New-York tribune., 1896-12-28
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
EXAMINATIONS IN PLENTY.
sCuOOL-TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS Or
POSED TO CIVIL SERVICE.
JUSTICE KEoGHs DECISION STRONGLY OBJECTED
To-rHEY SAY THE PRESENT SYSTEM Is
HARD ENOUGH AND no MORE TROUBLE
SHOULD RE MADE roR'THE

ro-rury SAY THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS
HARD ENOUGH. AND 40 MORE TROUBLE
SHOULD BE MADE FOR THEM
schoo, principals teachers mem 'ers OF the BOAR u
q, raucotion and others Interested in educational
matters were everywhere discussing the Iea' o's "
J stce Keoghs Civil Service decision on the scnoos
,,sterday The announcement that the boa'u Va
Education was included in the list OF depa'
where competitive examinations were "e'V''''
came like a clap OF thunder
The employes of the Board of Education stand on
a different footing from ether city employees Wc'o
It not for the Civil Service examinations "',7
woud be no way of learning the fitness OF cdho'-
dates for poicen en- irenen and other people III 'nc
city's employ. But the fitness OF acknowledgements Is
learned by a number OF rigid examinations anu q
rigorous ordeal In practical training. and every
where yesterday teachers were declaring IL "oS'
unfair that they should be put on the same P'""e
with the other departments and made 10 undergo
a Civil Service examination In additioh u '"o
others which they have 10 pass
Tribune reporter investigated the ques'oi'
Yesterday. and found practical unanimty Of senti-
ment among the teachers. Most OF them reiuSeu
TO say anything for publication. but all expressed
the opinion that IL was contrary to the spirit OF
Civil Service reform TO put teachers under 'he
Civil Service law. As one of them eXpresseu 1t
"The purpose OF the law is 10 prevent Nniit people
from becoming public servants our fitness Is de-
number. and by practical experience before we can
be appointed. Was it ever INTENDED by the orls'hai
Civil Service reformers to compel people "hoSc ~.
ness is already determined 10 submit 10 an auui-
tional and unnecessary examination IN oroer 10
comply with the letter of the law? Is it Just or
fair to shake up the schools and bring teachers VINO
have done good service up for examination In com
petition with young girls fresh from training
school, who have all the theory at their fingers
ends and not a particle of practce?
1t should be explained that before girl can be-
come a teacher she must be graduated from hlgh
schoo and then from a teachers training school
She must undergo examinations which, at east @ IL, IN
Brooklyn. are severe At the last teachers eN"in n
ination only about one-ffth passed. owing 10 thS
severity of the examination. although n nsary an
who came up had passed with high averages a. a.
their schools After passing all these examlnd'o M ,
a candidate for teacher must substitute iVh rv
days In some city school TO convince tne aurnI'a @ ~
ties thet she is good in practice as IN theory oe
foe she can be appointed me saaFy pau nr no,
the teachers right in their attitude there Is o
the least doubt that they hold. WIN prar,1ra nx &
unanimity that they have = pass enough eAain
tnations as II Is
EDWARD NJ sHEPARD'S VIEWS.
The reporter called on Edward NJ Shepard, the
counsel for the plaintiffs in the suit decided py
Justice Keogh. and asked him II his clients coh-
s!dered that the decision applied TO schooi-teache's
,It applies to all places replied Mr. Shepro
SIT determines that appointments under the beard
of Education must be made upon competitive eX-
animation and that appointments otherwise maue
are invalid and give title to office ..,,,o,
When questioned as TO the examinations VIII VIII
candidates must now undergo, Mr.. shepard saiu
ait makes no difference how rigid are the cNamila
tions which are now estre is is ef ont Of the
present examinations and competitive eNan'''"''o's
Wr Sbenard was asked If the Civil Service ex-
aminations would have any sss' ss reped spHed per
nations now IN nc force; viii have to undergo
The examinations prescribed by law, ana a
Civil Service examination N IN baq sado dcSarments any
one can apply, in the Depariment OF hnGeaion o
only those can take the Civil Service examination
who have also taken all the others
WHAT TEACHERS SAY.
,,r,no,no, Iarov + Lewis. of School No. II. who
T. -,,e NJ the best known and most experienced
principals in the city. said: IF this Interpretation
is upheld my observation of educational matters
teaches me that the effect upon the schooiS VIII
he very Injurious indeed. For instance suppose
teacher was appointed two or three years ago ana
has since made an admirable record as teacher
She will have to take the civil service eNa'i-
nation. Some young graduate or the framing
School may get a higher percentage. ana be en-
titled to take the place of this experienced ana
faithful teacher. A woman OF experience "ouid
thus be supplanted by novice. ...
'If there is calling In which any person can n
Improve by experience II Is Ihe eyner ~
ence in educational matters knows that You can. can
not determine their fitness by eXaminations' h;r
work il is good deal more than scholarship
that that S m up be 'ns well With
Very uncommon thing called commOseh mon keep n
sight into character. T.. ,s,.,o % ,,ose
aBesides. examination In addition to :, those nc
we already have Is entirely unnecessary. III IL q
fifth wheel People who interested In this mat
ought TO read over the questions ,na ,bey at,
tempt to obtain place ana ,nen tney bs WIN mem Sne
that ARE Are in the World There
no professional people VINO are 50 'ho'ous"'s
Mrs. Emma F. Pettengill, one Of the most ell
cient members of the Board of Education TOOK
Il think If teachers already in the schools are
obliged TO take Cvi, Service exam eXamhauer' earh
ers than others who might pass rne securing
Of the very best teachers Tor our sons 10 be
solved by multiplying examinations. | don't think
Somre'se ssr hass than they are now and think the
effect OF disturbing experienced teachers VIII De
Injurious to the pupils and to the schoos.
HE FAvORs THE NEW RULING.
DR. Joseph r. Raymond. who has been Health
Commissioner and also a member of the Board OF
fcduca, ton but who now holds office. took a
different view. lie thought persons who apply In
the future for places might well be subjected 10
Civil Service examinations although he said ne
was inclined TO think it hardship TO SUBJECT
teachers who have proved their ability TO such an
~ am a great believer In Civil Service Reform
he said. I'm fact when took charge OF ne tne
No examinations of any kind l instituted com
pettive examination of my own. ana appointed al,
Examining board consisting OF the secretary ana
two OF the inspectors The man who obtained the
frst place was Dr George McNaugh,on. now pres
ident OF the Kings County Medical Society He
was a perfect stranger TO me- but he got IN, me
anpo,ntment When the law was passed making
civil Service examina tions permissive. but not
obligatory had a set of rules formulated ior me
Health Department and throughout my term the
Civil Service principle was made TO predominate;
believing In Civil Service Reform as ! 90: l
soc no obstacle to its application TO the schools
The examinations would probably be different for
different grades. don't SUPPOSE for instancn. instance.
IN be
wouId have the same examination as those VINO
ore TO take classes in the primary grades In
sneciai lines OF work such manual training, a
speciai form OF examination would be necessary;
.J,nless there is very cogent reason why
teachers should not be compelled 10 submit 70