New-York tribune., 1896-05-04
The Hon. Robert Maclay.
No. &c Delancey-st:,
New-York MAY |, 1896.

No. 26 Deancey-st,.
New-York. May l. 1870.
Tho Hon Robert Maclay President Board of Edu-
Dear sir Permit to lay before you ns
of facts connected with the report or III
the Board recommending my remoVai as ''"0o
trustee. -, ,,-,.,,. ro,at ting IN the
public schools was pending. was requssleu oy ;i ne
chairman OF the Senate committee nav3 amjttne @ With
statement OF facts bearing upon tae 90 the
the schools and the eclenfy OF Wth this request
I addressed a letter to the members OF tne , Senas
committee stating certain laG,s T5r"' referred I to
teacher in my ward who was uhaoie u 'pe" WI
Early in March received from the city superin-
tendet request to furnish the name OF the teasner @
to whom referred y rnsa ~ @ o do so was
to appear before the Committee on list tt 10 sonsa
Of Justice compelled me to refuse TO disclose the
name Such disclosure would nave en'diaen abars n.
deserved notorety upon the teacher or teacheF hen
named in view OF the fact that the subject OF schoo
reform was then political issue, under neateq 9 t
cussion, receiving general public attehtohh; J, tba
that it would be unfair to subject teaGher ~ 'io
publicity OF an investigation at such time. %
the CITY Superintendent. l had already taken tne
proper steps for discpnlng the teacner anu - me
city Superintendent which had failed TO recevs s
him due attention. Neither OF my Ia the
TO the Superintendent was acknowleugeu; a III 'ire e
first case no action whatever was taken ana anu III m
the second the result was such as 10 So' 10 10
nv unwillingness to submit names or teacherS %
the Superintendent for examination Upon these
facts the Committee on Instruction naS as ,b,t he
formed rendered report Ieeonnisnutb su hem riilty
removed, upon the ground that nave pecn uitI
of 'llsgraceful conduct In matters connecteu WIN
official duties which tends to dscredit my ONCE anu
I respectfully submit that this finding is wholly
without justihcaton either in fact or law Homes,
criticism cannot under any reasonable construcIioi
of the statute be regarded or treated as dsgraceIu
condnct tending TO discredit the school system
The assertions which have MADE. Wnetner ia In, ny
where concerning the public school system, were
made in good faith and were based upon KNOW, WI,
not surrender my right OF free speech as private
citizen. and mai intan that | was ana am entreby th
az liberty 10 make any statement concerning tne
school system consistent with the facts And. fur-
thermore. have already expaiLed; my yI ie,es+ ~
the chairman OF that committee, ana was i'll the
nature Of pryeSSed S names Of teachers
am acting under the advice OF counsel ana peg 10
call your attention to the fact that there Is no pro-
10 report the names OF teachers for incompetency;
either to the City Superintendent or to the Board
OF Education II Is proposed to remove me as
a trustee. although no charges have been preferred
and hearing or trial has been had nome . o, ,ne
requirements OF law for the removal or a trustee
have been complied WITH and | submit that the
proposed resolution removing me cannot be legally
During my term OF office as school trustee. have
at all times acted with entire respect and courtesy
toward the Board OF Education; but have been
subjected not only the harshest criticism but 10
violent personal attacks BY one or more members
stances lay the facts before you. believing that
your sense Of fairness and regard for the consider
Won as presiding officer Of the Board TO secure for
NV JAMES Il. REYNOLDS.
,trs w r, Rainsfori has addressed the following
letter to School Commissioner Prentiss
Mr. W. A. Prentiss. School Commissioner Board Of
Dear Sir: II there is anything Mr.. Reynolds's
friends can do TO help vindcate his and cause
hefora the matter comes up for final settlement on
Wednesday. l wish you would let me Know;
carnot believe that the Board OF Education realizes
hat
the people watching TO see II the Commissioners
their own name by their unjust and tyrannous
persecution of such well-known benefactor OF the
poor James Reynolds l..
although the Board has not taken the trouble
to find that out n The b baha Of ms will M ony %
make Inquiries and let his work speak The condl-
tion Of the Tenth Ward alone and the changes mat
speak volumes, many of his teachers can tell.
The Board does not seem to know hah In ne M K an IN
his native land. with the exception or nve years,
catonai systems As far as regards the charges
he has made does the Board wish its best and
most capable officers to sit tongue tied and silent
and not try improve matters the best OF their
ability? II that is So 1t is, indeed, as well we
should all know it and not be drawn INTO similar
II he sees ht but what would be the use or doing
during the present state of things?
Any who was present, as was al the read.
ing of the committees report to the Board could
not but be overwhelmed with shame at the scan
bitter, vindlctIve. personal remarks when there
was no one there but yourself TO defend him. The
Board will have openly 10 acknowledge its error II
1t is to justify itself in the eyes OF the people That
one OF Its most efficient, faithful and sef-sacri-
whom ne is serving Is, to say the least, strange
spectacle for gods and men.
matter deeply 1t comes home very closely TO those
OF us who are trying to do our best In this work
under difficult conditions and l anxious that
your honorable body should clear itself of this
stigma OF petty persecution Sincerely yours.
ALMA RAfNSFORD
New-York May 2. 1896.
School Trustee Eighteenth Ward.