The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22
THE SCHOOL BOARD AND
 THE CHARTER Age Limit on Night School Pupils. IT WILL BAR MANY OUT. POWERS OF THE APPOINTED AND ELECTED BOARD. A Little Joker Which May Allow of an Unlimited Number
 of Positions Being
 Created.
IT WILL BAR MANY OUT.
POWERS OF THE APPOINTED
 AND ELECTED BOARD.

Among the many things buried away in the voluminous pages of the new charter are several rules governing the Board of Education to be appointed by the Mayor which are of a peculiar nature. In some this is patent on the surface at cursory glance, while In others little jokers are cunningly buried under a mass of seem ingly meaningless words.
 Section g. chapter 3, Of article VII reads: Adults shall be entitled to free instruc- ton in the evening schools; but no child under 14 shall be admitted to the schools" This section has been found particularly objectionable not only to those on the outside who have given the matter @ second thought. but to many of the present School Board, who are loud in their condemnation of it.
 In speaking of the matter last night, President Harrington said:
 '~This Is a matter which was not form erly regulated by law, but was left to the judgment of the board Our rules re- stricted the age to F years, with a modi- flying proviso to the effect that the com mittee on rules might at its option per- init children under 12 to attend. This law, if 1t is passed, will bar many from ob- tatning an education. We all know that there are many under IA who are obliged to earn little toward the support of the family. Again, some children of Il or F are as competent physically and mentally as others of 14 and 15 We also have the condition confronting us in many cases of children under 1s who are obliged to stay at home during the day to care for younger ones, while the mother goes out to earn the daily bread; and is it right or just to deprive any of these of an ed- ucaton simply because they have not reached the age of 14 years? In these cases there is simply the alternative of sending the children to be cared for in charitable institution or deprive them or an education. We have had many Of these cases brought to our attention in past years, and it is a condition which will always exist. or at least as long as there is poverty in the world"
 In section ?, chapter 3, of the same article is found another cunning little thing, but it Is not thrust out so plainly. h fact. 1t requires second or third seen. It empowers the appointed board of four to employ such teachers and persons as may be necessary to carry into effect it's duties,' etc. This Is very similar to the present regulations of the board; but the effects 1t may produce are vastly different, according to the the board. who have carefully studied 1t. The following interpretation is given by some of the best-informed members:
 We are allowed to appoint and fix the salaries of teachers, inspectors and other necessary officials, but we are not allowed to create and fix salaries for the
 
 might be brought in under the broad title of persons
 Another thing. we hold our positions through election by the people and are responsible to the people for our actions; but how different is the position of the board provided for by the new charter. This board is to consist of four people; these four will be appointed by the Mayor, and does it not stand to reason that at least three out of the four will endeavor first and foremost to please this Mayor in order to hold their posi- tons? It would be poor Mayor who could not control three of the four men a certain number of vacancies made in the department the members of the board can, if they choose, appoint certain inspectors, or any other title by which they may choose to call them. These inspectors will, of course, be nothing more or less than private detectives. They can lay traps, trump up charges. bring to light number of petty shortcomings or in fact do almost anything to prove a teacher unworthy of holding his position in the eyes of board which has appoint ed them to make such discoveries, and of course the appointing power will be pleased at the result. His friends, polit- 1cal or otherwise, may get all the ap- pointments in the School Department they choose, and there is practically no restriction.
 "Other parts of the charter allow of just as much jobbery. The Superintend- ent of Schools and his four deputies may iuggle with the certificates to an almost