New-York tribune., 1909-02-24

D4VIS LAW REPEAL.
Would Restore Schools to Politics
Maintains Bro0klynite.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Why repeal the Davis law, as proposed oS
the charter commission? The memory OF the puonc
is notoriousy short. One day the American peoPie
are excited over subject: the next II is Ioi
These trite eeneralizations spring 10 one 80
when the conditions Of our city schoois "eAOi
enactment in 1900 of the Davis law are rec8l-eu'
Then nlares were obtained through political pun
acquaintance with local politicians was Oh "l0io
importance than qualifications and ht1eSS- si'eAH
rom nersonaI knowledge It will be remembered
that Brooklyn came into the consolidated CITY
piecemeal: educauonally she retained Au'oholN'
longer than in other departments OF city govern
rnent. A friend of mine came 70 Ne" 1oIh J"7'
before the passage OF the Davis law seeking
Mace in the schools. He knew member OF 'he
oId F2roclxlv1 Board of Education and applied 10
him for a Job This gentleman said that ne
could not help my friend get into the pafucu'dt
school he was trying for, as appointments IN 'laC
school had been assigned TO another memoer OF 'He
board-in other words. the educational patroilase
had been reduced to a system; it was not merit
service or fitness but pull, thai opened the way
Under the leadership Of DR.. Maxwell our educa-
tonal system has been raised to high plane OF
efficiency and purity, and this has been rendered
possible because the principles underlying the sys-
tenn were laid down by the State Legislature ana
their administration intrusted TO local officials so
long as both the policy and its execution were
solely in bands the results were seen in tne
Cheney corruption and waste; public spirited clu-
zens at last revoted against the intoerable conu-
tions and in 1860 the Davis law insuring to teach-
pension fund and permanency OF tenure aIler
proved efficiency enacted by the State LeSls-
Iature in response to the public demand for q di-
vorce of education from politics IN our city.
Mr.. J. Hampden DougheTty has spoken for those
members Of the Charter Revision Commission who
favor the repeal of that portion of the Davis law
which protects teachers salaries. In his long re-
ply TO the arguments of DR.. Shumway and myself
against the change he in no wise meets our con-
tention that by repeal of the Davis law the Char
ter Revision Commission will throw schools
into politics again; in fact he does not even men
ton It but expends his efforts to slow that prior
10 1900 the policy OF the state of New York had
been 20 the control teachers salaries TO
local officials He fails, however to see that that
is precisely objection raise. Up to the time
of the passage of the Davis law, and under the
regime of local control. schools were the sport
of politics the football Of chance. Appointments
of teachers were made through favoritism and not
through merit Salaries were grossly inadequate
and the schools were inefficient and behind the
times. These unhappy conditions remedied by
the Davis law. Not a single argument has been
presented by Mr.. Dougherty IN favor Of is repeal
except the specious plea of home rule"
There is no virtue in home rule per Sc; il is
merely a method TO be adopted rejected cir
curnstances may warrant The local school situa-
ton under '1lome rule" which existed up TO 19O0
became stencil IN the nostrils of public spirited
citizens Why should return to these oondi-
tions?
Has the public forgotten the lamentabe fact
that the first high school in Manhattan estab-
lished only twelve years ago? What { commentary
upon a boss ridden city! The first high school In
Boston was established in 1921
The argument against meddng by the Charter
Revision Commission with the Davis law be
summed UP in the old adage: LET we'll enough
alone" Do the parents of New York desire their
children taught by teachers by politicians
or. at present, because OF apabilty and merit?
CHARLES r. FAY.
Rroo,x1yn Feb 90 1909