New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-16
THOROUGH INQUIRY AIM
Of SCHOOL REPORT
1echnicaI View Not What Peo-
ME Expect, Says Public Edu-
cation Association.
LIMITED SCOPE ASSAILED
,,.iou of Board of Estimate
statement Declares, Leaves
educational Value of sys-
tenn Entirely Unsettled.

charles P. Rowland, president Of the
pubuc Education Association OF New
- issued a statement last night re-
.a,rg the controversy over the So
Nod Moore report, in which he said
~ school inquiry committee Of the
po.,d of Estimate seemed to have had
,,istaken view of the functions of
n.otsssor Hanus and his associates In
..,,r,ctins them TO the gathering Of
data.
Tho statement in full is as follows:
ITO the Editor Of The Tribune.
as,r, The Public Education Association
- r.,rsined from expressing Its opinion
,'-on The controversy over the so-called
~. rsnort. because of the hope of an
outcome that would satisfy public opinion
s,d be productive of good results 10 the
school system
9TH. school inquiry committee of the
po.rd of Estimate, in its comments ac-
eomnenyfng the Moore report. and subse-
.n.nt,v evidently has the feeling that
p,of,,sor Hanus, who was engaged 10
r.ske the inquiry, and the associates Sc
I.ctsd and employed by him were TO do
M more than obtain data or statistics on
,o.e.lled facts" which they should re-
mart 10 the Board OF Estimate-in other
words. that they individually occupied a
ro,i,ion similar 10 that Of the Commits
,ioner OF Accounts, who may from time
IN dc
partment
This view Of the functions OF such ex-
p.rts and Of such an inquiry appears TO
b. at the bottom OF the whole contro-
yersy over the Moore report, and it seems
10 US to be based on a misconception OF
The fundamental value OF such an inquiry.
No Previous investia alton.
When the school systems OF Brooklyn,
New York, Staten Island. etc. were COM
bned by the greater New York CONSOLE
dation, no fundamental reorganization Of
the system took place, or adjustment to
the needs OF the larger city. The city has
continued TO grow, and the pressure OF
day to day needs has prevented any in
vestigation into its fundamental advan-
tsges and defects, or the creation OF any
sound basic policy.
Or. Maxwell has asserted that many
Of his measures were adopted with
view toward such a policy, and his numer-
Gus critics have attacked his measures
and himself also as producing exactly a
contrary effect II is unnecessary here to
detail the charges against the structure
q the system or his administration Of Il;
Il is well enough known 10 the public
that fierce controversies have been going
On Tor years.
The Board of Estimate. therefore, de-
oidsd to institute an investigation into
the entire school system. The project was
hailed BY the public with the utmost en-
thusasm. Though the plan was proposed
and put In motion by the body which Is
in charge solely OF the financial needs Of
the school system, nevertheless, the ex-
sting conditions demanded an inquiry on
much broader lines, not limited TO fnan-
eiai or political aspects, but as compre-
snslye as the system itself.
The 2ublic-and we think legitimately-
expected this, and the engagement Of one
Of the foremost educators in the country,
Professor Hanus, Of Harvard University.
as the head Of a sweeping inquiry con-
hrned such a view, and seems TO be IN
accord with such a view only. DR.. Hanus
himself, from beginning to end, conceived
mat 70 be his function. and the public
aud the press during the conduct Of the
inquiry have always understood this as
lie nature.
An insistence by the school committee
OF the Board OF Estimate upon the oppo-
9te and technical view will leave the
public demand for an inquiry into the
value OF its school system, educationally
considered, entirely unsRtisfied, will re-
'ect The most valuable parts Of the entire
nshus report, viz, his educational con-
euslons, and would also Illustrate one OF
me most important parts OF the inquiry.
VA the proper relation OF the Board Of
Estimate 10 the Board of Education con-
naered from the educational point OF
yisy