New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-19
STILL OPPOSE CHARTER
More Educators Point Out What
They Call Objectionable Featu7.,
VASSAR PRESIDENT WRITES
DR.. Thwing and DR.. Brown Also
Condemn Proposals Relating
to School System.

Letters continue TO reach Charles T.
Rowland. president of the Punhc bouca''o,.
poard criticising that part OF the proposed
city charter that deals win euuca'ioH
Educators all over the country nave Gu"
derned the proposals for school sys-
ten, contained in the charter. Inc he'
includes twelve university and college pref
idents. the heads Of school boards, ana IN
most cases the school superintendents also
Of Boston. Albany, Buffalo. Philadelphia
Harrisburg, Cleveland. Cincinnati moan
apolis. Chicago, ST. Louis. Kansas CITY ana
Denver. No single educator has opposed
their views.
"The only reply made 20 these structures
in the tirnid defence that the educators III
question are not familiar with local con-
6tions," said Mr.. Rowland yesterday. AS
the fifty or more educators have connneu
themselves TO the principles OF school al
ministration which have been derived from
the universal experience OF all American
cities including the we'll known experience
OF New York City itself there is no
strength apparent IN the defence; but II
becomes even an absurdity when the names
OF the president Of Columbia University the
professor Of pedagogy in Teachers Col-
lcec, i'm that university. the chancellor o.
New York University. the dean OF peda-
sogy of New York University the president
of the Carnegie Foundation. Mr.. FleXner'
or the same institution: DIR. Abbott, VINO
has concerned himself with education dur
inz 4 lifetime, all residents of this city, are
found to be among the number
Mr.. Rowland made public yesterday let
tiers from DIR. Elmer Ellsworth Brown,
chancellor OF New York University; DIR.
Charles r. Thwing, president of western
Reserve University. and DR.. James Nj. Tay-
lor. president of vassar. All object 70 the
changes proposed in the charter DR..
Brown says.
No one can forecast absolutely the effect
OF the changes proposed in the chepter 0i
the New York City charter dealing Win
education. | feel certain that the auNo-
Gates of these changes would be uisap-
POINTED in many particulars II their pro
posals should he adopted. On the otner
hand. do not undertake to say WIN any
expert certainty that these changes Woulu
prove disastrous. But il Is my BELIEF that
the effect of their adoption would be oad
in the MAN. and in some particulars ek
tremelv bad At the best, the proposed
plan can be regarded only doubtful
experiment. and il seems to me reckless
experiment.
Two Things That Are Essential
Two things TO be provided for in the adj
ministration of city school system are,
first that it shall answer in general 10 the
needs of the community. and, second
that IL shall be made as eff1cient as posi-
bio in lis several parts. In other words. II
sho6ld be kept genuinely popular in its
scope and aims, and genuinely professional
in its management and methods.
This I'm substance. is the theory OF that
system Of city school control which prevails
in this country to-day. The Board Of Edu-
cation in such system. is 10 serve as q
representative body. giving expression 10
the general educational aims and demands
of the community. the superintendent ana
his assistants are to be the practical adInn-
istrators. who know the business OF pup,
lie school teaching and management ana
who give such direction TO the schools as
shall carry the legislation or the board
into fun effect. When this system is tound
i'm it's most satisfactory working there is
all manner OF free cooperation between
the Board OF Education and the Board OF
Superntcndents. and between the superln-
tondents and the teaching force
Many Objections, Says Or. Thwins
DR.. Thwing SAYS in his letter:
hope YOU will not think me guilty of i'm
rortinence II | say that such measure is
open 10 most serious objections among
such objections. many and diverse, ] must
limit myself to reference 10 single one.
hut il is fundamental. This objection is
the mixing up Of legislative and executive
functions An educational board or SeVeral
men-seven or seventeen. the smaller num-
her the better-makes, or should make, a
good awmaking body. but il could not
avoid being a poor executive body One
man. under a wise legislative board. makes.
or should make. a good executive. He
should not he directly concerned with leg
isIative functions. 70 give TO board.
either small or large. functions both legis-
lative and executive is fairly certain 20
give bad laws and worse execution. In
competency and inefficiency would be the
inevitable result Such is the teaching OF
the history Of education.
In his letter DR.. Taylor says:
wish to express my agreement with
the published letters of Presidents Butler
and Lowell, so far az they bear on the
substitution of a paid board for the pres
ent board (Which should be made much
smaller. in my opinon).
The new scheme ia sure 20 bring our
schools into politics as the financial con-
trol provided for and the large issues in
volved make such control great desidera-
tum for politicians. and would anywhere
and at any time. TO keep the schools free
from any suspicion Of such control must be
the aim of good citizenship everywhere