New-York tribune., 1896-05-25
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.

The present publc-school system Of New-fork
State Is the result. Of a gradual growth. Through
many years the work of systematizng 1t has
gone on through the united efforts Of the Depart
ment OF Public instruction and the Regents
of the University, until the schools in general
have reached a degree of efficiency which re-
fleets credit on the State Much intelligent ef-
fort has been spent in grading the city and
town schools. placing incentives for regular and
progressive work before the pupils OF the coun-
try districts, introducing uniform examinations
for teachers and raising the standards OF educa-
tion reouired The central administration OF
our system is thoroughly we'll organized, and It's
bene6cent activities extend into every hamlet
and school district But with all this improve
ment there remains one feature Of the primitive
ettemnts at State control over education which
Is entirely out Of harmony with present cond,-
tions That is the district supervision by school
commissioners who have no necessary qualitica-
tons for the work which they undertake 10
perform
Doubtless large number Of the commissioners
-probablv a ma ority OF thcm-arc conscientious
officers who do their work well. are cOnversant
with the needs of the schools in their districts.
and thoroughly abreast with modern theories or
| teaching But all the commissioners are not or
this class and even if they were the Individual
excellence of the present set Of officials could
| not atone for the faults of the system. In an
age when children are not intrusted to teachers
who have not given proof Of their fitness, ana
| school trustees are more and more being held
| to higher standards in the choosing or tcachers'
| 1t is an anachronlsm that the supervision OF these
| teachers and the examining and licensing OF
them should be intrlSted 10 officers elected IN
the same way that an OvcrScer oil the poor or
a sheriff is elected, and who may or maT not
he qualified to determine an applicants Illness
TO give instruction. The election or commlssoh-
ers without any special requirements as to their
training for the work was well enough in the
day of the log schoolhouse when the common
school was devoted in the main TO instruction
| along very simple lines. which could he impaired
by almost any intelligent young man or woman,
| and when superintendent Of these schools was
| rs simDle as were their methods and curriculum.
But teaching has advanced as science. ana no
person is really capable Of overseeing such work
| without more than the education and intelligence
| of the average man He should be Mt least
enough Of a specialist to appreciate the scientific
work done under his eyes. lie should be COM
PEELED to pass an examination. as are the teach
ers employed in his district. No man would
think Of setting as foreman over n dozen trained
| wood-carvcrs any person he chanced to run
across without inQuring whether or not he knew
ANYTHING about wOod-carving. TO be foreman
over persons at work training human beings
Is no less important a task.
| A bill was before the Legislature at its re-
cent session providing for an increased salary
for commissioners and at the same time fixing
an educational qualification for candidates.
This was opposed by some commissioners, and
failed of passage The State Superintendent Of
Public instruction, in his annual report just
published urges similar legislation next year.
He says there are some commissioners who
could not obtain the higher grade OF certificates
issued to teachers and adds that there is no
question that the superior officer clothed by
statute with such extended powers ought 10
'be a person possessing some fixed qualifica-
"tiOns" He refers to the grave Irregularities
that have been discoyercd this year with refer
ence to uniform examinations as conducted in
some OF the districts and to the difficulty he has
experienced in getting reports Of visitation from
some Of the commissioners, and he argues that
| the whole school system of the State may be
brought into disrepute by the chance election OF
commissioners who are required 10 give no proof
OF their fitness. Mr. Skinner faces the objection
that an educational qualification cannot he re-
quired of an elected oficer-though 1t is difficult
TO see the force of this in view of the educational
requirement Of judSes-and says that the selec-
, ton might be vested with county judges or
. boards of Supervisors However selected, their
, equipment for their important work should be
, assured in advance.