The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-21
Yours sincerely
c, N. Kendall,
Superintendent of School

Yours sincerely,
| C. N. Kendall
1 Superintendent of Schools
| 1t was q year after the sending Of
| this letter that Mr.. Hurd agreed, if he
was reappointed for the past year that
he would not seek reappointment from
| Mr.. Kendall. Mr.. Newton read a writ
ten agreement signed by Mr., Hurd in
which the latter stated that he was not
a candidate for reappointment by Mr.
Kendall" Mr.. Hurd stated to the board
that since Mr.. Kendall was to leave
| New Haven at the end of the present
| school year, and as there would be
another superintendent next year, he
| did not consider the agreement binding
and therefore applied for a reappoint-
ment simply to vindicate him in his
professional standing.
Reuben Fl. Brown. a member of the
| board of finance, appeared in behalf of
Mr.. Hurd. He presented a petition sign
ed by teachers of the district and one
signed by several hundred pupils and
alumnae of the Winchester school, ask
ing that the refusal to reappoint Mr.,
Hurd be reconsidered, and petition Of
the same purpOrt signed by l. 191 people
interested in the welfare of the schools
of the Winchester sub district" Mr.
Brown said that 50 far as he had knowl-
edge of the matter Mr. Hurd was an
efficient teacher He had had two chill
dren educated under Mr.. Hurd's super
vision. He realized that the board and
the superintendent had absolute au-
thority in the matter. He referred to
section 105 of the charter which pro-
vides for the appointment of members
of the board Of education, and said that
if the mayor desired to make changes
in the board of education 1t would take
under that section of the charter, long
time to do 1t.
He read other sections of the char
ter to show the almost absolute power
which the board of education has, q
board which spends a great part Of the
taxes. There was not much chance for
the taxpayers to reach the board. and |
such being the facts it seemed that be- |
fore deciding this case the board |
should give it very earnest considera- |
ton. He spoke of the probability of a |
of schools, because of |
dislike, doing great injustice to |
teachers because of his absolute power
of appointment and dismissal unless five |
members of the board vote to change |
his acts. He spoke of the tendency to-
ward civil service reform and asked If
there was a bit of it in the department
of education. He did not believe that
lied the power of the board Of education
d ND ha al, ohe p1,,to - |
of schools. He said: "If
we had one director of education instead
Of seven in the board there would BE-
of reaching him, at least
within three or four years. | don't want
% cast reflections on the members of
he board but l say this to show to the
public what power is given by the char
er. superintendent unless he has a
pretty strong board, can fix things up
80 that it will be pretty hard to get five
members to vote against hts action.
lope you gentlemen will reconsider your
lction, if you have taken any"
Rev. Mr.. Timm, pastor of the Ger
nan Lutheran church; Rev. Mr.. Der
lex of the African Methodist church.
Rev. Father Lenahan of ST. Mary's r.
:. church, Carleton e. Hoadley, George
Davidson who presented a petition
igned by several hundred citizens of
he district; Frederick w Orr, Judge
Mr.. Dallas, Charles Hamilton I
f the Ninth ward, Mr.. DAILY. Mr.. Han c
ahan and Anthony Carroll also eppear- t
d to speak in behalf of MI >Hurd. The
etition presented by Mr.. Davidson ask
d that the superintendent waive any
al ,,,lo |
Ir Orr thought that, in view Of the
ecord established by Mr.. Hurd the SUI
excuse for not reappoint-
lg him was very flimsy. =
Reuben f. Brown took occasion to .
ny that a committee of teachers of the II
istrict called to see him and wished .
i'm to state for them that their petit =,
on was voluntary and that Mr. Hurd a
new nothing about it until the last &c
anne was signed to it. Mr.. Brown W
lid that one teacher had told him that ~
he hadn't seen member of the board q,
education in the district in four 4
ears. =,
Judge Sheldon thought that in 500 81
,ses out of a thousand when a man
as given absolute authority he would fl
0use that authority. He didn't know ir
hat the charges against Mr.. Hurd al
ere, but the chances We're that the sc
ouble all arose because a chance was tc
ven to show authority If the board ii
dn't listen to citizens there would be &C
day after to-day. He said: I'VE will Ell
when we get a chance, not We
ly at this charter, but at some per-
MS"
Carleton E. Hoadley in the course of f,
S remarks said that he had UNDER w
BOD that the board had placed posi- te
lily of change of the superintendent tic
cision beyond its power, and to this eli