New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-18
NEw.YoRK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY SEPTEMBER IS 1905
EXAMINERS UNDER PROBE
Board of Education appoints Com
mittee to Investigate Methods.

Anon, tho Ars+ actions that will be taken this
fall by the Board Of Education VIII he an exam
in8tion into the methods of the departments much
maligned board of examiners. President Henry \.
Tiff has appointed n committee. headed by COM
missioner Man. for the purpose The committee
is authorized to investigate the character ana scope
Of the various examinations given applicants for
teaching and supervising positions, and to deter
mine whether they be conducted under the
bylaws of the Board of Educs ton or under the
powers which the examiners claim under the char
ter: also. the methods of conducting the tests
their necessity and expediency, and the equity of
their results. The following questions were sub
mtted to the Board of Educations committee on
bylaws and legislation short time ago:
Has the board Of examiners the right; except as
specifically provided in Section l0S9 of the charter
10 examine all persons applying for licenses Sc, t9T
teaching supervising positions in the pubic
Has the board of examiners the exclusive right
TO make eligible lists for the teaching and super
vising positions?
the board of superintendents the legal right to
appoint to teaching and supervising positions per
sons whose names do not appear on sald hsts!
The committee on bylaws and legislation an
swered:
To the first question we answer. Yes, in con
junction with the City superintendent and as
further set forth in the bylaws
The committeeman explained their answer by
stating that in relation TO this question it was
only fair to say that the words except specif-
caIly provided in Section 1oS9 of the charter seem
to be entirely superfluous. and that they had
neglected them in considering the question, I'M
Outstanding that the question to be answered was
TO the right of the board of examiners to eX-
anime all persons applying for licenses for teach
ing and supervising positions
To the second question they answered. Yes in
connection with the City Superintendent. and to
the third question they answered. No"
few days ago DR.. Walter Hervey, of the board
of examiners, defended the system Of examining
used by him and his colleagues, claiming for it
two advantages He said:
ton the personal identity of the applicant Is not
revealed TO the examiner. All persons examined
time and judged with importantly. Ire per
sonal equation of the examiner and OF the eH-
amined is absolutely eliminated. The whole IN.
Quiry centres upon certain definite mattefs u
Knowledge and power , IT., -
animation paper, written by the applicants own
hand. is an original document Its tesIlnlo3y i Is
basis Of appeal and reconsideration.
The written examination always is supplemented
1ov an oral examination which usually comes after
the marks on the written examination are known
It has been suggested that the oral examination
to this plan are: The time of the board OF exam
iners would he wasted absolutely undeserving
candidates; the oral examination is by Its very
nature a less convincing and conclusive test. :.
The oral mark is the result of an exhaustive m
zes1igstion into the past history and present
qualifications of the applicant both peTsoIlay aS
~ the credits in the total oral mark ere ASSIGNED
to the items OF studies, record and teachng IoM'
predomnance being naturally gwen 20 ole +b "a an
The rest of the oral mark is MADE up OF uie an
swers TO questions In the oral examination pr The
Tersonalitv Of the applicant -
In the examination Tor one tc +n and oniy 20
Of the 100 credits are assigned 10 the answers VI
oTT b conopiants from those who are kept out on
personal grounds are nothing ecmPared T ' re
or Nth Questionable persons The maximum
nersonaIity mark varies from 10 to % per cent