New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-07
CARRYING OUT TUE NEW LAW.
MRS. E. r. HEWITT SAYS THE WORK OF
SCHOOL REFORM HAS JUST BEGUN
THE sUPERINTENDENTs SHOULD BE APPOINTED
FOR THEIR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AND THE


FOR THEIR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AND THE
INSPECTORS FOR THEIR ZEAL
Mrs E. R. Hewitt. No. 1ls East Elghteenth-s st..
has devoted a great deal Of time and attention to
the work Of reform in the school system OF this
city, and has been particularly interested in the
passage OF the Compromise School bill With
number OF other women. Mrs. Hewitt has visited
the schools below Fourteenth-st., and has made
study OF the conditions existing there, both favor
able and unfavorable far the former condition
might be possible under the obnoxious trustee sys-
tenn soon to be abolished.
Speaking OF the schools In connection with the
passage Of the reform measure. Mrs. Hewitt said
a Tribune reporter yesterday The Compromise
bill. II carried out was the intention Of those
who worked so zealously for Its enactment as a
law will place the public school system in this city
on an equality with the schools In any other city In
this country. The important part Of the work OF
reform has really just begun, and 1t is necessary
for those who have the best Interests Of the schools
at heart to be on the alert in their efforts to push
forward the work. for there are many people still
connected with the schools who have put forth
every effort to defeat the reform bill.
THE NEW APPOINTMENTS.
1.-The appointment Of the Us new inspectors by the
Mayor and the selection Of the Board Of Super
intendents by the Board Of Education involves much
more than the matter of detail OF naming the
appointeeS The inspectors should. believe. be
chosen for the real interest they have manifested
in the schools heretofore I should hope that the
Mayor might appoint as inspectors many OF the
trustees whose records as such would entitle them
TO the confidence of those with whom they would
come IN In their official capacity. Thos,
who have proved themselves to be unworthy OF their
positions trustees certainly should not be con-
s.dered candidates for appointments as inspectors
/ should be very much gratihed to hear that the
Mayor had appointed as inspectors many OF the
and yyho havp we'd IA m ly
as trustees but 10 appoint such men Patrick
Carroll trustee OF the Tenth Ward. and George
Mundorff. a trustee OF the Eleventh Ward. would
be defeat the very object for which the bill was
passed.
I'VE want to have the principals and teachers feel
that so long as they do their work we'll their po-
sitions are secure, and that they responsible
to the Board OF Education alone. Certain trustees
have been making the lives OF some OF our best
teachers and principals miserable simply because
they refused to join the trustees in their fight
against the compromise BILL Many OF the teachers
In the Eleventh Ward have been b,acklisted BE-
OF their refusal TO bow the will OF the ward
trustees.
TRYING TO TURN OUT A PRINCIPAL
Ever since the passage Of the reform measure.
Mr. Carroll has been making determined fight to
have J. Frank Wright removed from his position as
principal of Grammar School No. I. The reasons
for this action on the part Of Mr.. Carroll are. 1t
demand of the trustees that he go to Albany to
oppose the compromise bill. and, further. that Mr.
S MS1 SSws as hs ha Of Of M
teachers in his school am Informed that stu an An
Wright is that the former has promised the rrn-
cipalshp OF the school 10 friend Of his Mr.
against ah the COMPROMISE Bin / doubt. however Il
the efforts OF certain OF the discounted trustees TO
opposed them will be successful as the trustees
legslaed OF Office according to the provis ons Of
LAS to the new Board of superintendents. they
should be men and women of acknowledged ability
and experience in scnool matters Experts only
should be appointed TO 'tese responsible positions
have as the e"s eScsos 10
direct her school system and the Board OF Eiuca-
ing made a thorough search for the best men and
omen for these positions both in this and In other
whose ptrsonaiisy viii be an Inspiration and an IN
centive to every school principal with whom they
in his or her school to the highest possible
appointees should be men and women who have
made for themselves reputation in building up the
| broad educational basis.
METHODS SHOULD BE UNIFIED
"In my visits to the schools have noticed tina:
there is the greatest diversity IN the methods en-
ployed in different schools Of the same locality.
which is only to be accounted for by lack of uni
form supervision from the Superntendents Office.
Wrat We need in public schools Is guiding
hand which shall make itself felt among the
PRINCIPALS and the teachers that uniform method OF
teaching shall pervadc the entire system The only
differences between schools should be those which
necessarily must follow from the strong personality
of each principal
THE trustee system has failed largely because
the very duties of the trustees have called for an
expert knowledge which they never possessed THIS
expert knowledge should now lie with the Board Of
Superntendents and their knowledge OF the school
system should be supplemented in detail by the
LOCAL boards OF inspectors. whose duties will be
The ideal which has pervaded the school system
heretofore has been that Of well ordered schools
Discipline has been the watchword. and more aten-
ton has been given by the teachers 70 enforcing ~
than to instructing the pupils according 10 modern
methods of education / sincerely hope that. with
the operation of the law. we Will get out OF
the old ruts and that schools will be conducted
on a far broader and wiser basis: ! DO not anucl-
pate that there VIII be any immediate revolutl9h IN
appointment Of new teachers goes ms thlhk VIZ
proceed slowly, and am sure that every chpdDie
teacher will be retained and that real abiiiy IN
teachers viii be quickly recognized ana re-
warded by promotion under the new law than mas
been the case heretofore"