New-York tribune., 1905-01-26
ATTACKS NORMAL COLLEGE
DR.. MARCEL Talks of "Demoralisa-
tion" to School Board.

At meeting of the Board of Education held yes
terday afternoon the Normal College of this city
was harshly criticised by DR.. Maxwell. the city
superintendent of schools The criticism was brought
about by discussion IN reference 10 the recent de-
cision OF Justice Leventritt In the case of Miss
Mabel V. Price against the city superintendent and
the board of examiners
The decision was In Miss Prices favor. In 1893
about one hundred young women of the Normal
College, of whom she one. tried an examination
for teachers licenses. They passed the examina-
ton, but Dr. Maxwell and the board Of examiners
refused them licenses the ground that they failed
to pass the required test OF scholarship.
The justice decided that they were entitled to IL
censes on the ground that the circular announcing
the examination stated that those who had taken
the entire course at the Normal College would be
exempt from the academic examination Corpora
tion Counsel Delany yesterday advised against an
appeal.
communication was received. however. from DR..
Draper. State Commissioner OF Education, that the
State Department OF Education should not pass
unchallenged nor acQuiesce in accepting decree OF
this kind until the court of last resort had passed
upon the question"
report was received from the committee on by
laws which suggested that the Board of Education
recommend to the board of examiners that Miss
Price receive a license This resolution was later
amended SO as TO permit all the young women
who passed this examination TO receive their IL
censes.
1t in a discussion on this that Dr. Maxwell
asked the privilege OF tho floor He began
i discovered some time since that this insttu-
ton had violated its agreement with the state
taken the State examinations or. having taken
them. had failed to pass them had been graduated
from the teachers courses and had been ncenseo
as teachers. l discovered also that young women
schools, who failed TO pass the examinations for
admission 70 the tTainins schools were received IN
half they were graduated from that institution as
whole
tanning standards OF academic and professlonaI
qualifications for the teachers licenses in this city
At this point Commissioner Man objected. SO did
Commissioner Wingate. Said Commissioner Stern;
Oh let him talk. He can't vote; SO let him talk
ne is very interesting and the fact that the super
the board makes the AFFAIR very Interesting.
Turning to DR.. Maxwell. President Tiff said
If the members insist upon q ruling as to whether
your remarks are out OF order, ! will be Obliged
that embarrassment
Several members insisted upon a ruling
DR.. Maxwell appealed to be allowed to continue,
declaring that what ne would say would be ma
terial.
It was finally agreed to let him continue
In urging the board to appeal from the decision
of the court and advising that license he granted
Miss Price. DR.. Maxwell said that the students
of the Normal College were being graduated with
out passing the test of scholarship prescribed by
the State Superintendent. Further, according TO
graduate young women who were too weak in
scholarship 20 enter the training schools.
\ discussion followed. Then it voted that
the Board of Examiners be requested to grant
Licenses 10 teach 10 Miss Price and the young
women who passed the examination with her.
A communication received from r. Fulton
Cutting, president Of New-YoTk Association
for Improving the Condition Of the Poor, urging
that the board adopt some modern system OF ac-
counting in conducting the affairs or the Depart
ment OF Education, with reference 20 Vacatlon
and night schools. recreation centres and Tree
lectures.
1t was decided TO allow the president 10 appoint
a committee consider this.
comm unicatiOn was received from Assem- bIy =
man Hartman about q tax OF three and one-halr
mills for the general school fund. Assembly mar
Hartman desired representatives or the board 70
appear a public hearing at Albany on January 81
advocate this measure. This was referred 10 the
president with power TO act
Later ii became known that Assembiyman Hart
is a teacher employed in Public School NO. lse.
Manhattan. The board approved the recommended
ton of the Committee Elementary Schools,
which gave Hartman leave of absence for 1900 1t
unLi after this action bad been taken
that Commissioner MCGOWAN discovered that the
Assemblyman was a teacher.
A reconsideration of this leave of absence was
asked on the ground that not proper TO allow
a teacher to go TO and come from his school when
ne wished. II was voted 10 reconsider the
decision the next meeting.
4 vote had been expected on the election or an
associate city superintendent. to succeed AlgernOn
S. Higgins whose term of office expired on De-
| cember 81. 1t decided to lay this over until
the annual meeting Of the board, ON February g.