New-York tribune., 1896-08-31
SCHOOLS FINDER THE NEW CHARTER.

Of peculiar interest to large number of people
in the met -opolitan district IS the chapter Of tht
proposed charter which has to do with the public
schools of Greater New York This city has so
recently achieved notable reform in the ma
chinery of its schools that our citizens are prop
erly Jealous of anything that might even look
like step IN the wrong direction. and we do not
doubt that the people of Brooklyn-the enter
prising and progressive among them. at all events
will gladly welcome any change in their school
system that makes for Improvement. That sys-
tenn is antiquated. and in many respects totally
unfit for large and widelwake community. but
all efforts to amend it have thus far been M
successful. As for the schools Of Long Island
city and various villages and rural districts that
will be included in the enlarged metropolis. there
can be no question whatever that they will be
immensely improved on becoming Il part of the
metropolitan system
or the chapter relating 10 public schools and
their management, it may be said that in general
il adopts the ideas which fornd expression in the
act referring to this city. which. with much ef-
fort was got through the Legislature at the last
session II provides for Board of Education
consisting of fory-two members; the twenty-one
men constituting the present Board in New-iOrk
Der are 10 be- appointed by the Mayor from the
remainder Of the enlarged city, but no provision
is made for territorial apportonment Of future
members one-thlrl of whom are to be selected
by the Mayer each year. The plan OF inspectors
and inspection districts. one of the essential feat
urrs Of the act whicl did away with the ward
trustees in this city, is made a part Of the pro-
posed new char.er As under the new law af-
N,rI fIt.r.. il t. bl
City Superint .ndent of Schools. with number
of assistant superintendcntS. who together with
the City superintendent are To constitute the
Board of school Snpcrintendens and have charge
Of the scholastic side Of the system. This Board
* empowered 10 remove teachers other than prin-
cipaIS and vicc-prncipals. bur from its action an
appeal will lie 10 the Board of Education itself
Provision IS made for riddng the system OF
teachers whose usefulness for any reason has
come 10 an end in the following terms: ANY
"principal, vice-principal or other teacher may
"bc removed by a three-fourhs vote of all the
"members of the Board of Education, upon the
Recommendation Of majority of the inspectors
''of the district or upon the recommendation of
"the Board Of School SupelinicndentS.
This chapter Of the proposed charter has been
prepared with care and apparently after a thor
ough study of existing laws. We suppose that
IN drafting it Mr. De Witt has taken the advice of
men more conversant with school matters than
he himself raD claim to be. UDdeniably it is one
Of the vtally important parts of the fundamental
law of the great city that is to be established if
the plans now under way do not fail. Further
study by the best qualified experts may disclose
defects or omissions not revealed by first ex
animation 70 this part Of the charter President
I ,b.r ,,ft bn vii bp cor
tain TO give clos attention. and before the docu-
mcnt is completed and rcaGy for presentation
to the Legislature. no doubt this chapter VIII
he subjected to most searching scrutiny II
is vitally important that politics should be kept
out Of the schools and trained professional ca
pacity have chance 10 do It's work unhampeIed
Any changes in :hc charter which will promote
that end are changes which should be made.