New-York tribune., 1901-08-05
: SISTERS" IN THE SCHOOLS
MILES VI. OBRIENS PLAN TO EMPLOY
THEM CRITICISED
SUPERINTENDENT SKINNER OPPOSED THE
IDEA YEARS AGo-soME OF HIS
ARGUMENTS AGAINST IT


The proposal of the New-York Board of Educa-
tion, announced at the meeting last week. to take
charge OF the principal private schools in the city
hire the buildings in which they have heretofore
been conducted and employ the teachers. part
of the city's common school system, appears
have been made either without regard to- or IN
defiance Of numerous decisions by the State Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction that the pro-
posed act is ''JInwise matter of school pOIty
violation of the letter and spirit of the constitu
ton and without warrant of law
State Superintendent Draper, long ago 1851
and Superintendent Charles r. Skinner as late as
December %. 1Sss condemned precisely the
measures that now proposed and annulled the
acts local boards of education in attempting to
carry them out. Curiously enough. the same
sons were urged in those cases that are put
forward for this expedient. 1t urged that
without resortinE to that plan it was impossible
furnish school facilities TO all the children In
the particular localities who were entitled to
ceive them. In those cases. too. the buildings in
which private schools had been heretofore
Quoted hired. in cases at the nominal
rental of 81 year. This fact was strenuOusly
urged as being extremely favorable TO the tax
payers but the State Superintendent made some
pointed remarks about the citizens of par
ticular city not being able educate their
children. and refused to sanction the plan there
urged.
THE EMPLOYMENT OF SISTERS"
In discussing the plan proposed by the New-YOrk
Board of Education Miles NJ OBrien the presi-
dent of the board, quoted by reporter of
The New-York HERALD saying that the plan
included the taking of sectarian schools well
others but that the teaching of secaran doctrines
therein would of course be discontinued when the
Board of Education took charge He also
asked according to the report, If it in
tended also continue the employment of the
Sisters belonging TO the various religious de-
nominations which at present conduct some of
these schools. Mr.. O'Brien is alleged to have
tf1,, rINaF-
employment. and that such the intention. pro-
vided of course. they could and did pass the regu-
lar teachers examination.
This whole question thrashed in 1898. in
Poughkeepsie, and by successive appeals finally
reached the State Superintendent of Public In
struction. fought with considerable bitter
ness both sides, and the parties were repre-
sented by counsel from the beginning. The de-
cision Of Charles r. Skinner, the State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, printed in his
report for the year 1899 and appears at page 10
of Volume y of the Assembly Documents for that
year.
In that the Board Of Education of Pough-
keepsie had rented. among others two buildings
belonging to St Peters Roman Catholic Church
which had heretofore been used as parochal
schoolhOuses. They also employed four Sisters of
Charity who had formerly been teachers in the
schools conducted by the Church. The rent paid
for these buildings was 81 year each The teach
ers were paid the same salaries that other teach
ers in the grades received Objection was
made that these teachers dressed in the garb Pc
cuar TO their religious sect. and were addressed
usually in school by their Christian names pre-
fixed by the term sister" 1t was contended on
the part OF those who favored this arrangement
and was not seriously denied. that no denomina-
tonal doctrines or tenets taught in these
buildings during school hours
EFFECT ON YOUNG MINDS
1t was urged. however by the opponents of the
system that the fact of the teachers wearing the
peculiar garb hef Ifoc tba
in which they We're addressed influenced the minds
OF the children 10 such extent that It amounted
10 the teaching OF religious doctrines and tenets
| II was also alleged-and denied. according to
the decision of the superutendeut-that the Board
| of Education had no power under the provisions
of the city charter provide buildings or rooms
for school purposes, except by renting them: that
buildings could only be purchased or erected by
the affirmative vote of the taxpayers and that the
bonded Indebtedness of the city was so great that
the constitution prohibited the city from fncurrtn
any further Indebtedness
Admitting all these facts Superintendent Skin
her says that the right of boards OF education to
employ teachers who dress in the peculiar garb of
any religious denomination and who are addressed
oy the pupils under their charge by their Christian
WI Win INe preil& sister thereto has been
determined by the department in several de- ions
Department OF Public InstructIon NOR nil " ,b @
10 quote the language of Superintendent Draper
IN decision rendered March 2i 1857 as follows:
sively by members of one reIisious sect and for
the purpose of indicating mt mbership in that
SET, pF the teachers in the public schools
stitutes a sectarian influence which ought not
the pupils addressing the teacheTs as ,Sis-er
Mary Sister Martha etc. The conclusion is
much stronger sectariau or den0minational in
1iuenee over the minds OF the children than the
me 1he Scriptures at the opening OF the schools. and
!st tnese things nave been prohibited. whenever
department from the earliest days. because of the
purpose enshrned in the hearts of the people and
lTlDeCldeu In the fundamental law the that
the public school system shall be kept altogether
tree from matters not essential to its primary
pose and dangerous to its harmony and efficiency
sKINNERs OWN VIEWS
Mr. skinner gives also several reasons of his own
why the employment of Sisters of Charity as
teachers in the public schools is improper He says
it Is well known that they do not associate in pub
Tic places with the world at large and will not be
employed in any building not cOnsecrated or de
voted by the rules of the denomination of which
,,1,rnosas ..Io rr, mind he Further eays Sc -
fundamental that teachers employed in the public
schools of the state in fitting children for use
full citizens should keep themselves in close touch
with everythlns that Will enhance their usefulness
In this direction 10 90 TINS requires association
with others engaged in like employment and ia
which the pupil in future years must battle for his
own existence. They should touch men and women
which perplex and discipline us and above an tbe
professional training which comes from association
barred from any teacher employed in the nIbIic
as the needs of u great city school system NAV
require ought always TO be possible and no teacher
any institution organization or denomination
as TO make such transfers INST. impossible
upon the susceptible mind of a child always wear
Insignia of religious order on her nerson Who .s E
never seen by the child except under the protec-
in a building thus oonsecrated and known to the
child to be IN the opinion OF the teacher sacred
sought TO be excluded from the public schools by
further