New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-19
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
T4MMANY AND SCHOOLS.
Attemp pit on Educational Grill Service
Is Charged.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
There were once School Retcrrners of Riga
Who went for a ride the Tiger;
They returned from the ride
With the Low men inside.
And Stern was the face of the Tiger.

And Stern was the face OF the Tiger.
The attempt long expected. of Tammany Hall to
wipe out the honest Civil Service system of APP
pointing teachers in the public schools and to sub
stitute for the educational qualification the single
requirement Of pull a requisite for leadership
apparently has begun with the otions of Commits
sioners Stern and Schmitt in the Board OF Educa-
ton last Wednesday, Too long. it seems. has the
competitive examination been a tester producing
thorn in the Tigers SIDE. The candidates nearness
to 100 per cent in competitive examination as the
determinant for appointment nulihes the power of
friendship to get jobs for the elect and the I'll
wishes to return to eligible list where near
ness TO the Boss regulates priority of job getting.
The schools being run altogether too much for
the children and the children have votes. Adults
have votes influence votes. but many who
right" In their voting the Halls point
of view have no Jobs. Moreover. under Civil Ser
vice methods employed In the schools. persons
who do not vote right" obtain jobs for merit
city jobs-and this is outrageous, The right kind
of voters can't get jobs IN the schools without the
annoyance Of examination, and the Hall believes
that. for political purposes "a job as gift Is
worth two by merit I'VE must stop this,
saith the Hall. And it has begun.
The initial attack on Civil Service methods in the
schools was. like most Of the Tigers preliminary
stalking of its prey. seemingly harmless the
gambol OF kitten Mr.. Schmitt smitten by some
great love for the Normal College and by an in
tense sympathy for the poor unfortunate college
graduates of 1893 who because they could not pass
or would not attempt to pass. high school pupils
examination, could not obtain positions moved that
the city superintendent and the board of exam
liners be requested forthwith TO license these girls
whom these officers had declared to be ineligible
for license. When analysed, this motion means:
Resolved. That girls who cannot or will not pass
MATES science and history are hereby declared
zens-grant them a license and give them job
They need the money, and the children do not
matter.
Mr. Stern followed up Mr.. Schmtt's motion quick
~ with one Of general character. which would II
adopted. prevent the city superintendent and the
board Of examiners from ascertaining by examina-
ton IL any of the Normal College graduates have
a fair knowledge Of the ordinary high school sub
jects.
The reform members of the Board Of Education
instead of seeing IN 5his movement most danger
Gus precedent which might overthrow or make
nugatory the carefully devised Civil Service
methods Of school appointments. saw in the motion
only charitable purpose of giving certain girls
who had been refused licenses positions at 5000 per
year in the schools. Apparently the children 5
rights In the premises overlooked completely.
The fact that they wee to force the appointment
as teachers Of persons who had not passing
knowledge of ordinary high school branches ap-
parenty not considered.
What the of these men could have been,
unless the sheer novelty Of the position OF the
Normal College among educational institutions or
the State appealed strongly to them Is not Giea ear
Icse alone among the institutions of the State.
had refused to obey the educational requirements
College was law unto itself and need not trouble
itself materially about educational regulations
The great point seemed to be that the Normal Col
leges purpose to get teaching jobs for girls,
ag et t fs as Quickly as possible The State re-
quirements were intended not to hasten the secur-
tain that every college graduate should have at
least a fixed minimum of education IN academic
ton looked after the interests of the ehlldren m
with speed in getting persons appointed Certain
graduates of the Normal College had not peen
licensed and their job getting was deferred Inc IN,
reform members apparently felt deeply sorIy Iop
these girls who had t gTa9gasd rom fi and
Who could not get Jobs, and voted for Mr. schmitt 5
Without expense to themselves and with cost only
to the city and the children. -, -,
IN tbie particular case il means that the members
of the Board OF Education. who make no pretence
Of being expert or t aana b shall
license II is a bold attempt to the licensing
.ons aPeady held to be ineligible for them II this
method We're 10 prevail 1t VII no longer De P9sSlo ne
the appointing officer in favor of a person he wishes
make influence count will by acting on the appoint
ing power, reach unpleasantiy the licensing board
5mif from moving that the CITY
and the Board OF Examiners be requested forth
with to license all graduates OF the Normal col,
whether they have a high school education not?
And what I would d the o6 Gy dent
lege 70 see thar its graduates had at least high
School COURSE ~ Is 3ut Siort sep 10 d
Normal College graduate a student with as
little academic training II sees fit with the Ger
talnty that the City Superintendent inquire only
into her professional training
There is another possibility. What IS to hinder
Mr.. Schntt from moving that the Board of Exam
liners be requested forthwith to make its passing
mark 90 instead of TO- per cent? In short, this
ton be the starting point of of attacks
which will make the purity of appointments thing
OF the past
The movement has begun. with the attack clothed
in the Sheepskin of the Normal College If this
wolf however is allowed TO enter the Civil Service
fold II viii scatter wantonIy the entrais of good
school government everything. The schools
are in danger, Every parent who does rot resent
this attempt to fasten the political machine upon
the activity charged with the education of the
young Is either blind In his folly n poor excuse
for a citizen. The wolf is at the school gates Shall
let him in? CIVIL SERVICE.
New-York. March 10. 1905.