New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-20
Is ASK KLINE TO
BAR churchill
Protest His Reappointment
to Board of Education
in Open Letter.
BLAME HIM FOR
"UNHAPPY CONDITION"
School Head in Reply Declares
He and Associates Have
Worked to Better System.

An open letter, signed by thirteen prom
inent citizens, including Nicholas Murray
Butler, president OF Columbia University;
Henry w. Taft. Felix Adler Seth Low,
Otto T. Barnard. Frederick j. f..
Woodbridge, dean Of the graduates fac
ulty of Columbia; Henry S. Pritchett.
Julius Sachs, Charles c. Birmingham, Felix
NJ Warburg Wallace Butterick, Fred
edlc r. Coudert and Abraham FleXner
was sent to Mayor Kline yesterday pro-
testing against the reappointment Of
Thomas W. Churchill as a member Of
the Board OF Education. Mr.. Churchill IL
now president of the board His term
and the terms of eight other members, ex-
pire this month, and the Mayor Is to
name their successors.
The letter urged that men and women
Of the highest possible type be sought
TO accept the appointments, and declared
that during the last two years the Board
Of Education had steadily and rapidly
deteriorated'
We urgently ask for prompt return
10 the higher standards which long exist
ed in the Board of Education" the letter
read. I'm particular. we ask that the
present president Of the Board of Educa-
ton, Mr.. Churchill, 10 whose influence the
present unhappy condition OF the city
school administration is chiefly due. and
those who have been closely associated
with him be not reapponted.
Mr.. Churchill issued a statement last
night in reply to his critics who wrote
the open letter. in which he said that In
so far as the criticism affected him per
sonally, he had nothing to say. but ne
stoutly defended the other members OF
the board. and declared they all had
worked consistently for the best interests
of the school system. He said that II II
should seem necessary 10 furnish the
Mayor with any defence of the policies OF
the Board of Education, the board could
be depended upon 10 communicate with
him Mr.. Churchill's statement was In
part as follows:
Il have read the open letter TO Mayor
Kline. II is alleged that during the
last two years the Board of Education
has steadily and rapidly deterlorated'
Whether this means through my In
nucnce, or through the new members
appointed By the late Mayor Gayhor
during that period. l don't know. In
so far as il affects me personally. /
have nothing TO say. In so far az II
affects the Board Of Education l feei
that l should say this:
"The board consists Of forty-siX mem
bors. During the last two years eleven
neyy members were appointed. Their
names are: Mrs d. c. Bamberger'
Nrs Ella w. Kramer. Joseph Barond-
ess. Henry j. Bigham, Ernest +. Ebert
the Rev. James NJ. Farrer, Lsadore NJ
Levy. Henry p. Morrison. Morton Stein
Ernest ". Stratmann and Ira ;. VIE
NJ. u.
"They represent men and women actVe
In educational and charitable work. many
NJ whom have served the schools through
nr,or membership in the local schooi
boards. and all Of whom have given free
lv NJ their time and services for the IN
,orost NJ the schools. II cannot lie In the
mouth OF any man knowing these mem
bers TO say that they have been the
cause of deterioration In the Board Oh
Education or any other board.
"Anv one who knew Mayor Gaynor
and his interest in the schools must be-
lieye. first, that there were no political
considerations i'm these appointments
and secondly. that fitness and the best
interests OF the public schools were his
only guide.
"Mv personal observation for the last
two wears. during ono OF which / have
been president. is that the members OF
the Board OF Education have acted from
the loftiets motives and with view TO
what was deemed best for the benefit OF
the system. for not only maintaining
what was good in II, but for improving
the curriculum, methods and results where
possible
Mr.. Churchill also gave out statement
nv DR. Thomas Hunter, president
emeritus of the Normal College in which
ne said that It would be a serious loss to
the city and the children Of the schools If
Mayor Kline failed 10 reappoint MT
Churchill. He commended Mr.. ChurchilIs
work and declared that the charge that
he (ChurchilD had introduced politics into
the board was utterly false.