New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-22
colonies in every quarter Of the globe, and IS
doing il to-day, with Incompatible success ana
with n vital energy that seems only to increase
tho more il is expended.
UyJFYING THE SCHOOLS.

The Tribune has already expressed the Opln-
ion more than once that in any consistent
scheme Of consolidation the public schooi s!s
! IONS of the component parts of the Greater
\cw.Yo,k must be unified as well as the 0ther
branches of the several municipal governments
Rut n loud demand has been heard in Brooklyn
| that i'm the framing of the new charter, hanus
off, should be the rule as respects the SCHOOLS
of that city, 1t was first uttered ut ineethg
of The Board of Education several weeks ago.
and il found renewed expression at the ne'ir
ing given by the members OF the Charter Com
mission 10 members of that Board; ana more
recently tho S: me demand was cheered I'D the
echo at a gathering of the teachers or brook
lvn. At the hearing just referred to. Mr.. Low
nut pertinent question to the advocates OIL
separate Board Of Education. What becomes
of consolidation them he asked. This qnes-
tiou remained unanswered until yesterday.
when. at conference on this subject III the
Brooklyn Institute, an intelligent answer was
offered by Mr.. Charles y. Chadwick.
Mfr. Chadwick is one Of the recently appointed
members Of the Brooklyn Board OF Education
but he has been deeply and intelligently inter-
cstcd in educational matters for more than
twenty wears That he has thought on the sub
ect TO some purpose is shown by the plan
which lie brought forward yesterday. Mr..
| Chadwick's idea is that New-YOrk, Brooklyn,
Richmond County and Queens County should
| each have it's own Board Of Education ana
| that representatives of each Of these boards
| should form n central School Commission.
| which should bear somewhat the same relation
| TO the separate boards that the Appellate d.
| vision of the Supreme Court beais to the sew
| cral courts or branches below it, He would
have the several boards large enough TO per-
nit each member to exercise personal super
| vision over Il number of sch )Ols-nOt more tllan
five In any case--thus preserving the best feat
| ure of the local committee" system. which is
| SO highly regarded by some Brooklyn people.
| At the sane time. his plan would do away with
| the bad feature of that systematic patronage
connected with it--for he is fully In accord WIFI
| experienced educators III maintaining that The
| appointment Of teachers should be in the hands
| Of the Superintendent and his assistants
| This plan furnishes at least IN interesting an
| swcr to Mr.. Lows question. Through the VS.
| iting and supervising function OF the members
Of the several Boards Of Education AT one end,
| and their direct representation In the Central
Commission nj the other. the governing body
would be kept in close touch with the schools and
| the people. Large boards would be required,
| but the central body need not he large. There
are obvious advantages in having ~ official Wis.
| itors 10 the individual schools persons with Il
| voice and vote in the intermediate governing
| body and direct represe ntatiOn in the central
| body. Al all events. the plan which Mr.. Chad
wick has originated Is an intelligent and prac-
tlcable one. II has not yet been worked ont in
detail But II is des irving OF the careful atten-
| ton OF all who are Interested In seeing the
schools OF ,hc greater city not only unified. but
opened 10 enlarged and cnlarging usefulness.