New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-03
AGAINST MRS. WILLIAMS.
vs MACK SAYS SHE IS NOT FITTED FOR
SUPERVISOR OF KINDERGARTENs.

400 tho most important heads of depart |
&c created by the Board of Education under
:, authority of the Reform School law. which
-, into effect on July l last. was that Of
S.,,,a,,isor of kindergarten Instruction. This
,~.ar,nent though the very basis of the IN
',rrc,,on given In the prippary schools. is practi-
..uv new one in the public school system
= This city, and the supervisory head OF the
,..artnoent was created by the Beard. so IL
100 supposed at the time for the purpose OF
ting the department the best possible over
,,t snd of securing the most capable person
-n,.irable both from theoretical and practi-
", ,,o,nt Of view, to fill this important once
~ supervisor
r,rs II was that some of the members of the
nd 81 Education, although they seemed 10
:. in the minority. expressed the greatest sur
.aso and dissatisfaction when. at the regular
r.o,,,g Of the Board, held on June ~ last,
-. Committee on instruction offered the name
y, Mrs Clara NJ. Williams as candidate Tor
40 Mace The opposition to Mrs Wilamss
.,oo,;on 10 the Office became so strong on the
=, certain members Of the Board, and her
'S.o,,,a inability TO perform the duties which
"a dsvolve upon her If elected became so
,. IN a weeks time that at the next
'pr ~,,nr q, the Board it was decided to lay the
-a,,,ra,ion over until the fall.
los honed that Mrs. Williamss name would
-, no seriously considered for the office when
49,, uoard held its first meeting this fall, but 1t
,.os learned a few days ago that many of the
cohoo, Commissioners still favor her election ana
,sa, an effort may ne made to place her in office
=. 49, r,setins of the Board of Education TO be
rs,s =, Wednesday next Mrs. Williams was a
Cobool Commissioner from 1S90-9S and is now
school Inspector under the new law in the
rwentv-third lnspectora District. She has had
M training either in theory or practice. in kim
dersarten instruction While the fight against
the Strauss School bill. having for its object the
perpetuation of the ward trustees was in prog
ross Mrs Williams was one of the most strenuous
partisans of the trustee system and a conspcu-
Gus opponent Of the PaveyPage School BILL
which finally passed the Legisat ure. bringing to
the schools Of this city relief from the patronage
system and introducing many needed reforms.
COMMISSIONER MACKS VIEWS.
A Tribune reporter called upon School Com
missioner Jacob w Mack at his office, No. ~
Liberty-s,.. yesterday to learn if the name of
Mrs Williams would be seriously considered by
the Board again. Mr. Mack said: Yes. I was
at the hall Of the Board in Grand-st. yesterday
and learned that an effort is to he made to elect
Mrs Williams 10 The Office of Supervisor of Kin
dergarten Instruction"
'Will you vote for her." was asked.
No she is entirely unified to occupy such a
place"
Commissioner Mack then went to give his
reasons for this emphatic statement. Mrs.
Williams no doubt has her good qualities" he
said She is a bright woman. and a graduate
OF the Normal College. She seems TO have gained
the good will Of certain Of the Commissioners
for several reasons. One Of them is a friendly
feeling for former colleague. who seems TO have
done some good work in the Board. Then she
IS woman which alone counts for good
deal. Moreover. Mrs Williams has considera BILE
capability as fluent talker Another element
helping her on the part of a majority of the
members OF the Board-rather delicate matter
10 refer to. but one upon which her election has
been advoCated--s that she really needs some
such position. This speaks wei for the SYM
pathy and kind heartedness of many Of the
Commissioners. but they should not draw the
funds for their private charities out of the pub
lie treasury.
The kindergarten is the basis Of all our pri-
mary instruction Its increasing importance in
this and other cities has recently compelled that
acknowledgment for it from those who have
Increasing Importance of this branch of public
Instruction. the very highest talent. both theo-
retical and practical ought to he obtained by
the Board of Education in the person of a Super
visor OF kindergarten Institution.
In this direction Mrs. Williams falls entirely.
She has not one of the qualifications Of kinder
GARNER She has never had a bit Of experience
In this lire. II is a poor supervisor who tries to
Supervise with no training either In theory or
Practice In the Normal College, of which Mrs
sc instruction
In pedagogy and psychology. At the time when
she was graduated practically little Importance
was attached TO either Of these subjects.
special course in kindergarten instruction is now
given. When Mrs. Williams was pupil there
little or no attention was devoted TO this branch
AN IDEAL CANDIDATE.
The minority Of the Board. who so strong
In their opposition. will present an ideal candi-
date for the place. than whom no better could
be found throughout the land ] speak of Miss
Jennie D. Merrill. Up to a few weeks ago MISS
Merrill had not been candidate, and had re-
fused 10 allow her name to be used in connection
with the place Only when the danger to the
educational system was made apparent to her'
as involved in the fact of such name as that or
Mrs. Williams being mentioned. could Miss Mer-
nlls friends persuade her that to become can
odate for the offC, was duty she owed 10 the
system. Miss Merrill is at present the head OF
me departments Of kindergarten. pedagogy ana
oi kindred subjects at the Normal college, anu
she has had thorough training in all the most
approved methods of kindergarten instruction
potn theoretical and practical DR.. Hunter tne
president OF the Normal College. is very re-
uctani TO let her go. and the Board Of Education
VIII have cause for sincere congratulaton II II
cdh secure her services.
All the experience approaching that Of kinder
earten training Mrs. Williams has ever had or
ula' s claimed for her is that for some time
cue mas been one Of the Board of Managers OF
s I'm charitable institution for children uptown
ny hoard has stamped with its approval the
p,v'lson Of the reform law authorizing the Gre
, a OF this and other supervisory depart
WINS The election of such woman as MIS-
81 mans however. opposes all the reasons Tor
% rvy1istence Of this new law
4. Nhiie those Of us who oppose Mrs. Williams
eo,' no' base our opposition on the ground OF our
i tn' against the Board Of Education School bill,