New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-29
THE ROD STAYS OUT.
EDUCATION BOARD ACTS.
Reelection of associate Superin-
tendent Higgins Opposed.

The Board of Education yesterday adopted the
majority report Of the committee on elementary
schools. recommending that no changes be made
IN the present bylaws of the board which do
not allow corporal punishment. The majority
report was signed by five members. and minor
lty report favoring the rod, by four members,
one Of whom Chairman Wilsey After
lively discussion the vote showed that twenty
two members of the board opposed the restora-
ton Of corporal punishment while fifteen ia
vored it.
In supporting the minority report Commits
sioner Wingate showed that so per cent of the
principals Of the city with boys classes favored
the rod, and urged the board to save the 90 per
cent Of good boys in the schools by giving the
principals power to restrain the per cent of
bad ones. Commissioner DonneIy asserted
that il was cruelty to expose women who teach
boys TO the insults and annoyances to which
they subject
There is enough of corporal punishment in our
schools now" asserted Commissioner MCGOWAN.
without this board stamping its approval
the system
After the reelection of District Superintend-
ents John H. Haaren and Edward b Shallow
10 another five years at 81 900 annually Com
missioner Felix M Warburg surprised the board
by opposing the reelection Of Associate City
Superintendent AIgernon s. Higgins, who was
Of the schools Of Brooklyn. over half Of which
borough he now has supervision.
I, as chairman of the committee special
schools, whose interests Mr.. Higgins is sup
posed to represent on the Board of Superin-
tendenLs, have still to find the very first sign Of
any interest in connection with the vacation
schools, recreation centres and evening schools
on the part of this gentleman" said Mr.. War
burg Unless there IS some other activity in
which he has shown ability and energy, I fear
that he mas = no means distinguished himself.
The position of Associate City Superintendent
is too important one TO be filled by any but
the best the 81 stem find"
He moved tnat. the election of a successor to
Mr. Higgins lie laid over until a report could be
had from the B6hrd Of Superintendent.
In response to the requests Of the authorities
OF Bellevue and allied hospitals the board de-
termined TO establish kindergarten for sick
children, thirty Of whom were found able to at
tend school at Bellevue The kindergarten will
be IN session from ! TO o'clock each afternoon
and will be an annex to Public School No IA.
District Superintendent Stewart presented
charges Of neglect Of duty and gross miscon-
Duct against Principal Martin H. Ray, of Pub
nc school No. 81, Manhattan. Further informa-
ton regarding the charges was withheld.
The board took from principals and teachers
power TO absent themselves one hundred school
days from their duties without sending word to
Ihelr superiOrs and Of collecting 1860 of their
annual salary for each Saturday, Sunday and
holiday included in school days. This action
YES taken on recommendation Of the Board of
SuperiRtendents
The local school boards have the power TO ex-
cuse absences Of less than one month and the
I9cai boards may excuse longer absences with
the ar oval Of the Board Of Superintendent
Pres --nt Tiff has prepared q report, at the
request Of Mayor Mcclellan showing that in
the last year twenty-five new schools and
thirteen anneXes have been opened to 81 O25
pupils. Since last January nineteen schools and
twenty-nine anneXes, with accommodations for
$1,000 children, have been contracted for and
are under way. Plans for schools with seats for
1000 more children are ready. During the
year three high schools have been completed and
four have been begun The increase OF teachers
has been from II All TO ISIS, or 39S q phenom-
enally small number
President Tiff also reported that additional
moneys from issues OF corporate stock would be
necessary early in 1900 for acquisition OF addi-
uOnal sites urgently needed, especially in the
lower East Side, and the rapidly growing sec
lions Of The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Rich
mOnd for the erection Of buildings as we'll as
the equipment of buildings now under ConstruC-
ton. The average attendance for the school
which was an increase of % 643 over the CORE
spending period for the year ending July 81
1893; the total average attendance in October
1904, was 5O3.320, as compared with 457, 791 in
the corresponding month in 1903; the total num-
Der Of part time pupils in October, 1904, was
- OS1, as compared with 81. 100 In October 1909
For 1865 an increase Of sixteen principals will
probably be required and a bout three times that
number Of assistants to principals; about fifty
new teachers will be needed in shop work cook
ing and German; a comparative estimate Of the
number Of classes to be formed for 1905
should not be lower than six hundred.
In connection with the two truant schools II
is intended to establish shops for the training Of
boys in the rudiments Of various industries and
10 provide them with necessary physical train
ing in athletics
Owing to the reduction Of the 1905 appropria-
ton, it viii probably be necessary to close sew
eraI recreation centres and TO make several other
reductions.