The Detroit times., 1912-07-29
M'ANOREW PLANS TO
MAKE DETROIT SCHOOLS
FREE FROM POLITICS
Says Local Educational System
is Debilitated by Political
Influences
MERIT RULE AS REMEDY
New Superintendent Points Out
How Present System is I'm
fair and Obsolete

Following Is the letter sent TO
President II. c. Goldberg, OF the De
troit Board of Education, by VIM. NC
Andrew, of New York, accepting the
position of superintendent OF De
troit's public school system, and the
changes he suggests in the rules oil
the board for the purpose OF estab-
fishing merit rule" TO govern the
teachers and principals OF the city:
Hon. Hiram c. Goldberg. President,
Board OF Education. Detroit, Mich:
Dear Sir-The honor or election as
superintendent OF the schools or Detrolt
Is deeply appreciated. Al the earliest
opportunity after the election | visited
Detroit and consulted acqualntances'
who, as teachers, inspectors, or patrons
Of ;he schools, had knowledge OF the
system. 1 consulted men identihed
with educational interests In the state.
Some OF the school inspectors did me
the honor TO call upon ME. i nave
read the manual Of the schools, the
minutes OF the Board for the past two
years and various editorial comments
upon the school system which have
been made In the columns OF the Free
Press. Journal, Times and News. l
visited some OF your poorest and some
OF your hest buildings. Your average
material equipment Is better than the
average OF some OF the larger cities.
schools Is widespread and Intelligent.
There is a critical spirit evident In the
community calling for better condi-
tions and promising TO stimulate school
management now and In the future.
The cali TO Detroit is unusually attrdc-
tive. The position offers opportunity
for constructive service with the sup
port OF the best people OF the city.
There is "A fundamental defect In your
school system which seems to me in
grained. obvious and unnecessary. Your
public education Is debilitated by the
old-style political influence which most
Of the larger cities have purged out OF
their school systems. The Detrolters
now living In New York whom ! have
asked about the schools all referred 10
them as controlled by Objectionable
politics This charge was sooner or
later made by almost every person with
whom | talked In Detroit and ia Michl-
gan The newspapers refer 10 II as a
well-known fact.
II rests chiefly with the Board or
Education to pull the pchools out Of
politics. Other cities have done IL. T!ie
weakest spot In your system Is in the
appointment re-sppointment and dis
missal OF teachers and principals lOI
retain the methods OF a small town. In
which the superintendent and inspec-
tors could know all the teachers. Your
city has outgrovn this Because OF
lack Of a merit system. your teachers
are subject TO the control OF personal
influence In the superLtendency and
TO unfair action by tho Hoard Itself
You can now lose good teachers and
retain poor ones by action of the Board
without any adequate notice to the
teachers at all The persistent clamor
OF friends may result In the restoGa-
tion of the poor teacher and the spread
cf an opinion among the teaching force
that teachers are dropped and REIN
stated without any relation to efi-
cheney That. according to all the
teachers and ex-teachers interview cd
by me, Is the feeling in Detroit today.
II Is an unnecessary situation YOn
have Ii In your Eower To remove from
political and personal influence the APP
pointment and retention OF teachers.
/ will accept the office of superin-
tendent. provided majority OF the
Board approve the immediate adoption
OF rules providing for continuous con-
tract for all teachers and principals
appraised by competent school 1en as
worthy OF II.
There are various ways In which II
can be done. To show what 1 mean.
! enclose an adaptation of an ordinary
merit and tenure provision adaI ted to
the Detroit organization. Any Teach
ers' aud Schools committee could draw
up one I'm a few minutes. You ought
TO take the lead in IL All the states
Will have permanent tenure for good
teachers before long. Detroit ought TO
do IL now. One OF the newspaper cdi-
torIals says your system requires a
revolution. 1t Is certain you must get
rid OF the outworn idea OF an educa-
tional monarchy The talent in the
teaching force should be inspired, cul-
tivated developed and capitalized for
the berei OF the children, the teach
ers and the entire community. Unless
you have your good teachers protected
from the fear OF removal. from the fear
OF whimsical direction and from the
expectation OF being asked TO be per-
sonal supporters OF the superinie endent.
your whole scheme OF public education
will hobble along behind the other
cities in a sort OF stupid paralysis al.
most entirely durable. | should want
TO work with teachers free to differ
frotn me. capable of judgment, criti-
cism and healthy growth.
There are some details OF economy
OF the administration waste OF teach
ers' energy on unproductIve labor,
questionable amount OF home study
exacted by some schools. better ar
rangements within the schools for
teaching some OF the subjects more
Intelligent training OF the children for
common necessities OF life, that will be
pressing upon your board for a de-
no trouble In getting you TO settle
right. IL properly presented to you
knew nothing OF the details OF the
situation In Detroit when an inspec-
tor telegraphed me for the first time
on June s. and asked whether | would
stand for the position. / was unwilling
10 do so I had refused TO go Into any
school fight, contesting the place with
a local incumbent On July IL, | was
elected by a majority OF one vote.
went 10 Detroit at my first opportunity
10 make the acquaintance OF conditions
there I sought no newspaper adver-
49,