New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-03
HITS MAXWELL
another attack by ASsembIyman on
Superintendent.
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Albany april 2.-The controversy between Assem-
blyman L. J Tompkins and William H Maxwell
Superintendent Of Schools in New-York was con-
tinued to-day by caustic communication Of con-
/ siderable length addressed to Mr. Maxwell by As
seTnblyman Tompkins in further explanation of his
charge that "fads and frills' rather than essen
tlals occupy the larger share Of school hours to
the detriment Of actual educational training
II IS because I do understand the school system
that crlticse not the institution but the man ana
his methods" writes Mr.. Tompkins Your posi-
! ton. which you 10 think dignihes you as the
institution ITSELF is not tenable. As an officer Of
ana for the people you can neither be autocrat nor
dictator
Taking up Superintendent MaxweIrs charge that
ne had committed breach Of professional courtesy
IN his recent attack. Mr. Tompkns continues: Was
your mind firmly fixed upon this same professional
courtesy when you succeeded in forcing the retire
Inent OF Superintendent Jasper or again when you
attacked President Hunter of the Normal Colege?"
AssemOlyman Tompkins continues as follows:
1t IS general knowledge that you dominate the
Tes o. Su3eEHte1dents absolutely and for some
Euucauon as We'll It is gratifying to learn that
board show that there is to be an atteupt made to
END this SO far as it is concerned The course of
which you implicitly disclaim, is the act of the
Board OF superintendent. but the responsibility of
this responsibility. The sample day correct or
The scbar ie one nf tvis 5 ys %sIIlI ~ Ws ven
for the eighth grade of a class of girls That bows
formed on the floor Of the Assemble that ' thew le
were. hope was misinformed.
Mr.. Tompkins then proceeds to cite from Super
intendent MaxwelTs Course Of Study" a schedule
of minutes devoted to essentials in eight years
course indicating that less than 80 per cent Of the
time in this entire period is taken up with 'es-
sentials" Then he resumes:
! Teachers upon whom believe can rely say that
Is really Ucn ie f because esIenals must give
rule states that certain Of these frs must not be
interrupted but the essentials may be broken into
at any time. The direct results Of this course Of
First-The essentials are now being neglected and
now boys and girls come out of school unable 10
meaning unable TO write simple and accurate
business letter and Ignorant Of even simple opera
spelling is lost art ana geography is out of date
taay g1eh a for cannot o t Teach snd eh
dren cannot learn with any degree OF thoroughness
an Office boy what he thinks Of the boys Of to-day:
ask the average parent what ne thinks; very many
OF them have declared to me that they would like
you have wrought by this insistence upon fads.
Another vital point is the matter of discipline
BY your tiresome system Of supervisors who do
teachers. You place a teacher in charge of class
and hold her responsible for discipline as well
results You would get both # she were left alone.
Te rs fas"har a. enI +irna and can conna her r.,
drop her regular work and show up the class.
teacher in the presence Of the children. In this
way the teacher loses the respect Of the children.
for they see her harassed and worried. and dis
Your supervisors are declared to be incom-
petent They do not know how to teach, and few
Of them do teach You in your ideality. find them
a necessity. The teacher and the children ind
them nuisance. subyersve Of aecuracy, destruc-
treatment of teachers is open to the severest crit
cism- No more loyal. conscientious and competent
body can be found They complain that you treat
them as serfs and instances which have come 10
attention Justify the conclusion that you have
frequently been arbitrary and unjust in your treat
| of them