs. Runlile said the ASSOCIATION had
heer IN favor of the compromise school bill which
the teachers had condemned at their meeting h,ld
last week and il had been thought adVlsapie 10 IT.
arguments IN favor Of the bill might be heard She
,rtroducel Commissioner Hubbel as the first speak
o. and he spoke for an entire hour in praise OF the
bill.
The public Mr IIubbell said. must consider the
wants Of the children before those OF the 'ea'herS'
The plan Of having a board OF superh'ehue"'s
make all o. the appointments. promotions ana
transfers he said was vastly better than To leaNe
the management with local boards OF trustees
whose action is too frequently Influenced by pohu-
cal motives.
A WOMAN RISES To THE OCCASION.
C,ries Of dissent came from every part OF the hal
AFTER pause Mr. Huhbeu ventured to assert that
tho wishes Of the citizens must he regarded. one
woman promptly rose in her place and TOOK MI
Iubbell to task.
You have spoken as II We were not cl'l@ehS' an"
as II we did not have at heart the welfare oil 'he
children" she said. She was applauded VIGOROUSLY
and before tho applause had ceased a man vita d
Ioud voice got I'D and shouted: Has the hil! been
read DO these people know what YOU are talking
about"
.I take II for granted" said Commissioner Hub
,au that 800 teachers would not make protest
against a bill which they had not read daughter
.I wonId like to ask" said Mr. Hudson. one OF
the school principals III that man is teacher
Tina, is none of your business rOarsi ne of tho
load voice.
..rrqank Won. sir" retor:ed Mr.. Hudson. nov l
know YOU are not a teacher" applause
Commissioner Hubben continued to argue for some
time in defence OF the BILL but the expressions OF
dissent continued. and the audience plainly showed
signs OF impatence before he sat down.
APPLAUSE FOR PRESIDENT HUNTER
President Hunter was applauded warmly "hen ne
rose 10 speak hut he soon was in trouble. Nheh
he said that he would not have signed the Dill II
q majority Of the teachers had opposed II
months ago there cries that the teachers rad
always been opposed 10 the bill. He was applauded
again when ne declared that in framing the Dill
we had in view one cardinal point TO secure me APP
pointment and promotion of teachers on merit
alone" Then no asked: IF YOU cannot trust TWEEN
ty-one superintendent who have been expert teach-
ers whom on earth YOU trust
lone hundred and twenty trustees, replied one or
the teachers and there was a storm of applause.
~ would be willing TO trust man. the CITY
Superintendent rather than l2o trustees. sad
President Hunter, and there were HIhsieu H'SSoS
and cries OF assent
The speaker TO talk about the powers 20
be held by the superintendent under the provisions
OF the BILL and argue that, as the appointments
and promotions Of teachers must be made by
majority Of all Of the supern endents there wouId
be no opportunity for any one superintendent 70 90
Injustice teacher
Then one Of the teachers rose and demanded me
right 10 answer. saying "A district superintendent
would make the record Of all OF the teachers IN ms
district and II IS admitted that the promotions
would have TO be made by the standing as SHOWN
nv he
In the conclusion OF his speech President Hunter
said ne would favor amenduenis which would
lion In ONCE until their terms expired they were
removed by the Mayor; which would retain IN oi-
assistanta and which would prevent the dism!.sa!
OF a ;eacher except By vote Of three-fonr'hs OF
Mre Runke had difficulty in keeping down the
teachers who wanted to make speeches soon
president Hunter mad GOT through She said there
would be an opportunity 70 discusSi9n %neh '"e
Mr.. Anderson declared tina; the trainers OF the
bill had kept always before them the question how
hest 10 protect the teachers and the children. l. was
we'll known he said. that the selection Of teachers
bv ward trustees largely by political bias. and
that the trustees not the best men 10 select
the best teachers. There was an outburst OF de-
risve laughter when Mr.. Anderson said that the
giving to the board OF euperntendents the power
10 dismiss a teacher by majority vote was an
error. The laughter caused NJ. Anderson to req,
den with anger and he asked: DO YOU want 10
defeat the bill account Of one error
Yes" was the answer in one mighty chorus
Then you do not love the CHI as you ought
You have no right to say hat was the reply
several OF the teachers tried to be heard, decar-
ing that there we're many reasons for opposing the
bill. and Mr.. Anderson walked off the Platform
Lawson y Fuller. who had occupied front seat
at the so up spa ana I1d a ch ia S rkSr
was time for fair discussion then, ne sad but
teachers at another meeting and discuss the bill
fairly. Mr. Anderson retorted that ne would be
Principal Boyer claimed the attention OF Mr.. An
derson for a moment. saying: Mr.. Anderson has
declared that the trustees not the proper per
sons appoint and promote teachers The tIls-
tees been appointed by the Board OF Education
II the Boa rd OF Education cannot be trusted
polnt 100 trustees who Will be fit TO perform their
duties how the board be trusted 10 appoint
twenty superintendent
Mr. Anderson replied that the superintendent
would be appointed from among expert teachers.
When judges were to be appointed, he said. the
men were selected from among men trained in the
law and IL right that the men who 10
have supervision Of the schools should be selected
from among teachers In the schools.
CHORUS OF REPLIES.
A young reporter front seat induced by
an elderly teacher who sat beside him TO get up
and ask the question: 'DO the laWYers select the