New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-25
SCHOOL LAW REVISION.
s,,prRINTENDENT MAXWELL STRONGLY
FAvORS UNIFICATION
,rr FEELS CONFIDENT THAT THE COMMITS
s1oN APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR RoosE-
vr1T CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.


WELT CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
-,a commitment by Governor Roosevelt Of a spe-
Ia, commission 70 draw up a blu for the unihca-
80 ~ the school system OF the State. as an
.onnced in The Tribune yesterday. created keen
,,-est IN educational circles City Superintendent
Newell IS heartily in favor Of the scheme. and TO
a Tribune reporter he said;
..-be state system Of education has two heads.
poeer,s OF the University Of New-York and the
c.ote Super,ntendent Of Public instruction. The
pegents are supposed 20 look after the interests OF
- and secondary education. The State Super
..ersert Is supposed 70 supervise the elementary
.bools There has always been more or less fric-
con between the departments. but OF recent
sars the friction has increased 10 such an extent
as 10 constitute a serious menace to the WORK OF
the educational system
prAsONs FOR INCREASED FRICTION.
..rn chief reason for this recent increase Of the
>-,c,ton between the departments is TO be
$50 IN the provisions Of Chapter 1881. Of the
u,s NJ 1895 That statute provides that no teacher
sbou Ia licensed appointed 10 teach in the
elementary schools Of any city or village Of
+ha state who has not been graduated from
state normal school from a high school
~,6 training school. both Of which must
,.va the approval OF the State Superintend-
1rt Under mis- section Of the statute the State
s,rar,ntendent has found it necessary 10 examine
o,s ,rspec. high schools and academies which
,rder the immediate supervision Of the regents and
@~o,,entl, 10 require changes in their curriculum
,f,re giving them his official approval. which is
,essarv 10 reader their graduates eligible as
teachers.
This action the part Of the State superin-
,en6ent has thus led TO dual inspection. a dual
examination a conflict Of authority with regard TO
tie curriculum and duplication Of the Official
force which ought 10 be unnecessary Under these
circumstances The teachers OF the State, and par
tcularly those who are engaged in high school
work and who suffering from this conflict Of
authority are unanimously Of the opinion that
some change in the consolidated school law OF the
State is absolutely necessary.
PROPOSED CHANGES.
zone proposition has been to have the State
Superintendent elected by the Board Of Regents
and 10 leave with him all his present powers and
duties The objection TO this scheme IS that IL
does not provide for the elimination of dual super
vision over The high schools and academies. An
other scheme is That provided in the White bin.
which i'l,.- 10 pass ,s AT us last
new office mat Of Commissioner Of Education.
who should be ,he head Of the entire educational
his direction deputy commissioners in charge Of The
college work. the high school work. the elementary
The Objection to th!s scheme, in my mind. IS the
creation Of a Office | believe II 10 be per
without creating any new Office single and com
schoo-. as far as It is wise that the State should
g As far l know the men who form the Com
mission appointed DN tDc GONfIIoIt bfli'Nr 'iiVN
are entirely capable OF preparing just such plan
Being asked If he approved the policy OF the
Governor in declining 10 appoint any professional
educator as member Of the Commission. Super
intendent Maxwell added:
- can objection 10 the Governors course
IN this respect provided the Commission will con-
sider the views OF the men who are actively en-
gagged In educational work
FREDERICK HOLLss VIEWS.
Borough Superintendent Jasper and Or. Hunter
president Of the Normal College declined 10 express
any opinion on the subject for publication. but
Frederick W Hollis. member Of the Commission
is reported saying:
There is no politics whatever IN the appointment
Of the Commission. and shall proceed with our
work with eye single to the best interests OF the
educa tionai system OF the state regardless the
nolittcal susce ptbilities or afnites Of anybody.
IL has been long the present state OF the
school laws. with It's outcome in the dual control
gents is unwise. "nscienthc cumbrous ana dis
IA The CONSTITUTIONAL Convention the Committee
on Education, of which was chairman. felt called
upon 10 give special attention 70 the subject OF
thorough renodelling OF the laws and Of the sys-
lem OF administration. and in its report pointed
out exclusively the inherent evils and the need OF
that tie proper means Of effecting reform was not
through the Constitution which should be pre-,
strictly essential. but through legislation.
While the body OF the educational law IN ms |
State Is large. II does not necessarily follow that
the task Of revision and codihcation VIII he df- |
NolIr or prolonged. We shall be greatly assisted |
by the labors OF those who prepared the White bH !
when offered in the main excellent codihcatiOn.
hvt failed OF passage In the last Legislature. We
shall make that bill the basis OF our own measure,
and hope 20 be abls 10 make definite report in |
Mr. Hollis thinks unihcation Of control could best |
be accomplished by vesting In the Board or Re- |
gents the appointment OF the state superintendent
GRAND JURY REFUSED TO INDICT HYDE.
The Grand Jury refused yesterday 10 return An