New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-07
MR.. TAFT AND THE SCHOOLS.
A REPLY FROM COMMISSIONER MACK
TO CROKER'S ATTACK.


With reference 10 Tammany Halls recent Giro l.
lars attacking Nj Taft and the Board Of Edlca-
ton generally. School Commissioner jacob w
Mack makes the following statement;
About one hundred and hfty thousand nhaoitan,3
the polls last year to the effect that munleilAl
politics a matter Of business. and tnai ptIt,.f1
Administrations While Il Is that they were
voted down by the opposing majority, IL my H..
be fairly stated that there Is AZ leasl on ~
department the freedom Of which from nnil'i i
partisanshp and control Is uphe u by an oyer" 'V',
ing majority OF the populatioi OF 'hlr rIl5 , ME-
department is that Of education Iamhdiy ~
beavv hand UPON the school Of New-York and ts
appointments OF commissioners and OF trustees
cirScumstances appointments Of teachers should
have pIoceeded upon sin llar PASS e., "l.o',
Eur TO be expected. Within the last Nv y,arS.
,ba Roard Of Superint endents at least from the
Board of Education. while the trustees have peen
< new attemp. is now being made to introducs
partisan politics into the eIucatlonai ~
lne shI Hs o. the friend Of he teach
ers" which. under date OF November j. iS's, ii@
t Ssen Of Sew-York confirms attack upqn
,i for Justice Of the supreme Court.
and urges the teachers OF New YORK Clf, ~. ~
fstbars Of The children in the public schools AMI
the public generally. to vote against N!i. ~ he
Reform members Of the Board Of Education. cha
Mr.. Taft has incurred the ill-w NOT t,S cl me
IN the matter Of selecting principals for hsn
schools such men as have had experience IN 'T 9
the eyes Of Tamm1ny poci a5d fness 's should
be- asked when a 900 Office is under discussion
TAH1MANY IDEAS OF "FADs."
Mr.. Taft is berated for favorins educational
lads introduced into the New-York schools TO
the neglect of essentials" In doing so he has put
himself in line with the most modern Ideas OF edu-
Gators as far as the Introduction Of manual tram
ing physical exercise. cooking. sewing ana music
is concerned. all of which are most valuable educa-
tonal factors by the Introduction OF whlch. now
ever the main elementary subjects OF education
Ike reading writing, spelling, arithmetic ana &C.
ography. haze by no means been permitted 10
suffer. 49,. ,o.o,,,.,r,or, ~ a
training school for teachers. for the accomm4daton
Of which thousands Of ehiidr , m street9 Is
4 great Joke The pupils of the tralninns-sci5o 100,
not OF such stout growth as to dspace thousands
OF children" doubt whether any one OF tn ms,
young could. in the matter OF space uti
place even one fairly grown boy in the Fout'H
When a political party appeals TO snecili cla as
Of voters on political grounds II IS but fair 70 ask
What the appellant himself has done 10 merit me
nroessed great friendship for the teachers. as II
benefits with them for the teachers or
srs and Tammany trustees controlled NE saiail
OF both teachers and principals such ssiarles Non
of teachers. dependent upon politics. tenIsH 10 u
stroy all professional ambition Not untiI the p!t
emf Board Of Education took hold OF ms sunI@-'
u,os the question OF Increase or salaries mo-
oughly agitated. and in this direction MI arr h@s
heen among the strongest advocates IN laF"r @.
srch increase and has been ahead even OF many
Of his associates. while at me same tae t,ous
| vocated every possible encouragement 10 AMBITIOUS
| teochers 10 be rapidly promoted whenever th'S
were deserving OF il When the Board OF i-qe nc.
- arneared before n Tammany Board or fstl-
m mai and Apportlonment with a proposition Tor
nnaterioi increase in the salaries Of our teachers
rp,"nv friendship for and interest IN the teach-
err. showed Itself ny reducing = nr0n9sed h'''''e
| - almost 81 800 900 10 a paltry S25ooe
HURRIED NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Tho acceleration Of the building OF new school
| houses has had IN Mr. Taft one OF It's strongest
md most efficient advocates and II was he VINO