New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-12
Education Board Has Lively
Debate Over Report Deal
ing with Detectives.

These men contend that a use 81 the
school buildings for political meetings
would help uplift the voter, 10 make him
acquainted with and interested in the
public schools where his children pass the
day. They also. OF course. realize the adj
vantage which would accrue to their or
ganizetions II they could obtain superior
meeting halls at nominal rentals for their
rallies. it being the idea that the politl-
cal organizations using the school audi
! forums pay for their lighting heating
and cleaning during and Immediately
after use.
Metz Willing to Experiment
Mr.. Metz is in favor OF the proposition
he said. provided It can be put IN rrac-
tiCe without detriment TO TIE school chill
dren. He pointed ont. tor instance that
IL was the custom In political meetings
for the audience 10 smoke. This he said,
wouldn't do in a schoolhouse, since .he
smoke could not be completely aired from
the room over night. Then. too the scat
tering Of hand bills and the splitting OF
tobacco juice over the floor were common
practices during political meetings. prsc-
tees which could not bc countenanced
lie said, in a school building. But he said
ne was willing TO experiment
I Mr.. Metz Will therefore suggest 10 the
Board OF Education al a meeting IN the
near future. unless in the mean time he
changes his mind. that five nights say. IN
october. be set aside one for each Of tho
i've parties-Republican Democratic. Pro-
-, D.. Al,FA L.
which these organizations may hold big
political meetings In an auditorium Of
one Of the larger and more central school
build!ngs-a school building Ike that Of
the De Witt Clinton High School.
lie would have the meeting In each "a SO
addressed by the moro important cnndi-
dates of the party, that representative
crowd might be attracted. Then, II the
audiences showed sufficient respect for
their surround!nBs-if they forhore 20
smoke and otherwise 10 make the hall
unfit for the occupancy of the children
next mornng-hs would consider permit
,lnS the district clubs 10 use the school
houses in their districts for local rallies.
The former Controller, speaking as
politician. was not very sanguine Of the
success OF the scheme He argued that
the object Of political rallies was TO bring
into the fold the man who might vote the
other way, that this man. lukewarm at
best toward the party, would not attend
the rally unless he could be comfortable.
and that in nine CAGES out Of ten no
wouldn't consider himself comfortable
unless he could smoke Meetings an
school suditoriums, therefore where
smoking, he considered. was absolutely
out Of the question, would fail 10 attract
lust that element OF the electorate, no
thought, for whom they we're held.
Board Has Lively Session.
The Board OF Education held yesterday
It's first fall meeting. n meeting marked
| BY acrimonious debates and lack Of solid
accomplishment. Commissioner Arthur i.
somers OF Brooklyn, made All impas-
stoned address In opposition 20 recon-
mendation OF the committee on eiemen-
tary schools. Of which he IL member,
that tho pay OF Miss Elizabeth u Far
reu. inspector OF ungraded classes. be
raised and that two assistant inspectorr
! he appointed. as well as two physicians,
| which were defective.
Mr. Somers said ne was heartily IN
! favor Of the appointment OF tho two
pnvsicisns but he as heartily opposed the
! appointment of assistant inspectors or
the raising Of Miss Ferrel's pay, adding.
without naming any one, that he vas OPP
posed 10 the retention In the department
Of any one who knew less than the ordl-
nary man and woman about children.
normal or defective, who kept children In
the lngraded classes who should be in
the graded classes with the normal chill
dren, and who slapped half imbecile boy
! IN tho face when he looked up in her face
and laughed as she entered the school
room. He offered a substitute resolution
! providing for the appointment by Presi-
dent Winthrop of special committee to
| consider the whole question.
Abraham stern, chairman Of the COM
mittco on elementary schools, rose al
most Immediately 10 denounce Mr.. Somers
IN a ringing voice for voting for the com
mittce's recommendation ia committee
| and then attaching them in the open
hoard All Of which drew tho retort from
Mr. somers that such ar attack did not
merit a reply. The vote on the somefs
resolution wss lost and tho whole thing
was nut over until the next meeting.