New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-23
PRESENTED TO THE CITY.
CEREMONIES AT THE NEW HALL OF
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

The hall Of the Board OF Education Park
ave and Fffty-ninth-st. formally accepted
from the building Committee and the municipality
by President Joseph j. Little Of the Board Of Edu-
cation yesterday afternoon in the large assembly
hall. which was profusely decorated with the Ma
tional eolors in honor of washington's Birthday.
A chorus Of four hundred children from the city
schools gave a musical programme. under the
direction of Frank Damrosch- Letters OF regret
read from President Mckinley. Governor
Roosevelt. Ex-Governor Levi p Morton. Charles
". Dabney. and Chester S. Lord. Of the Board OF
Regents,
President Joseph J. Little presided and sitting
the rostrum with him were the speakers. the
members Of the Board of Education. and Andrew
II. Green and ]. Edward Simmons. former presi-
dents of the Board Of Education.
Commissioner Richard II. Adams. chairman OF
the Building Committee. presented the keys OF
the building President Little with brief speech
Accepting the building on behalf Of the Board
of Education and turning IT over to Randolph Gug-
genheimer president of the Municipal Council. rep
resenting the city, President Little said In part;
Perhaps you NAV not know that since 1891 there
have within the territory Of Manhattan ana dns
annexes to old buildings with twelve others now
considerably more than one hundred thousand chill
The liberality of the city has now supplied a
iaI c substantial and @ %
hI oitzers ~ raIi ~, ~ nro,,d And row sr
as the president Of the Board OF Education.
Accepting the building President Guggenheimer
said in part:
1t is with sense Of peculiar qualification that
this new hall of the Board OF Education 1t rep
important OF our public departments.
However valuable the work Of executive. admin
the sense of all who are proud Of our National
eminence depends upon American intelligence that
the public school system Is the cornerstone OF all
i now have very great pleasure in transfsgEin,g
dent T fpa ss tbe sxeeutve bead Of he Board
of Education Of the city Of New-York.
Dr. William T Harris United States Commits
soner of Education, was then introduced. and
said in part
what is done in this second city Of the world what
work as manual iaborers but who to take part
in directing the toll Of others as captains Of In
and noble work in the beginning Of the century
sand times that number are enrolled under the
management Of your Board In 1883. upon the
ventory amounted to 100000: but the current
were almost So 6O0OO0 If we include the annual
budget for new buildings.
The next speaker was Charles R. Skinner. State
Superintendent Of Public Instruction who said IN
part;
There is a certain community of interest between
State and city authorities which recognizes en-
and this city has not been one whit behind the
State in ready response to appeals for aid in the
common cause.
While I have desire for added responsibility
and care. and ambition for enlarged power. I
have always felt that the school system Of your
city is not closely related and subordnated to the
State system il should be. for the best interests
Of both The desire of the state Department is to
deal justly, fairly and honorably with every
ton of the State.
II has seemed to me a great deal easier to make
application for relief TO department which has
power to apply remedy than to appeal various
times to the 90 members of the Legislature. Under
the Legislature for relief. which IS should be.
the province of administrative authority trust
that fuller understanding and closer cooperation
between city and State may soon be established to
the mutual advantage Of both.
DR.. William H Maxwell, City Superintendent OF
Schools. spoke briefly. He said in part:
The American public school, as has been well
said. is the American temple dedicated to what
we believe the essential condition Of popular gov
eminent, an educated people. The most important
agents in this all important work OF educating the
transcendent than TO elevate the people-the work
OF our teachers? Can any duty be more trans
cendent than to elevate the teachers office. both
IN respect OF him no fills IL and in the confidence
and honor OF the people whom he serves? The
teacher is the school Not all the gold IN the
world. not spacious buildings. museums. nor
laboratories, nor libraries make a good school
If II has not good teachers.
Charles H. Knox ex-president of the Board OF
simpler of study for children under fourteen
years old. saying that the great majority must go
to work at that age. and many things now taught
were Of no value
T0TNG pEOpTEFC CnrTrnTrc