New-York tribune., 1897-07-11
TAMMANY ANDTHE SCHOOLS
TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AGAINST THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TRYING TO MAKE A POINT AGAINST THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
PERSECUTION OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
WHO WE'RE IMPORTED" FROM OTHER
CIrIEs-HQw THE ASSISTANT TEACH
ERs WERE SELECTED AND WHERE
THEY HAIL FROM
There are not wanting signs that the intelligent
and high-minded action Of the Board OF Education
in selecting principals and arranging for the equip
ment of the high schools in this city Is to be
employed political capital in the interest OF Tam
many Hall in the coming campaign II is q stg-
niffcant indication OF the straits in which the Wig
wan organization finds itself the present juncture
that 1t is making much OF the fact that (, was
thought necessary by the Board OF Education
Import" men from other cities oversee the
organization Of these schools. instead OF employing
home talent" as the Tammanyites in and out OF
the Board think should have been done.
The enlightened members OF the Board feel that
they have nothing to fear this score. and are
perfectly willing 10 have their course In respect
the high schools subjected the most searching
scrutiny. They have acted throughout from the
highest motives. and absolutely in the interest Of
the city at large. 1t has been their purpose from
the time the high schools determined on, TO
establish them In the best possible way and place
In charge of the boys and girls who will attend
them men and women OF proved efficiency Espe-
caliy they solcitous that the principals should
he persons OF experience in high school organization
and management. and they searched the country
over In the effort men OF tie right stamp
That they have been emirentiy successful is ad-
mitted by all except the Tanmany partisans who
are raising a hue and cry because already
identified with the school system OF the city were
not selected.
oken ~
with the utmost zeal and intelligence and are de.
voting themselves unreservedy 10 the task which
they have undertaken. Yet the people OF New
York are witnesses OF the petty attempts on tho
part Of Tammany adherents to find some flaw in the
appointment of the principals. and TO prevent them
from drawing their salaries for the time they have
been at work in behalf Of the city
THE APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANTS
As it was in the Of the principals so also win
high schools whose appointment has been recon-
mended by the Board Of Superntendents. II will bs
charged that only minority of them have been
selected from the city Of New-York. and that Il is
a gross act of injustice the local teaching force
for the Board of Education import" high school
teachers from other places In connection with this
phase Of the subject It will be interesting to know
just where these assistants hail from.
The appointment Of sixty-foIr men and women
has been recommended by the superinten1ents az
irst assistants second assistants and third assist
ants. The names printed ir The Tribune last
Thursday. and the question of confirming the rec.
ommendation will come up at the meeting OF the
Board OF Education next Wednesday, OF the sixty.
four. twenty-five. more than oae-tfrd come
from New-Iork City. and the number froaA xew.
York State is thrty-three more than one-half Of
the whole Those from the State outside this city
follows Brooklyn. 5; Ithaca. .; Catski,
Mount Vernon. Syracuse and Poughksepse. each
!. Eleven of the assistants come from Massachu-
setts-4 from Cambridge, 3 from Newton. 3 from
Boston and each from Worcester and Chelsea.
Pennsylvania will furnish ca from PhiladA,bha
and each from Phenxville and Plymouth From
New-Jcrsey will come 81 from Newark from
Hoboken and l from Carlstadt. Three OF those
whose appointments are recommended gave their
addresses Washington. The addresses OF the re-
mander Of the sixty four are as follows: Balti-
more. Denver Akron. Ohio: Letonia. Ohio; Deca.
tur. ILL.,; Morgan Park. ILL.,; Derby. Conn., and
II viii be noted that not one was taken from
Kansas City. although AT the time OF his selection
hr,mS ,b a1tire forcn for his smhoo here from ,hS
teachers in the high school there ,
SELECTIONS MADE IMPARTIALLY.
On the whole. the selections appear to have been
made with mpartallty from all parts of the coun-
try. Certainly prejudice was shown against
Newly ,rk teachers. The examinations were con-
Quoted with absolute fairness. and each person who
entered them stood on his or her own merits. As
ono of the assistant superintendents put II a day
or two ago. I'VE have secured the best results that
could be obtained with our net" The total num-
Der Of applicants was close TO one thousand. but
than half Of them excluded themselves be-
cause they failed 20 comply with the preliminary
conditions as to experience IN seachns e,e b
nations, and Of these about y per cent secured Q
rating of 10 per cent and upward. The examina'
tion included both merit and illness.
The question OF confirming the recommendations
of the Board of Superintendents Is now IN the
hands OF the High School Committee OF the Board
OF Education, which Will present It's report at the
meeting this week There Is little doubt that all
the names submitted will be confirmed
Speaking of the attempt TO ma Ike political capita!
out OF the selection Of high school principals and
teachers prominent member of the Board OF Edu-
10 stand by what We have done: The course we
have taken Is precisely that whch would De pur-
sued by business man who was adding new DE-
partment 10 his business aud had no one IN MS en-
ploy VINO was familiar with that branch To make
a success OF II. he would go outside ana get Lns
best man he could find and put him In charge Inc
Board would have been more than glad 70 seiect
New-York men for the principal.hips OF the g hign
experience in that line OF work. ana thererre hgns
competent to undertake II. We realized that ~ ee-
terlng on new experiment II was hecssssary "
make no mistakes We wanted men VINO Were
nmaiifcd by experience 20 do just the work they
have already shown their fitness to do. S
"All we have done has been open ana avove
ton that may be made Of H. IL seems 70 me Una.
Tammany Is pretty hard pushed when u srsxs ~
r,aLa !, pont against the reform administrator
Of the schools because the Board OF ,,sia
I'D Tor some OF the teachers. The attempt 70 noIa
IN the salaries OF these officers Is petty anu eons
temptible | recall no more STRIKING case W
peanut politics
DIR. BENEDICTS RECOVERY.
- .,,,D G papsdict Chief Of the Bureau OF