New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-11
THE NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
THE CHAPTER ON SCHOOLS.
SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS DECLARED TO
NEED AMENDMENT.
ppoox1.yy WANTS BOARD OF FoKrf-FlVE
MEMBERs-rHE VIEWS OF AN EDUCATIONAL
rxpeRr-roo MUCH POWER GIVEN TO

,,v,,,rps THE VIEWS OF AN EDUCATIONAL
ExpERr-roo MUCH POWER GIVEN TO
THE CITY SUPERINTENDENT
vyhen the Charter Commission takes up the
chapter on education to-day a committee OF 'he
BrookIyn Board OF Education VIII appear oeio'o !.
N advocate a variety of changes In the propose"
LAW a. applied to Brooklyn 1t Is not impropaoie
that some others connected with the schools as ior
example the principals. may be heard iro"'' i"e
committee OF the Board was appointed some u"e
ogo and at the September meeting. shortly AFTER
the publication of the preliminary dratt. "'ue
report In favor OF continuing the present trookv"
publIc school system unchanged. This was adop'el
bv large majority, NOTWITHSTANDING the ues''c vi
some OF the strongest members that more 'i"e pe
allowed for consideration of so important SUBJECT
II remained for one OF those who advocated delay
10 devise a scheme for uniting the schools OF
Greater New-York while at the same time allowing
a large degree OF home rule TO the several sections
OF the CITY, and that scheme which originated win
Charles ~ Chadwick. is substantially the one
adopted by the Draft Committee. Mr.. chadwick
did not undertake TO work out the details OF the
MAN leaving that for the men engaged IN making
the charter and the char ter on education as pup
ushed is far from meeting with his approval In all
particulars
one point which will be strongly insisted on by the
members Of the Board who appear before the COM
mission will be that Brooklyn should continue 10
have a Board of Education of not less than forty
five members This was of the points made
by Mcssrs butcher and Woodford. as members OF
the Subcommittee on Education. and as MI Low.
the other member of that subcommittee pointed ou''
such a Board be provided for Brooklyn without
recurring any change in the scheme as whole. There
IL a strong sentiment in Brooklyn in opposition to the
plan Of school inspectors. which IS feature or the
new law In New-York city 1t Is FELT That IL Is
much wiser to have a large Board of Education the
members OF which are In position To look AFTER
the individual schools through local committees.
The main objection TO the local committee system
IA that the power Of appointing teachers is now
lodged in the hands of the committees. but by the
new law that power will be taken away. and no
valid argument against the system OF supervision
By members of the Board will remain
TOPSY-TURvY ARRANGEMENT
well-known citizen who may be described as an
expert In educational matters. and who Is thorough
Nv familiar with the schools of Brooklyn. made some
incisive comments on tho educational chapter yes
terday and pointed out number OF things winch
in his opinion require extensive amendment. SAID
he:
Il have not had time 10 read the chapter on ecu
cation with the care that should be expended on IT,
1t seems 10 me that II would require mans whee
time for several days TO examine II properly
NAV say that. far as have looked into IL. the
scheue as n whole is a good one. but ii needs care
full revision as to details. The whole thing is ex-
tremely higGledy- piggledy. don't kno" VINO
drafted IT, but he failed utterly to coordinate the
subjects Instead of taking up one matter ond hnu-
ing all there is that head. We read section
here say about the Board Of Education. or superin-
tendents or principals. teachers. and then rev
paees further on we find more that same slDJect.
and then very likely It Is taken up again after baIr
a dozen more pages The arrangement OF topics
could scarcely worse and II you wish TO refer TO
any matter after reading II once. 1t Is dHicu' 10
find it again unless you have marked the place with
care.
AN EMBARGO ON MAKING TEXTBOOKS.
without attempting 10 criticse the chapter as a
whole would like to call attention to TWO or three
things that strike altogether wrong In the
first place look at Section So 1t reads:
The Board of Education shall have power TO
remove from Office any school officer who shall nave
been directly indirectly interested In the urnish-
ing of any supplies materials or in the doing OF
any work or labor In the sale or leasing OF any
real estate. in any proposal. agreement OF con-
tract for any Of these purposes in any case III winch
the price or consdera is be paid in whole or
in part directly indirectly out OF an! school
moneys or who shall have received. from any
source whatever any commission or compensation
IN connection with any OF the matters aioresau'
and any school officer who shall violate the proceed
Ing provisions of this section shall be deemed eui'N
Of A misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof
shall be punished by fine not exceeding $1,000. or
Imprisonment in the city prison not exceeding one
wear or BOTH and shall also be ineligible TO any
school office and with the chamberlain of the city.
stating the amounts and disposition thereof in
detail
Yes have read 1t jus, It stands in the printed
COPIES given out by the Commission. The last TWO
clauses plainly have connection with what goes
before. and have been unable to find where they
the purpose Of this action excellent but they have
made II comprehensive that believe II would
iendent. principal o teacher from engaging in the
preparation of school books that might be used In
The schools the city. number of such books
have been prepared by men connected with the
Brooklyn schools. and some or them are consdered
make II a misdemeanor for well-qualined schoo
in writing books on subjects which all his expert
ence has fitted him to handle regard as most :, mD
mttee intended TO do that and so an amendment IL
required there.
THE CITY sUPERINTENDENT's ARBITRARY
POWER.
Look at another section which gives
heard-of power the City Superintendent. Sec
ton g. says that member of the School Board or
an associate superinte ndent may prefer charges
against a principal OF a school In borough for
gross misconduct characterization. neglect OF duty
or general ne.iiciency TO the borough superin-
tendent. who may suspend said principal with OF
without pay. and appoint a substitute In his place
Thereupon the borough superintendent shall APP
point a commission. consisting OF an associate SUI
perintendent as presiding officer member Of the
School Board (neiher Of whom shall De the person
who preferred the cnarges' ard principal OF a
school in the borough Of not less than five years
the case and report the evidence together with it,
conclusions of approyal or disapproya TO the titE
Iecommend the fine penalty or punishment If any
Superintendent, shall have power to review the re-
port. and 10 confirm or reverse the same" and he
mended. may determine on the penalty irrespec-
tive Of the recommendation OF the Commission. The
decision OF the City Superintendent shall be final
and he shall inhct the penalty. " any