New-York tribune., 1909-03-18
OPPOSE SCHOOL PLAN
Commissioners of Education Dont
Like REORGANIZATION Scheme.

Commissioners OF the Board OF Edueattoa
strongly oppose the reorganization plan which has
been submitted by the conciliation COMMITTEES
headed by Henri n. Tirt TO ]. Hampden Dough-
erty chairman Of the committee on educational
affairs Of the Charter Commission
Abraham Stern. chairman Of the elementary
schools comittee Of the Board OF Education saSd
yesterday: The proposed plan TO change tbs sls-
mentary school course into a six-year one and
making the high school term six years. having for
fits chief object the automatic elimination OF the
equal pay question for women teachers. has many
weak points First. where will you get teachers to
MI the positions in the sub-hlgh schools
which are be started and installed Those posi-
items according 70 the plan submitted. viii can
for larger salaries than are paid now. The Court
OF Appeals has held thst sl teachers who received
licenses before the consolidation Of the boroughs
shall be permitted teach IN any grade % the
public schools. Necessarily then. unless special
legislation is obtained those teachers would be put
first the eligible list from which applicants for
the better paying positions would be drawn. II
would be manifestly unfair TO other teachers IN
the system. Secord. II that objection were over
come by some proper legislative enactment. what
basis exists which to build hopes that the Board
Of Estimate and Apportionment would grant the
teachers the sub-hish schools the increase asked
for7 Positively none do not think the plan viii
be adopted
there is any reason why II should be tried out At
ALL said General George ". Wingate. OF Brook
lyn- "It strikes a plan 10 try TO get pint
and half Of results into pint pot There IS too
much talking being done by persons who don't
know any more about the school system than cat
knows about comic opera"
Frederic r. Coudert said: Tt Is complex prob
lem. The burden OF proof rests with the eoncilia-
ton committee. and. lawyer, do not think
they have produced the proof"
Miss Grace c. Strachan, president OF the Iater-
borough Women's Teachers Association, said AZ
her home. at No. 1903 Pacific street. Brooklyn.
The movement toward the six-yesr elementary
school course shows that progressive Only
per of the high school scholars go through
in schools Is directed chiefly to prepare scholars
for a college course. 70 is not practical It IL
now. II this report IS adopted We will Be perfectly
satisfied, because 10 also provides that one salary
shall be paid 20 position.
The sex OF the teacher is not taken into account
70 the detriTnent Of the woman's income No Is
more anxious that there should be harmony among
all the teachers than I am. and for that reason I
am glad that so many Of the men in the system
working with Try and have the measures be-
fore the charter commission adopted
IF however we should fail IN this. will con-
tinue year after year IN fight for equal pay
ANY change that may bs necessary or desirable
in the school system said DR.. William II Max-
we'll City Superintendent OF Schools. should come
as a matter Of slow and carefully thought out
lution. and not as a revolution Such change
should he made II made at ALL in the interest solely
Of the children and not the purpose OF adjusting
teachers salaries or pacfytng the quarrels between
men and women teachers
Mr. Dougherty, when seen yesterday. said that.
while he had not given sufficient thought 70 the
special Recommendations submitted by the commit
tee to speak definitely. he was convinced that they
included many comrnendable features"