New-York tribune., 1896-10-20
HANDS OFF THE SCHOOLS
BROOKLYN SPEAKS FOR HER EDUCA-
TIONAL SYSTEM.

TIONAL SYSTEM.
A RousING MEETING IN TIE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL
Br1LpING-PRoTEsTs AGAINST THE PRO-
POSED CHAPTER IN THE GREATER
NETWORK CHARTER.
Hands off the Brooklyn educational system,
was the keynote OF the meeting ATTENDED py over
1000 teachers and their friends. held In the
Girls High School last night. 1t had become
known among teachers generally that BROOKLYN
status under the proposed chapter on educauon
prepared for the Greater New-York Commission
would be discussed. and the consequence was
that such a crowd appeared in the big building
as 1t has seldom seen. Every seat was taken py
8 o'clock, and at each one of the several doors
a crowd Of people was standing, while many VINO
came too late to get even within hearing dis
tance went home disappointed. Teachers. prin-
cipaIs members Of the Board Of Education and
friends had all turned out for the opening meet
ing Of the association and to Join In the note OF
defiance to the Greater New-York Commission.
The denunciaton Of the proposal to give up the
Brooklyn system and adopt that Of New-Eork
for the consolidated city was bitter. and every
utterance of the speakers on that subject was
greeted with great applause. Whatever action
the Greater New-York Commission may take, II
Is evident that there is strong sentiment IN
Brooklyn against the dropping Of the Brooklyn
system. Among the many prominent people
present were Miss Perry Of the Board of Educa-
ton: Superintendent William H. Maxwell. An
drew Mclean. Editor of THE Brooklyn Citizen
Henry W. Maxwell President ]. Edward Swan
strom, James Weir, jr., Of the Board Of Educa-
ton; Colonel John Y Cuyer Principal Felter.
Of No. II; Henry w Schmidt and c. r. Robert
shank OF No. Il. and Principal Jelliffe. of No 40.
NEED FOR ORGANIZATION.
Dr. Walter p. Gunnison, principal Of Erasmus
Hall High School, as president Of the associa-
tion outlined the work for the year. and said;
There never was time when there was so
much need tor thoroughly well-organized body
Of teachers as there is this year-standing SOL
idly together for everything that is proposed
for the Improvement of our schools. standing
with equal solidity against everything that is
proposed for the injury of the schools insist
ing that the welfare Of the children intrusted
to our care shall not be jeopardized by any un-
authorized or unholy interference by unwar-
ranted experiment" (Applause)
He then introduced Mayor Wurster who
spoke of the excellence Of the Brooklyn school
system. THE schools OF the city. from the Kim
dergarten, which is the foundation. he SAID
"up to the high schools Of which Brooklyn is
so proud, and of which there is no equal any
where in the United StateS certainly give to
this city an opportunity to educate its cnii-
dren which is unequalled in any other city
swANsTROM's SPEECH APPLAUDED.
President Swanstrom. Of the Board Of Edu-
cation was then introduced and made speech
against the proposed system which brought out
great applause. He said in part:
THE Board Of Education adopted a resolu-
ton to the effect that it was for the best IN
terests Of the public schools that there should
he a separate Board of Education for this city
tremendous applause). and that the present
system should be maintained believe that
that action was wise and conservative and was
for the best interests Of our public schoolS ana
OF our pupils and teachers i believe IN nome
rule particularly in public school aHalTs. 90
far as our own public schools are concerned
we ought to be permitted TO manage our oMh
affairs Applause.) We have done SO hltnei.o
with the result that the schoois OF 1S broTh'y
stand to-day unsurpassed by the schoo's o'
any other city in the country.
1.-The city Of Brooklyn is essentially city OF
schools and homes. venture to sSa, is s'a, IN
such close touch with the public schools as ours
The city Of New-YOrk on the other hand Is eS-
sentially a cosmopolitan city The census or
1So0 showed that there were 100000 residents
who were foreigners-Spanish. French German
Chinese and believe several natives OF Ireland
(ApDlduSe ana lduSnteT.) me biedtei -Nc"
York Commission proposes that we shall nave
one Board of Education Of forty-two members
which shall have jurisdiction over the whole dis
trict / am profoundly impressed that such
board will be dominated by New-York interests
by New-York influences. and possibly bv Tam
many Hall politics. 1t is for you TO say whether
the interests Of Brooklyn public schools will be
better served by such board than by a board
of men who have become attached to our
schools who love them, and who are In close and
sympathetic touch with them.
II fear, ] very much fear, that this proposition
means harm to schools ] believe 1t means
harm o teachers. In this law II s provided
that YOU hold your Llaces only at the pleasure Of
the Board OF Education. That means that you
may be discharged without trial. What that
means In a board not so friendly to your inter-
ests is to say the least. doubtful 1t may mean.
for instance system Of transfers and ex
changes by which NewYork teachers having
New-York influence shall be transferred to the
best places in Br' ''-'vn. while those whose
places they take transferred to the poorer
places in New-York.
Mr. Swanstrom then illustrated the feeling
toward BROOKLYN by saving that the proposed
charter created, board of forty-two. and al
lowed all the present members NJ the New-Yo'i q
Board to hold their places. but wiped out the
BROOKLYN Board He then took up the question
of high schools and demondod that Brooklyn
he allowed TO retain her high schools and keep
them for Brooklyn children.
The last speech oF the evening nv Dr.
William H. Maxwell. Superintendent OF Public
Instruction