The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-12
BOARD OF EDUCATION ROW.
BROOKLYN COMMISSIONERS OBJECT
TO MAXWELL'S REPORT.

Superintendent Reflects Severely on the
Method of Appointing and Promoting
Teachers in That Borough-Too Much
"Iniiuepce"-Rcport Will BE Edited.
City Superintendent Maxwell made his nrst
annual report to the Central Board Of Eduoa-
ton yesterday afternoon. The report de-
carcd that the system of appointing and
promoting teachers In the Brooklyn schools
Ia injurious and calculated to greatly retard
the progress of education. Commissioner
Robertson. the President OF the Brooklyn
Borough Board. and Commissioner Dresser Of
the same borough made an attack on the
superintendent and row ensued.
IF there is one reform more than another to
be desired In the administration OF public
schools" the report said. 1T 10 the removal Of
the appointment OF teachers from pressure and
influence OF all kinds"
Mr. Maxwell also pointed out that In section
1103 Of the Charter tho Borough Board OF
Brooklyn was able TO get rid. BY a simple
Hs and ,ssshs. that hse ps
tarded progress ever since the Brookly'
city sGhGo od system Tns a. hs
work in the case of individual Schools" "A.
tinues same report. but in the main the eech
certain characteristics, OF the system tniffn
appear on the surface that must condem"n
the eyes Of thinking men. ,an,.a
to teach in the borough Of Brooklyn com
PEELED to visit the places Of business "a R resi-;
to sue for appointment and to briE political oiSsa
and other prcssue on the membeybos se eiuso
up several of the best years OF hf liie 10 the
work OF preparation for the teachtg PROCESSION
she has mas a moral right t to show vat che can do
in the class room without beiP supJecteu V
beGg OF sumK ,9F to the low
est tricks Of the lowest eradeh politicians,
Second; The same unseety Hra 1 y, .annre
appointment are lot seIdor plosed 70 secure
promotion. The result is nat many principals
which tb"y ar" III adnnsd or wholly UNIT. to
the great injury OF thseause OF eu"ea''oh IN
connuns the resrtt said that the =, loGa,
best mon that + IN the 81 6S
imrortun!ty OF he teachers and their
friends Tor appqmssRntt and pro%otiogp 9 ard
Of '' teacher,. The report said that a
system SYST aT II vas amost impossible to bring about
the ranSe OF sehpoa aR When sssS
good fF OF IL system. beaHse each local eom-
mittee haisupreme control OF its own school
thortj ttransfer one teacher from one school
The eport declared that the system also
depny,d the schools of the insstimnble advan-
tage 4 having experts in educational work
was lest qualified.
"Ccnmissioner Robertson moved that the
reprt be referred to the Committee on School
srtem in order that the part re-
fsrinR TO Brooslyn might be stricken
Tarmly that he had not handed In his report
or action, but had merely made 1t In the line
o. his duty, GoRTss,oner dresser fd saRp9rssa
me- tion was perfectly proper ono.
p" You have no right to place eensorshtp
over me" declared Supt Maxwell g have
the right under tho charter to make any re-
port that deem necessary; It's my duty TO
duty OF this board to accept It,
The board need not follow out my recon-
mendatiOns. but it must accept my report asa
matter OF law and It has not tho right to strike
one word out OF it,"
When tho vote was taken the report was
referred to the committee as Commissioners
Robertson had asked.