The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-04
GEN. WOOD AVID ALEXIS z. vRYE.
The Former Cuban superintendent Of
Schools, His work, and HE Troubles.

schools, His Work, and HSs Troubles.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir: On Mon
day. April ~, you published an article d,
Education In Cuba" The article contains
some statements that do great injustice
to Mr.. Alexis Z, Frye. former Superintendent
Of Schools OF Cuba II says. for example:
Mr.. Fryes methods were somewhat di6use
His principal idea appeared to have been the
establishment Of the greatest number OF
schools. In this process he unduly over
looked the essential element OF systematic
organization. The whole institution soon
fell into exceeding confusion. The clear
inference 10 that the confusion Was In Mr..
Frye's department. Tho same article states
that soon after Lieut.. Hanna was appointed
Commissioner of Education Mr., Frye was
dismissed
intendent Of Schools Of Cuba: he was suo-
ceeded by Mr. Lopez. and the latter was sue
ceeded by DR.. Diaz, who now holds the posi-
ton. These are the only superintendent OF
Schools who ever held office In Cuba.
Mr.. Frye was never Commissioner of Schools
OF Cuba and never performed the duties OF
that Office, During Gen. Brooke's term and
during the first eight months OF Gen. Woods
term the financial organization OF the school
department was in the hands OF the Military
Governor and was directed by the Chief Of
Stan. All payrolls were sent to the Chief
OF Stan and all other bills likewise. Not ono
ever passed through the Office OF the Super
lntendent of Schools Mr.. Frye's work MS
superintendent was to establish schools and
direct the methods Of instruction.
Before the schools had been opened three
months the school payments were In hope
less confusion. As months passed the con-
fusion became greater, and school boards
threatened to resign bodily. The pay Of
tpaclarS In from IA f0ur
months. The entire system was crippled
Scores Of petitions were sent to Mr. Frye,
appealing 10 him to help obtain payments.
This was in accord with Article XIV. Order
?28. OF Dec. 9. 1899. the law under which the
schools were organized. This article reads:
II salaries are not paid within thirty days
of the date when they become due, Boards OF
Education shall. and teachers may report
the fact to the Superintendent Of Schools OF
Cuba. who will give the matter personal at
tentlon." Mr.. Frye did give the matter
personal attention and with such visor that
the bills were paid by Gen. Wood and the
total disruption Of the school system pre-,
vented. There were stormy interviews and
Wood and Mr.. Frye on the subject. while
ments. yet he was directed by the law to az sys
personal attention to failures to make pay
ments. The failure was in the once Of Cen
several months Of effort to try to straighten
out the accounts in Gen; Woods ONCE, Mr.
appealing to Gen. Wood to appoint an ofiicer
payments In this letter MIR. Frye called
pleaded with Gen Wood to sive up trying
TO direct the finances Of the schools through
the ess & ne Gee. ahs &S Of S yielded and ...p
naming Dr. Borrero to he Once. Dr. Bor-
Weeks after Mr.. Frye's resignation Lieut
Hanna. who had been serving IN Dr. Borrero's
The work Of Mr.. -Frye,s office continued a.
before. Neither Or. Borrero nor Lieut..
ooH s o SorR ne sS Hok hsS 9p . ss ds in h
Els CHIEF Of s2 sa r.. 0 letters Sf 81
Schools Of Cuba and can there be seen.
But owing to The great confusion IN school
Frye made to have the snarl untsnele and
owing 70 the bitter letters which NJ. Frye
sbas 91fsd to vte to Gen Med to 5
S sss 'G01 saia;f9
sns5s .asy :o.:ts ID;
absence Tor three months. lie did this in
stead OF resignina at once. az Gen. Wood
school laws II be I'D remain In once. Gen.
Wood granted the leave Of absence on Dec.
II, 1900. and Endorsed on the leave these words:
desired win not be needed
The months passed, and on Jan. .. 1901, a.
%so ~ss he sns On ssss
bis resignation in perssn to den WOOD The
instant attention. But Mr.. Frye insisted on
the H,S Of TIE Mod In
press seneraIIy. Gen Wood a0 clearly stated
tast NJ FsTys might have continued to hold
Wood Neither is II Just to state that NJ
his department. II is equally unjust to Imply
Mr.. Frye. DR.. Borrero took from, the Chief Of
this he was assisted by Mr. Hanna. Later,
after Mr.. Frye bad left Cuba, Mr. Hanna took
s GhSsf chaf fssSe the n4 M
tion of schools, nor has any other Commits
s zig, IT.. In fact as soon as the americans
abolished. The superintendent's, ONCE has
ton, has directed ali Al ' methods q teseS.hs,
should have full credit for Strengthening out
~bs ksp at ea SaSn e. %as
schools, and II was he also who gave to Cuba
Of the teachers to the United States It was
he also who made such Imperative demands
upon the Military Governor for the payment
Of school bills that they were paid Mr. Frye
Is one Of the only two men who ever resigned
from high once In Cuba. The other is Chief
Justice Mendoza Of the Supreme Court. All
the others were struck down without warning
1t is worthy Of note that the highest school
attendance ever registered in Cuba was dur
aVersse daily sttendansse q exceeded By orsr
Is, 900 any figure ever reached after ward
The statements sent out from Cuba the year
after Mr.. Frye's resignation, and tending to
show a great increase In growth Of the school
system, included all the private SCHOOLS OF
.he island not one Of which was included In
IL oroInizinR schools LA HANNA