The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-12
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Complaint Against the City supeFinten.
dents AbsOlutism.

To THE EDIroR OF n SrN-Sir. Or
Maxwell enjoys perhaps unedualled facilities
| for setting forth his side OF the story in press
interviews. This 10 a presentation OF the
teacbers' side by one who knows many prin.
cIpals and teachers and who has enjoyed
their confidence for a long time.
They are both amused and edited when
the lion ceases to roar and assumes he bleat
Of the persecuted lamb at the threat Of legIs.
lation intended to divest him OF the absolute
mowers which he has too long enjoyed and
which are wholly unprecedented In a demo-
cratic government. He Is careful not to en-
lIphten the public on the autocratic powers
which he enjoys. He does not explain that
he embodies in his Office the executive, legis-
lative and judicial functions which are care
fully separated In our Federal and State
Governments.
To illustrate: The educational chapter Of
the Charter Uhe administrative features Of
which he 10 generally credited with having
Dictated makes him a member OF the board
of examiners, makes him chairman Of that
body and gives him power to appoint his
collea CUES on that board (since the commits
sioners cannot approve till he nominatesl.
The Charter makes him chairman Of the
board Of associated superintendent. which
makes them associates in name only. since he
dominates that body by virtue OF his power
to appoint its committees. assign their duties
and thereby direct Its policy and dictate all
appointments and the school legislation
emanating from that body. With his 1880
ciates lin name only he has the power TO
nominate the district superlntendents. who
control the schools in the forty-slx school
districts. Finally. the Charter gives him q
seat and voice In the Board of Education.
Could any system be more cunningly de-
yised to give absolute domination of the
schools by one man? Strange to say. the,
present incumbent OF this office lin an article
p pHoS has himself set forth the dangers s' OK
absolutism that might result from such a
system q control Hts own career has amply
Our educational system ia become so com:
plIoated. its schools 50 vast. The reports and
so numerous and harasslng. that II promises
hRuratlvely TO t9ppie over from sheer ton
heaviddess; or to be bs r inS%s{tt Hpe entansled in
The principals are fast becoming mera
clerks and statisticia9s, the teachers mere
(the most importantly In the relations Of prIn-
cipal, teachers and pupils Is fast disappear
Ing, The system. the system-that is every
How can It be otherwise when !, y, With n.
how can he possibly find time to know and
in1%enSe his eighty or srS more teachers mG 6 r; and h!'
sity become mere machines. running smooth,
perhaps, but the product must necessarily he
mS%Sh ItS ssoS Snq qe OF IHah 9pd P mach more that
might be said Of the Injustice and incompo.
tence. resulting from the peculiar system q
examinations. H. IL strange that there should
be o determined move to end the autocracv
which has caused them?
tendents who have occupied the ONCE the
The TEACHING, stat as 2 whole? None, doubt
seriously question the ability ~ any mar TO
run q school system practically. unless he
teacher Just Hs lawyers or physicians would
not rate one of their number as n real leader
unless he had both practical and Theoretical
The fatal lack of any practical experience
n teaching (worthv the namel on the mart Of
t 1ss.5 p5es sent s sssobets fsota IS the much p5b,nf sSsH
respect the ohice) viii not yield the man that
measure, Of esteem which all professionals
ment Is not wholly Theoretical, '4D''
IT p also the explanation OF he many blum
ders in NJ policy 2 and ministratinn which have
OF Education than ever before In it's history.
It further explains the scarcely concealed
tfSSee ' Soard Of, Of e ssG0fH an tre eddH MaeWssip ~hn aSs
shown IN their ratings OF applicants for a
the Board of Education none astounded the
teaching force more than, the allowance OF
record IN teaching Another was the ad-
mission that ar. average of but four minut ez
was used to determine certain important
didate for a principalship,
Yet the superint endent has declared in an
interview that the personal ouation ia con
sidered. " and that their records as teachers
are minutely examined" He was careful
record. the most important element in 'tNa
fitness OF a teacher. ANY one but a thenrist
will admit that the ability to apply methods
In teaching ia a much more accurate gaura
of success in teaching than the ability -
write. nages OF manuscript on methods and
principles OF education.
The above are some Of the many reasons
why commissioners and teachers feel th7'
some OF the antocrRtic powers vest cd in 'ha
office OF City Superintendent should be di7-
tributed to provide an efficient check unon
absolntism, The bills, now at Albany for thet
purpose are very moderate. They might he
made more radical in the pronosed changes.
with benefit to our school system.
NEW YoRK. March II. Jrsnr1N.