New-York tribune., 1896-09-01
POLITICS IN THE SCHOOLS.
EDWARD ROWE MAKES SOME SHARP RE-
MARKS TO THE TEACHERS
COMMITTEE.
THE TROUBLE GREW OUT or THE OPPOSITION OF
COLONEL CUIyER TO THE APPOINTMENT
or MISS EMILY Il BRIDGHAM As
BRANCH PRINCIPAL OF no. III

BRANCH PRINCIPAL OF NO Ill
Thar r,s a l,velv sccne at the meeting last night
NJ Tho Teachers Committee the Board of Education
and charges Of double dealing and political nhuehees
vsr. freely banded The trouble arose over 'ne dp-
pointment Of Miss Emily 4. Bridgham as Drah'h
n-incipal of Primary School No. III. which appoint
ment was recommended by majority OF the local
ror,ri,,ee No III is ,he school formerly known AZ
No Q A new building is going up which VIII
hereafter be known No ., and old No. VII ne
known As No IL and will be a branch OF new 20 y
Both schools arc a. Nanderbili-aVe ana Steri'ng
place. Principal Frank T.. Greene is 10 remain a. the
head Of No . moving into the building and The
vacancy m n. filed therefore. Is the princpaiship
Of the branch school Miss Bride hams continuation
ny the Teachers Committee has been taken as a
rcatte~ Of course and Il only last nights meet
Ing which developed tho faci that hcr appointment
had brought about fght in the local committee
4. tho meeting las; night all Of tho members Of the
Teachers Committee We're present except MISS Perry
Chairman James Weir. ir presided. and Snp"rih-
,endeni Maxwell and Assistant Secretary TnliY We're
pre.en; 10 furnish whatever information might p'
required BY the committee All the business trans
acted was of routine nature until protest was
handed I'D from teachers in School NO q asans' me
promotion OF one Of their number. Miss DeInares 10
h. teacher Of the sixth grammar grade. the pro-
testing teachers declared that she inexperienced
having only served months in the school but had
already been twice promoted over tneH heaus' 'ne
frs. promotion being made before she mad received
her grammar grade certificate. The committee ny
unanimous vote dsregarded this protest anu ra'neu
Miss Demarests promotion.
Then came the feature OF the evening. tho hgnt
over Miss Rridghams appointment Chairman Neir
announced that the local committee mad Made luii
appointment for the teaching staff for ihat schooI.
including the prncipashp. but that this report Na1
been signed by only two members. Messrs- Rowe anu
Robertson. The other member. Colonel John !. 'ui-
hat. 0N q
would not be completed in time for the opening OF the
fall term. and probably not before November or De
cember. For that reason he opposed any appon'-
men,s being made. 1T seems 10 me, ne sald that
il would be wise matter OF business 10 Ia! 'le
matter over for a month
Edward Rowe then made signlhcant speech III
which ne said: There wheels within wheels. Ine
reason given for laying this matter over IS noi the
real reason The real object is 10 delay any settle
men; of the matter until influences can be brought 10
bear that have heretofore Oeeh proper! hepe V"' VI
the public schools
1t was now eviden; that the fight was between
Messrs Rowe and Robertson fayoring Miss Brag
,Sk SkI me roor and said that C5one
Culver had been all along opposed 10 Miss bridgnan
apPGeM Mr RoWe sS had favored Miss Brdeham and
the settlement of the matter had therefore aeVo.tu
rad agreed 10 delay matter until ne shoud MAKE
up his mind He had finally decided IN favor OF MISS
time ago The Colonel he declared, was iuny cogni-
zanr Of me whole and he was surprised 10 see
hin now irving o undo something 10 vnicn ne was d
Marty Because ne did not succeed in making tlis
one annointment" exclaimed Mr.. Robertson, ne
seeks 10 delay the appointment OF teaching iorce,
II this matter brought before the boa ri VIII di4e
and nublicv explain matters there WHICH VIII hot 81
erv silv upon the shoulders of those VINO are IN
terested in this appointment c.,., ,-.,,,-,r ,os
Mr Rowe again declared that Colonel Culyer was
seeking 10 dejav the committees work not otcause
he school would not be finished in time DIt purt.!
70 defeat Miss Bridghsm's appointment ou gen.
rierer" he said. do not understand wna' you dle
vofinr upon There is far more BEHIND tn,s tndh
Won suspect You bringing politics into me puD-
lie schools Mr. Robertson was sent 10Y oy men
who have no connection with either the Boaru o.
F,ducaton or the public school, but who are nigh up
in roitcs and al the office Of one OF them the roo
was held over his head and he was told 10 Nole
certain way on this appointment.
Mr Buttrick here poured oil upon the waters ny
pacific speech in which ne said that 1t was against
the policy OF the Board TO make appon nments so ons
in advance opening Of the school and that mere
was no precedent for ii. He then moved mat ne
matter laid until the school was reopened anu
this motion carried by slender majority
The impression which the debate conveyed was that
the advocs ties OF Miss Brdgham believed iha II me
matter were delayed another vote against her mlSh,
he gained in support OF her opponent. While Coonel
culver refused 10 be tempted by any broadsdes
against him into unCOvering his hand or indicating
whether he shared their belief.
The appointments 10 Erasmus Hall were taken up
and ratified after which the committee went INTO