New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
SNORING THE SCHOOL BILL
MEASURE COMMENDED TO THE
MAYOR.
.xoa ABRAM S. HEWITT OPENS THE DIS
c.ssIoN AT THE SECOND DAYS HEARING
r,,u1y ROOT. E. ELLERY ANDERSON
AND CHARLES BULKLEY HUBBELL
MAKE STRONG APPEALS.

AND CHARLES BULKLEY HUBBELL
MAKE STRONG APPEALS
.,.vo- strong's second hearing on the Compromise
$3.50, hill took place yesterday afternoon IN the
ee .0~.on,c chamber The time Of Wednesdays
ling was devoted to the opponents OF the bill.
y.s,erday Its advocates were heard. More women
~. present than on the first day. and most OF
49,, we're handsomely dressed Among others were
A.. Iorllard Spencer Of the original advocates
:, the measure; Mrs. E. Alma Rainsford. VIE OF
.s rector of ST. Georges Mrs. Schuyler Van Rens-
s.,.er. Mrs Schiefelln. Mrs ]. ID. Seiigman. Mrs.
!, = White. Mrs. Willard Parker. Mrs Robert
.,h. Mrs CorneHa Marshall. Miss Choate. Miss
r,erson Miss Ely. Mrs. Bangs Miss Lawrence,
AIRS Frederick Stimson. Miss Lillian Belts, Mrs Van
c,rdren. Mrs Erhardt and Miss Stimson. OF the
reachers' College.
Mrs Edward Lauterbach and Mrs. Clara Williams
,esumed their commanding positions OF wednesday
"a look after the opposition to the BILL
Ex.Mayor Abram S. Hewitt opened the discussion
IN favor of the bill. and In doing so referred with
c,,-simulated reluctance to the charges which mad
been made that Mrs. Morton had ''lobbied' for the
Mi Personal feeling he said. should not be allowed
N enter INTO the discussion of measure affecting
IN. educational interests Of the city.
EVERY DOLLAR EXPENDED SAVES ITSELF.
yesterdays discussion" Mr.. Hewitt suggested,
..howed good deal of heat The hot weather may
~~so,er concern in any organized community than
,hs education Of the young. Every dollar expended
r education saves itself many times over. The only
question that should concern you, Mr.. Mayor. in
reference to this bill, is, is 1t step in advance or
mt, II 1t Is 1t is your plain duty to approve OF It,
vv action in this matter Is based upon conclusion
reached when Mayor Of this city. which was to
,,o effect that the trustee system had passed beyond
q. usefulness There was time when the trustees
vsre essential. The Public School Society was the
forerunner of the Board Of Education. l received
nv early education In the public schools and through
them obtained scholarship in Columbia College.
owe debt Of gratitude to the public schools. and
have tried TO repay 1t by fifty years devotion to
their interests. When became Mayor. found poll
,,cs in the public schools. Appointments were
battered away not for money. am glad to say. but
tornp,ace and influence. trustee was often ap-
pointed reward for political or personal SER
vices"
", Hewitt said that he found on his entry into
.mcs az Mavor that many Of the schools were unfit
n, occupation An investiga ton was made by the
Board Of Health and the Building Bureau. Ihe
tormer reported that some OF the buildings were
postvely dangerous to health. and the latter re-
norted that several Of the buildings were UNSAFE
.rt tho schools of New-York are in bad condition,
u ia because the trustees do not do their duty con-
timed Mr. Hewitt. He then proceeded to explain
how people sought his influence to get friends ap-
pointed as trustees Some Of them called 1t inhoo-
cnce.'" said Mr.. Hewitt. with facetious grinace.
81 don't know that that is the way 1t Is pronounced
In the public schools to-day.
PUTS SCHOOL PROPERTY UNDER THE
BOARD.
Mr. Hewitt asked the Mayor to approve the bill
because It would put the school property under the
direction of the Board of Education, and because
Il would be a safeguard In the appointment OF
teachers He recalled the fact that in his admins
tration he had succeeded in getting only two bills
through the Legislature One was to organize the
Auueduct Commission, which was forced through.
and the other was the small parks bill. MY rec
ord % Mayor" he said. must stand on those TWO
things That was all could get done. During my
last year as Mayor 1 had only the appointment OF
seven school commissioners. Most of these were
Nery good men, One or two Of them were not so
yood, but was led into the mistake Of appointing
diem by the advice Of my fellow-citizens who
should have known better. lost considerable faith
"a the rich and intelligent class In that result
~ believe that the trustee system ought to CO.
There are some things about this bill that do not
APPROVE but II IL q step in advance. / think that
the Legislature has given to the Commissioners too
much power in the way Of appointments-more
power than I would give them. They can name any
number Of officers That is very complimentary 10
the Board Of Education. and such power would not
have been given Them Mr. Mayor. II you had not
selected the Commissioners"
The ex-Mayor r1diculed the suggestion that the
new bill would take the schools away from the
people He said that the inspectors provided for in
the bnl might just we'll be called trustees He
thought 1t mistake In the trainers of the bill that
they had so termed them. More inspectors and
double the number Of school districts should have
been provided for. Referring to President Maclays
argument that the trustee system had been tried
The system should be continued. Mr.; Hewitt said:
with the history OF the public schools OF this city.
There was time when the school trustees were
elected In the several wards. That led to such re-
suits that the system was swept away by the peo-
Commissioners were in closer touch with the people
than ever Trustees, the records will show, have
been removed from office on charges OF gross mis-
conduct. They have been removed for drunken.
ness for ma.feasance in office, and for population.
1T PROTECTS THE TEACHERS
Mr.. Hewitt insisted that the new bill would pro-
tect the teachers In the tenure OF their Office bet
ter than the present law does. He spoke OF Com
missioner Strausss remark, that the curriculum
IN use In the public schools was the peer OF any
otner curriculum. "And yet" said Mr.. Hewitt.
me advocates OF a change In the curriculum are
nYm IN saying that II Is overcrowded. This Is not
sSoucation. 1t system Of examining whch
son."
A revision OF the course Of study had been pet,
uoned for. The trouble was that the children mad
70 30 over too much ground The teachers had TOO
much work TO do. The kindergarten did not re-
csive enough attention. 1t was neglected In a
shameful degree. The defects In the present sys.
tenn were largely due the neglect to pay sufficient
s.enuon 10 the little children. In CLOSING ms
stpeecn, Which was listened to throughout with the
Closest attention, Mr. Hewitt said that whatever
he frtlQf