New-York tribune., 1911-11-26
DR.. HUNTERS PUPILS DINE
Old Principal Greeted by ESQ at
Fifteenth Annual Reunion.
STANDS BY THE THREE "R'S"
Teacher of Sc Years Experience
Outlines Course of Study
Praises City System.

Graduates OF Public School rs gathered
at the Hotel Astor last night for their
fifteenth annual reunion and dinner in
honor OF DIR. Thomas Hunter. Their asso-
citation is called the Thomas Hunter AS
ISOLATION and while IT is only fifteen years
old. 1t contains members who were grad
uated from No. IS In the sos Of the last
century and a few who were graduated
less than thirty years ago.
Or. Hunter is always the central figure
In these reunions. He became connected
with Public School 80 in 1880 as an assist
ant teacher, and was made principal in
1857, remaining in that position until 1859,
when he left the school to go to Normal
College He was at Normal College from
February, 1870, until his retirement from
educational work in 1906.
In his speech last night Dr. Hunter said
that when he came to New York from
Ireland the city had a population Of only
10000 He spoke Of his love for the city,
and said that next to the city he loved the
public school system. There is no work
he said, equal to the gratuitous work OF
the Board OF Education, but it is too large
TO do effective work. The same trouble
may be found with the course OF study.
1t is too long and not sufficiently thorough.
But the New York public school system has
very few faults. I have named two, and
can't think OF another at the present
minute. During the ffty-six years that j
was a teacher there were many investiga-
tons OF the city departments, but there
was never a taint OF graft or corruption In
the Board OF Education. II is the one de-
partment that has escaped scandal of every
kind
Dr. Hunter outlined as the course OF
study that he would advise reading. writ
ing and arithmetic; after that a little mus c
and drawing. some geography and the his
tory Of the United States. composition and
little grammar.
Horace l. Rutter presided, and at the
speakers table were Alrick Fl. Man. ex-
Commissioner OF Education; Nicholas J.
Barrett. Of the Board Of Education; Judge
T. c. T. Grain. the Rev. ". W. Gales.
Henry +. Jenkins. who succeeded Or.
Hunter as principal of No. 80; Charles o.
Mas. Justice Francis NJ. Scott, and oscar
". Shaw, the Oldest living graduate OF
No. 35 Mr.. Shaw was graduated from No.
35 in lsl9, when he was ten years old.
At another table were George W. and Ira
T. Fortmeyer who were pupils OF the
school in 1870, though they were not grad
uated until some years later. Among the
other graduates OF the two hundred and
fifty present were William Patten, William
A. Dunlap. w s. Gilman. Edwin ". Orvis,
Horace j. Ingerson, William b. McNiece,
ex-Surrogate Rastus 5. Ransom, Judge
Joseph F. Mulqueen, Samuel Untermyer
Thomas Darlington, Assistant District At
torney Frank Moss, William Mabon
Thomas NJ Mulry, Z. E. Olcott J. Van
Vechten Olcott, Marshal William Henkel,
Maurice Deiches, julius Klugman, Dr.
Matthew J. Elgar, Assistant Superintendent
of Public Schools; Edward c, Zabriske'
superintendent OF Public School p; Archer
V. Pancoast. Edward II. Werker' julius
Hamburger, William y. Penney and Charles
Thorley.
Before the dinner officers Of the associa-
ton for the ensuing year were elected
James ". Hyde was chosen president
Thomas W Williams vice-president. Fred
erick r. Fortmeyer secretary, Charles D.
Graham. treasurer. Delos II. j. Sehgman
historian and G. ". Bennett, chairman OF
the executive committee.