The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-12
GLEASONS THIRD CHAPTER.
TIE FORMER MAYOR oFLoNG ISLAND
CIT AS Az EDUCATOR.
He Tells in His Book WHY and How He
Built the Present Public schools In That
City-His Frequent Visits to the Schools

OF Long Island City, has Just completed the
third chapter OF the book he Ia writing. II is
given below entire:
After I became an Alderman one OF the
branches OF the city in which l took the most
interest was the Board Of Education. j found
that the city owned only one schoolhouse.
tho others being leased. Vacant rooms over
liquor stores were being utilized for school
purposes and dingy rooms back OF grocery
stores. also ascertained upon investigation
that from 40 to 80 per cent. OF the children In
the city did not attend school. There has al
ways been a warm spot III my heart for chill
dren and from the time l first set foot iu Amer
lea and began to appreciate the difference be-
tween this country and the place where l first
saw the light Of day 1 speedily realized that to
the education OF their children was due in the
greatest measure the progress Of the United
! States. ] know little about theories and care
less. 1t is the practical that appeals to me. b.
/ lost no time In having q resolution passed by
the Common Council calling upon the Board Of
Health to inspect all premises then In use for
school purposes. As q result Of this resolution
areport was madeito the Common Council con-
demnipg on per cent. OF the buildings and
rooms occupied as'schools. Furthermore. the
| report stated that some OF the premises were
unsanitary and not ft to keep hogs In. On
the following November I was elected Mayor.
| Wnlcn gave me tho power OF SetecUluR anu tp-
! pointing q Board Of Education.
One Of the first duties OF the new board UNI
der nv jurisdiction was to examine into and
pass upon the qualifications OF the teachers
| then employed In, the schools. The report
showed that26 percent. OF the iucumbents held
frst-grade certificates. sixteen held second
grade certificates, and the remainder were
without certificates Of any kind. This state Of
affairs struck me as being radically wrong.
| How could a.man who had no knowledge Of
railroading instruct q beginner in the intrica-
cies Of running a road. and how could a per-
son not competent to obtain q teachers certi-
1cate impart knowledge to others that he or
she did not possess? I at once resolved that all
applicants for positions to teach in the schools
OF Long Island City should undergo a rigid ex-
animation. to be conducted by competent ed
~ucators. and the examination was set for the
folio wing vacation term IN midsummer. For
this move I was assailsd on all sides. Local
papers accused me OF meddling with the
schools: held me UP to derision as an unedu-
Gated politician trying to disrupt the school
system. Parents and friends OF those teach
ing school without the proper certificates said
it was political persecution, and they wanted to
know what l knew about schools and educa-
ton. Well. l gave them all to understand that
what I didn't know.I was willing 10 learn, and
that none but competent instructors should
teach the children of Long Island City. [
then selected Mr.. Maxwell. the present Super
intendent Of Education of Greater New York.
with two others to conduct the examination.
Other business compelled Mr.. Maxwell to de-
cline. He sent me a courteous note thanking
me for the honor conferred upon him. and.
furthermore. the note stated that if the then
Mayor of Brooklyn was brave enough to do
what I was then seeking to do. It would be the
means Of driving out all tho rotten timber in
his own corps OF teachers. This letter. coming
as it did from one OF the highest educa-
tional authorities. greatly ENCOURAGED me,
and the examination was held despite all oppo-
sltion. AS q result, out of the TWENTY-FIVE who
held drst-grade certificates only three passed
the exa mination. while but ten Of the remain
der passed for second grade. On reading over
the report 1 came to the conclusion that it was
impossible for the children OF Long Island City
to obtain any kind Of fair education owing to
the lack of proper accommodations and COM
petent teachers.
Then l caused the Board Of Education to
issue an order for q second examination Of all
teachers.
Then l caused the Board Of Education to
pass a resolution notifying all teachers to pre-
pare for a second examination to be held in
six months from the date of notification. with
the information that all who did not pass the
| SAdullildlIOh nOulu 10 uLSppSu Nv Stoh
of teachers in the public schools. This gave
those competent ample time to prepare for the
examination. but Notwithstanding this the
second examination developed the fact that 20
per cent. OF those teaching school were unable
to pass the examination. Just about this
time I found thai the Board Of. Education was
not disposed tn obey my instructions. so l re-
moved the obstinate members and appointed
others In their places.
Teachers from different parts OF the State
applied for positions in our schools. The
Board OF Education was instructed to appoint
only those having Normal School diplomas and
the required amount Of experience. The re-
suit was that Long Island City soon had the
most Q fficient CORPS OF teachers to be found In
the State. This action made me many politi-
cal euemies among the relatives and friends
OF the deposed teachers; l cared nothing for
advancement Of the children and that the par
ents would see for themselves in a year or
more.
| made a practice Of visiting one or more
schools every day. Many times even the prin-
cipal would not know l was in the building I'M
In this manner l could see exactly what was
being done. found in some Instances PRO-
teaehers were deaf and not a few were nearly
blind and not able to see children's hands that
gagged In writing. embroldering and many
other things instead of teaching the pupils.
This was Immediately stopped by dropping
such offenders.
During my arst'canvass for. Mayor I found
some teachers taking an active part in the
campaign. such as taking a vote Of the chill;
dren'to find out which candidate they wanted
slected Mayor, and, OF course. thus incidentally
finding out the politics OF their parents. l as
certained that this had been made a regular
practice IN years past. but daring my first
campaign 1t was found that rs per cent. of the
children voted for me. A list OF the names OF
these pupils was supplied my opponents In order
that.some one might call on their parents and
len. / knew full we'll that the children voiced
the sentiments OF their parents. which caused
me TO fight more bitterly my opponents on the
question Of public school education.
At all the massmeetings during the cam
palgn many OF the school children were pres
emit. / spoke TO them on their education. and
said my great aim was that they should have
new schools and competent teachers so they
would be enabled to acquire a good education
to help them In their future life.
was elected and ny nrst effort was to pre-
pare bills TO be introduced In the legislature
to build public schools sufficient to accommo
date the thousands of children who were out
on tho streets for lack OF school room. Ny eff
1 4N,a, a. ~ n "a so u,Arn IaNaafAI $40