New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-10
Re may be expected to prove an especially use
full member Of an appellate tribunal
rpoJDs SYSTEM FOR TEACHERS.


T. the machinery OF the educational depart
en+ in this city kent In operation to provide for
+o children the best possible teschers or to fur
nigh convenient places for the young women OF
the normal College on their graduation2 Ihar
- the question really at issue between the board
~ examiners and the faction of the Board OF
ryucation headed BY Mr.. Alrick II. Man, Stripped
of sII side issues, the contest is one respecting
the primary purpose of the schools. Are the
teachers or the pupils of the first Importance
Do the schools exist for the Normal College or
the Normal College for the schools? Are we to
he the victims of that silly proyincialism which
is scandalized that New-York salary should be
paid to an outsider. or are we going in broad
minded way to secure for our children the best
instruction wherever il may be found?
The examiners may have made some mistakes.
Their system in detail may need improvement
and Injustice may have been done In particular
cases. But they maintain standard for teachers
as against those who believe that appointments
are the perouisite OF class They are uphold
ing the merit system while their critics uphold
what is in reality the spoils system. however
disguised. If the graduates of the Normal Col
leee are the best qualified persons to be found
for teachers. they should be able to show 1t by
meeting the tests open TO others. If they are
not so we'll qualified as Others they should not be
employed The fact that for number OF years
Superintendent Maxwell has been compelled con-
tfnually TO resist efforts TO let down the bars for
Normal College students suggests that there is
truth behind the complaints that the Work OF the
Normal College is not up TO the proper standard
Otherwise it would seem as If its graduates
would need no favors.
The board of examiners has raised the stand
ard Of scholarship among the teachers. It has
established a merit system, doing away with the
old methods of social, religious and political
pull" and making appointments depend on fair
competition. This system, by the introduction
of able teachers from other cities, has enriched
or1r school work which for years suffered greatly
from the constant "inbreeding" which favor1tism
now for the graduates Of our own schools would
help to restore. Mr.. Mans plan would create
favored class of the very graduates who pract1-
cally confess that their academic training is SO
moor that the present competition is too strenu-
ous for them, and it would give us for the
higher places in the service almost exclusively
teachers Of local education and experience. put
ting the city schools out Of touch with those OF
the rest of the country and depriving them OF
what every other New York institution has
whether it be church or business house or college
-4ha services of the best brains elsewhere de-
veIoped.
The Inevitable result Of such n system would
be to make the schools of New-York hospital
for educational lame ducks, ana II Woulu De
carefully geared to provide places for persons in
ferior to the best who could be secured. That
might be all right from the spoilsman's point OF
view; It might be all right from the point OF
view of those who see only a duty to provide
market for the product of the Normal College
It would not be right from the point Of Wow Of
the fathers and mothers Of New-fork City VINO
think their children entitled to the best teachers
IN the market regardless of their place of train
ing or their political influence.