New-York tribune., 1896-02-07
FOR SCHOOL REFORM.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CITIZENS COMMIT
TEE.

To PRESS THE PASSAGE OF THE PAvEY n1liC
ABRAM :. HEWITT MADE CHAIRMAN
In the members room Of the CITY club. NO be
Fifth-ave last night. a meeting Of the '''%'''
Committee on Public School Reform was "'''',
This committee has been formed with the a'oNe"
object Of supporting by every possible means ~,
bill OF Senator Frank u. Pavey. Although lol men
had announced their intention Of joining III "''.
movement the inclement weather kept many OF
them away Thus il was that when Colohe'
Stephen H. Olin rose to announce the object ot '"e
gathering there about twenty-five s'ghe's "a
the original call present. He explained or'en' '"'
intent OF the call. dwelling earnestly upon ''e
necessity Of action for fear the Strauss Dill ''s"'
be passed by default. and thus the evils whioh lie
said now rested upon the school system be ac-
centuated and extended for another term OF years
He named . Mayor AbraT ;. Hewitt as p'''""-
nent chairman. John c. Clark was elected secr'-
tarv and J Kennedy Tod treasurer. Mr.. Hewitt
remarked his willingness to serve in any way as
signed him in the cause Of general education.
The prelininarles ended. Professo. Nicholas Muf-
raw Butler OF Columbia College. read plat
form as basis OF procedure. This document re-
cited the necessity for revision and adjustment u
the public school system, administered. as II was
under a law which. while often amended. ma" 'o'
been revised or codlned for nearly hfty years The
original law was framed when New orK lay
below Fourtecnth-st. and what was no" The upper
portion OF the city collection OF separate VII
lagos The power was divided between the cen
tra Board OF Education ard twenty four io'"I or
ward boards Of trustees. board for each oi the
old wards of the city I'VE therefore. the pat
form continues favor such revision of the exist
ing school law VIII centre boih power ana re-
suonsib,ty IN the Board Of Education, pro'lde ior
the appointment promotion and transfer % teach
ers by officials whose training and experience III
them for such duties. divorce the educatoha4 from
the business administration Of the schools, ana -
move the entire system from the influence oi ilIH
personal politics.
James T. Reynolds OF the University >"itI, infnt
Society who - a trustee iOr the Tenth W ara. io-
lowed with a comprehensive statement OF the man.
ner In which work IS not done by trustees. ahl
showed how 4 vas POSSIBLE iOr unworthy teachers
10 override ward sentiment, or. II thro~n out ~
on 10 ,hc next. through the friendly Intervention
of interested persons. He called the present rNs-
tom hopeless hodg~-podge Then Professor But
Ter gave a history 90 attempts AZ legislation in
this connection. and showed how tn" strauss bill,
as II is known. enanHies directly from the Boari
OF Education iisel! This ineAsur" has thirty
seven sections creates s.Xty-oie boards % 10 mem
bers and leng;hens the term of The superintendent
10 six years. The chairman. FOR the Information
OF the meeting recit"d some - the experiences
he had had A. Mayor IN trying 10 gci at The ques-
ton OF heiierment oi the system. and iaugiingly
remarked his failure IN securing good men ior po-
siions
j. B Glider moved the adoption o, ths platform
as read ard his motion was carried Then tx
with the officers urging upon the Legislature
action I'm tn. direction Of reform The mcetns was
adjourned subject 10 the call o. the chairman.
Tn. members OF entire committee