New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-10
TIE SCHOOLS or GREATER NEWlORk.

4 conference on the subject of schools in
Grcatcr Ncw-York is 10 be held today in
BROOKLYN between members of the Greater
New York Commission and Il committee repre-
sontng the Brooklyn Board Of Education. We
are glad that such a conference has been ar
ranged. for II Is obvious that the men engaged
i'm the important work Of preparing charter
for the coming city cannot get too much in
formation concerning This and the other top
les which they must consider and act on. The
citizens of the enlarged city are not 10 hay"
an opportunity of voting on the charter after
It's adoption by the Legislature. although the
principle of the referendum might wisely have
been applied To a matter of such vital interest
10 2UOOOO0 or 3,OOOOOO people Their right
To consult the members of the Charter Com
mission and offer suggestions to them cannot
be denied. but til" time In which the Com
mission must do its work is so short and the
task great that few opportunities for pup
liz hearings Will he possible. The hearing ar
ranged for to-day will not he n public hearing
In the strict meaning OF the words. but we pre-
sumo 80 much Of the public as chooses will be
permitted to hca: what passes AT the confer
encr.
Unfortunately the members Of the Brooklyn
Board Of Education who will present their
views To the Commission are estOpped from
dealing with the subject in hand with open
minds They ar" already on record, and TN"
Board by Il large majority, has accepted ana
lndorscd their views The Board las thus All
nounccd that ii is unaltcrably welded 10 the
present syacm Of managing the schools OF
Bruohlyn. After consolidation IL accomplished,
f. proposes 10 have separate Board Of Edll-
cation FOR each u the counties included III the
big city and ~ RESPECTS Brooklyn II wants Il
Board of forty five members still. with powers
substantially the same ~ those now Intr,isted
"fo our Board" The essence OF this statement
Il that the system Of Local committees 10
control the several schools and appoint all
teachers shall br continued. Close aud impair
ia observers Of the Brooklyn system. which
tie existing Board Is so anxious Ia have left
untouched" are fully convinced that the local
committees" must bc swept ont of existence If
the schools Of Broollyn are ever 10 become
what they ought 10 be. and that numerous
Other changes In the present system are
scarcely less desirable. But II Il the views Of
tn" committee which reported M the Scptcm-
Der meeting in favor or the continuance Of this
system that Will be thrust Oh the members Of
the Charter Commission to-day.
II IS lmposSibl. 10 believe that these views
will carry conviction 10 the minds or Inc men
who are preparing the charter. The schools or
| Greater \ew-lork mus be dealt with In the
game general manner M the public works. the
! parks the police and the public health All
departments Of IN" municipal government must
| be unified A separate Board of Education for
each of the counties would be- rs irrational ant,
impossible rs separate boards for the control Of
other departments The chapter on education
| In the charter draft already prepared provides
! for Board of Education for the entire city.
with local supervision Of the schools through
| inspectors appointed Tor each school district.
There may bc n better plan than this which
| Is the extension Of the system just established
! In his city with the aid and approval Of most
careful students of our educational Shortcom-
| ings We have heard of no better plan Ger
,ainIy the Brooklyn Board of Education has
not proposed one.