New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20

SYSTEM THAT OUGHT TO BE "RuBBED OUT
AND DONE OvER"-sTANCH FRIEND
OF THE TEACHERS
Th. BROOKLYN public school system Is the subject
Of much interest and anxiety just at present Inc
fear on the part OF the Brooklyn School BOARD tha.
is Identity will be lost when the consolidation OF
New-York and Brooklyn takes place Is the matter
most uppcrmost In the thoughts OF that valiant
body of men and women. In the spirit OF Inquiry a
Tribune reporter called upon Mrs julia NJ fo"en'
one OF the members OF the Brooklyn Schooi boaro.
70 obtain her Views upon the situation OK schooi
matters In general
81 think" said Mrs. Powell. that the manage
mcnt Of our schools. under our present regime Is
quito as perfect as that OF any CITY Will "N
am acquainted
1T would be very hard 10 devise plan OF man.
agcment into which politics could not enter. Inc
perfection Of proper control and oversight depends
more upon the individual members who constitute
school Board than upon the system which they put
In operation.
81 voted for the resolutions that were drawn up
bv the committee appointed by President Swan
s,ron recommending that the present system or
local committees remain intact after New orK ana
Brooklyn are consolidated.
There IS however one change which hope VIII
be made and that right speedily. In tho interest OF
fair dealing and 10 the advantage and dignity OF
all school-tcachers-and that Is that the appointing
power be taken OF the hands OF the local COM
ul,teos and he put entirely into the hands OF the
superintenden's.
II believe in such case the appointments "ou'u DO
moro strictly IN accordance with merit. and there
would not be occasion for wre-pulling ana poh'ica
favorlt.sm. which. under the present condition.
must 10 some extent exist our Brooklyn Board ~
exceptionally free from this ut present but that IL
because ex-Mayor Schieren was remarkably inde-
uendsnt OF politics and appointed members, ooth
men and women 10 the Board from purely dlsn-
,orestcd motives selecting only those who he
thought would work In the Same line. II has not
always been 40. and may not always be So
..Should this appointing power be taken from the
hands OF tho local committees which. you know,
.o,s,e. usuallv OF three members to each school,
thor. would be very little incentive for modern
politician 10 take seat In the Board OF Fduca''on.
"of course. supcrlntcndents might be corrupt and
work I'm the interest OF some political party. out
this would no, no very likely with the eyes OF an
,,,o,iccnt and fair-m nded Board upon them
..vhcr n Young girl fits herself with 'panstakins
.,orcv and perseverance for a place in the public
school her name should be put in order upon iiSt'
and when there IS n vacancy she should nave l. 30
her rlehi-not as favor. The favor IS 10 the Guy
not TO tho teacher No proud sensitive nopie
,o,,,y woman should be subjected to tho humla-
tion Of calling upon every local committee IN mo
v hacked M by all the political Influence she can
muster IN order TO obtain that which Is her JUST
right. -. ,s ,,r.
81 feel very strongly this point" saia Mrs
Powell Do not Interrupt me ,t w,ss and adj
finish. Imagine the nerve sen sn or eighteen
dress which young girl OF seventeen S .. %, s,udy
must pTsSSs Tds hersc obliged hound politicians
for their influence ring the door bell OF tor'ynvS
memDeiS order TO Impress the fact OF her actual
existence upon their memories orys "a mind. and
ANU suv after obtaining sixth primary class az ~
yhp
consider her application and give her p,ase IN '"''
Heavenly system OF Dyl" and most Unjust and
mo, MOI ,Ss a,rn,y OF every teacher; This Is all
have to say i in cr T6 s"lie an! " II Will '
but ten please H wns 40 s yoa nn'nf Snder
tenure , OF o When "a teacher placed in Brooklyn
It is as near yea want POn n hs ii
tina! every one me- en- as Sy 'a as
be prot Sy int to he SYSTEM no
,onger that Is theoretically our position :" brInc
harres against one who has grown weak "1'u III
compe t,nn hs matter could be more satisfactorily
,n,'n IN, nomnatent and conscientious superintend-
hanu'eI ~ them recommend for dismissal those whom
my se +, reiain Many principals are hampsrsd by
teachers, and 1n yes by such prncpas
''a Rnt ind me city where every teacher IS equally
good with other teacher aaS and the faculty
70 mnart and inspire, and will concede that BROOK
n IS scH nave looked into the school sysems Of other
.ss and do ours as it now stands Is as good as any
and better than most OK tnen; s,..,.r 80 L,ra.r
What 10 you think or the htrouuc''o' Va "''ue'-
gartens in the schools! d, .o.. and ,ho
THAT Is most excellent as far as goes n a nav tae
Tor children under five. and in the tenement districts
We should have them from thlee', W. "uS' o'"'
MAINTAIN our charity kindergarens. - a.
sWow about that colored school. No. &c. Mrs
Powell? / understand the conditions are pretty bad
there 49,. l., oro ~ tho nroh,eus n he
,hS' omt and done over and 1t soon will be. 1t
must be done with golden rubber -
"About the sanitary conditions tnere are many
"oh. yes. complaints by, the thousand about
YOU ca mention. Heating and ventilating
ave oIwaVs problems which never solved. Al the
RAYMOND Brill dinner the other evening ex-Mayor
schersn smoke OF necessity OF appropratng more
land TO each school building. giving the children
larger fairgrounds they do In England. Scotland
ard even overcrowded Germany. 1t would cost, he
said only a few thousand dollars more per school
and would return rich harvest In TIE physical ana
By-the-way. that dinner was delightful. II was
held at the Montauk Club and the gentlemen invited
their wives or a friend In honor OF the hve lady
members / thought as looked over the tables that
/ had never seen a dinner graced BY hner-lookng
and more cultured assembage. was proud and
thankful 10 be one OF them. Can you say a. much
Tor your New-York Board Of Educauonf"