New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
TIE LATEST SCHOOL BILL.

While the Board of Education was still COR
sideYing the report of its Committee on School
system and Il was uncertain in what form the
bill drafted by the committee would finally be
submitted to the Legislature, we thought 1t suifi-
cient to say that il proposed at least one sensible
improvement and that it did not bear evidence
of having been conceived consciously and prl-
marily in the interest of Tammany Hall. Now
that the measure has been adopted with some
unimportant notifications and will soon be un-
der discussion at Albany. it is proper to say
Of it. as a whole that II not only falls far short
of what it ought to be- but that 1t has no sub
stantial reason for existence. 1t provides for
n reconstruction Of school districts. which Is
good thing if the trustee system is TO he re-
tancd; il -omcWhat enlarges the control oi the
Board Of Education over school buildings ana
property. and il proposes one or two olhrl minor
changes which are proper enough in themselves
But it would be absurd 10 present the bill To
public fenton rs Il comprehensive ana prom
ising measure of school reform. II practically
aims at a re-enactment Of the existing law. AMI
consequently al a deliberate confirmation Of the
fundamental defects of the existing system. II
this is all that the community is 10 obtain from
Il protracted agitation of the school question. the
loss will be larger than the gain, for the passage
Of the bill in its presen: form would tend t. pre-
vent rather than 10 promote further progress
Members of the Board who oppose it might have
ioined III recommending one or two separate
bills To accomplish all the changes now advised
which in themselves are meritor0us. but they
have done well to vote against the report IN
which these changes are embodied
There is a theory. not unsupported by many
intelligent citizens that boards of trustees, hay
ing powers Of inspection and recommendation.
and nothing more. would do no harm and mlS
be useful in thai advisory capacity, besides slim
ulating neighborhood interest IN the schools.
Our opinion is that the advantages of retaining
the trustees in Office. even with those limitations.
are exaggerated: but We have felt no special
solicitude on that point. and were quite ready
| to Yield to the Judgment Of those who took that
! view a wear ago We cannot admit. however.
| for a moment that there is even much as 4
! faint hope OF maxim. the schools what they
! ought to be so long as the responsibility Il di-
! vided by preserving 10 the trustees functions
/ which, as experience has shown, they are unit
to perform, bu, upon whose faithful and wise
| performance the efficiency OF the educationll
establishment nevertheless depends. The Board
in the Senate, but TO which hope he is not
| committed, maintains and more soiidly in
trenches this radical fault Of divided and con
| hicting sources OF authority. Theoretically. the
commissioners control and administer the school
| system Practically the bl9me for every actual
/ or conceivable abuse and shortcOmng can BE-
shifted from one shoulder to another, leaving
/ everybody unsmirchcd while the whole depart
! ment is discredited The great merit Of the
| Committee Of Seventy bill which failed to pass
/ last year was that il removed this root Of all
trouble, lodged sufficient power in hands fl -
use II, concentrated responsibility. and convert
ed the school establishment into a symmetrical
fabric on a sound foundation.
1t has been represented, with apparent good
faith by some persons more or less concerned
officially in the management Of the schools that
I 1t Is wise and proper 10 proceed slowly with this
business Of reform, obtaining successive bene-
J fits from legislation, and thus eventually reach
! ing a high standard without shocks or revcrscs.
/ We are always in favor Of gaining large results
gradually, if that is tho only way In which they
can be gained. But not infre1uently rctroeres-
sion wears for time the appearance Of prog
ress. and community may be disappointed 10
/ find that It has been going backward. instead Of
| forward, by slow stages. In the present case,
/ we are persuaded that the effect Of passing this
! school bill for HE sake Of It's isolated merits
would be to postpone that general and genuine
| transformation which is Indispensable in the
| Judgment Of those most competent to pronounce
an opinion.