The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-01
Too Much Politics in the Schools.


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Too Much Politics in the Schools.
Irrespectiye of the immediate merits
of the controversy over the hiSh school
faculty. we believe we voice the opin-
ion of every intelligent Scrantonian
ronversant with school affairs when
we saw that the amount of petty local
politics represented in the deiiDera-
tions of the Board of Control and espe-
cially in the boards attitude toward
the employment promotion or dis-
charge of teachers is a disgrace 10 lhe
city and an outrage on the taxpayers.
We can think of no place save pos
sibly the church which should from
the very character of its mission in
the community be more carefully pro-
tected against the contemplate picker
ings Of partisan or faCtional STRIFE than
tho public school. Not only is the pub
lie school supported by the money OF
men of all political and religious affili-
ations. but to il we commit our chil-
dren for instruction and guidance at
a most impressionable period in their
lives. In Il large majority Of in
stances the public school represents
the only educational facility available:
doubly essential is 1t in thes, cases,
both for parents and pupils and for
the general community, that the in
struction given in the public school to
these pupils who have no expectation
Of other instruction, be of the best
and be not hampered or embarrassed
by the unnecessary jealousies, fric-
tions and intrigues of political manip-
ulators. our future citizenship IL
moulded mainly in these free schools
Of the people. Shall its rearing be
handicapped by an atmosphere of dis
tracing discord ana strife?
The public schools of Scranton have
outgrown the dimensions of the viii
lage period of the citys development
and have expanded to proportions
which require in their management
high order of expert intelligence. 1t
is no longer possible to run the schools
of this big city on the low basis of
personal favoritism or factional spleen
without working irreparahla harm
among great number of our citizen
ship. with our complex population
and diverse standards of popular in
tclIigencc. the problem of administer
ing successfully the school system of
the city is hard enough at best, even
when every energy is given to the
actual work of instruction and none
Ia 10
The very best professional skill in the
country employed in the schools OF
Scranton without embarrassment or
interruption would be unable to pro-
duce successful results as rapidly and
as satisfactorily as friends of progress
could wish. How stupidity foolish and
Criminally negligent, therefore, to dis
sipate a large part OF the energy of
our school workers on the childish
games of intrigue and retaliation con-
tinually characteristic of our Board
of Control-games very largely of per-
sonal pique or rejudice-therehy not
only showing bad enconOmy but also
carrying the spirit of contention into
the school room and filling the minds
Of pupils with ignoble conceptions OF
government
We are not now attempting to place
the immediate blame for the present
disreputable discord. 1t is widely dis.
tributed. Ever since we can remem.
bcr, the prevalent conception in this
city of the teachers position has beer
! that of fair spoil for the school boarC
combination which could corral ma,
/ jority vote. The question of a teach
crs merit has long been held subsl
I diary to the question of his relation
shin in school board politics to tn,
! gang on top; and hence we have seer
J at the close of almost every sChoo
year within our recollection the sam,
kind of a wrangle over the hiring o
teachers for the ensuing year whicl
has just taken place, Principals anC
superintendents have been uncere
moniously dragged in; every occupan
of either office has had to go politi
cally armed against possible ambush
and the entire public school system
has been perverted and abused mos
shamefully.
A public opinion is needed whicI
viii discourage this childish view o
serious responsibilities.
The anti-eXpansionists do not seer
20 have been punching their hits O