New-York tribune., 1906-11-14
R4DICALIsM AND SCHOOLS.

Chicago IS always advanced. Living there,
man may enjoy all of the discomforts OF living
IN the next century, If the theorists who are
now trying TO accelerate the pace of progress
have their way in shaping the coming age. We
are thinking particularly Of the Chicago school
board whose activities are the latest mani
festation Of the Chicago habit of making us
glad we are not posterity. Even the Chicago
people, accustomed as they are to the ways Of
Their town, are panied by the school board.
One newspaper was betrayed by its agitation
Into saying such things about the board as to
lead Mayor Dunno 10 proceed against its editor
for libel The others have said everything that
The libei law permits
We suppose that 1t IS generally known that
Chicago's school teachers are unionized. and
not merely so, but that the teachers union is
federated with the American Federation Of
Labor. The complaint now is that the school
board, too. is practically unionized We ques-
ton the wisdom Of permitting municipal en-
ployes Ike teachers, fremen and policemen
10 form unions, and We are sure of the folly
OF permitting such organizations, If formed.
20 ally themselves with organized labor. The
blame Of tfs however, does not rest upon the
Dunno administration 1t was accomplished be-
fore Mayor DUNES time. What he has done
has been 10 put the Federation Of Teachers in
control Of the school board, which means that
thizers, run the schools TO suit themselves
Miss Margaret Haley, who is the organizer
and walking delegate Of the teachers union is
power with the Dunno administration. She
is credited with having done much TO secure the
Mayors nomination, and she has dominated the
selection Of the school board. According to
'The Northwestern Christian Advocate" of a
board Of twenty-one members. eleven represent
either the Teachers Federation or other aIlled
labor unions. That is not all OF the radicalism
that the board shows for, in addition to their
fondness for unionism several members OF the
board are set down single takers or as social
fists. One Of them is a socialistic editor, friend
Of Mayor Tom johnson OF Cleveland, who pays
another man 10 do part OF the editors work, so
that the editor can give the time % inject a
little ginger into the Chicago school system
johnson is irrepressible and all pervasive
The effect has been sort of topsy-turveydom
which makes even Chicago cry out. There has
been q fight on the part OF the board practically
70 subordinate the school superintendent TO the
teachers, II has not yet succeeded. because of
adverse public sentiment Such developments
as referring questions Of educational policy 10
the teachers on a referendum vote are logical
enough consequences OF putting the control OF
the schools IN the hands Of the teachers union
Textbooks are objected 70 as unfair" Pub
fishers ere favored according 10 their standing
In teachers union circles. There has been Gre
eted an advisory council OF teachers 10 assist
the school board All OF the actions OF the
board seem 10 be dictated by considerations re-
gardlng Tie teachers. not regarding the educa-
uonal advantages TO the public The schools
exist Tor the teachers, not for the children