New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-07
MANY. ATTACK CHARTER
Hearing Brings Out Opposition
to Education Section.
FEAR POLITICS IN SCHOOLS
Commissioner Draper Says Con-
stitution Gives City No Right
to Interfere.

The Joint legislative committee when IS
considering the proposed new charter de-
I'D two sessions yesterday TO hearing
-, ,be educational section. The aldermanic
(rsmher in the city Hall was partly filled
at, school teachers. VINO showed deep
,,,ores, in everything that was said. Most
o. the opinions expressed were IN the nat
ure ~ criticisms OF the proposed chartcr'
although several spoke in favor OF
smaller BOARD of Education than at pres
ent
W II Allen. Of the Bureau Of Munlcipai
Research. favored a paid board put pre-
f.rrad one of I'VE instead of seven mem
ters ana a salary Of $500 instead OF S'"V
TO correspond with that of COMMISSIONER
in other city departments. lie a'laChe'
the present board and its method oil ool",
work much as the Bureau Of Munclpdi
Research had done before.
"A great many people have praise" TINS
system" he said but let me tell you that
DR. Leonard Ayres cites New YORK as
thirty-eighth in rank out Of siXty-one
school systems that he has examined IN
this country.
Mr.. Allen said there were from 10000 10
GRADES. and that not only did the board
not try 70 look into the matter but black
guarded those who did try TO find out
Herman Ridder and a number of others
spoke in favor of changing the name OF
the Normal College 10 Hunter College IN
honor Of Dr. Thomas Hunter. who was Its
head for many years
Commissioner Stern said he did not think
paid board was d necessity, but thought
it would be well 10 cut down the member
ship 10 fifteen. Frederic Il. Ccudert also
spoke against paid board, saying that by
a fortunate historic accident the board
mad never been city department.
brief signed by Charles =. Rowland,
lresident OF the Public Education Associa-
ton. Russell Benedict ana j. Aspinwall
Hedge. held that the charter was mani
testify framed to accomplish the end OF
luneinc the schools into politics.
The advocates of the new charter, the
ui,f stated. propose to strip the trained
and hi.blv Vsid expert Board OF Supern-
tendeuts of It's initiative. This measure
can CIIy have been deliberately ana KNOW
lasly devised ty the trainers OF the charter
I-r the new method you hold out an in
vtation 10 The teachers 10 play politics foi
promotion.
Nj How and submitted itiltI from ~
: Draper, head # the State Department oil
Education which said in part:
Dl tine Gaynor charter 1 have TO say that
30 seems TO me that there are many de-
tails which merit legitimate and severe
criticism. but II Is not necessary TO &c
INTO details because the declared purpose oil
the whole charter is 10 make the school
system of the city of New York a depart
ment of the city government and the nee,
essary result would be the mixing up OF
schools with municipal business, and the
subOTdindtlOu of the schools 10 partisan ana
municipal politics. That l. forbidden by
the constitution OF the state. and IL Is re-
pugnant 10 every one who has intelligent
and unselhsh concern for the school
The constitution directs the LEGISLATURE
20 provide Tor system Of free common
schools wherein all the children Of the
state may be educated. The constitution
does not require a system of police or IRE
departments. such departments are left
20 the city government. IL IL not so with
the schools. the city governments have m
Aerenily and Fundamentally nothing what
ever 20 DO with them. Every foot OF the
territory If New York state is within d
scbOO. district. The city Of New York IL
no exception.
Mayor Gaynor must he cla>sed among
the friends OF the public schools In view
Of his attitude upon this question as a
judge. there is reason FOR surprise at his
support OF this proposition in the proposed
charter that has come TO bear his name.
Then. with the arguments of counsel fresh
ln mind. he saw the matter clearly. Now
he fails 10 discriminate between the 'eSal
relations Of the people of the city 10 tneiI
schools and of the government OF Inc CITY
TO schools about which that government
has no responsibility and no junction. save
as the law Of the schools. within the in
tent Of the constitution and for the sake
Of economy. may utilize certain admins
trative machinery Of the city government
20 serve some end Of the system OF schools.