New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-12
EDUCATORS CONDEMN
CITY SCHOOL MEASURES
DR.. FIexner and Others Call
Them PrepoSterOus at Hear
ing in Albany.
EXPERTS NEEDED. THEY SAY
Thomas w. Churchill and Miss
Stracban Commend Proposed
Legislation-Prof. Hooper
Defends Maxwell.
IHs relosrarh % Tho T-ioun.


Albany, March ll.-Dr. Abraham FleN-
nor. secretary of the Carnegie Founds
ton. and prominent educators tonight
branded as prcr.osjerous the Mckee bills
which transfer many OF the powers OF
Superintendent william II. Maxwell Of
the New York CITY schools. 10 the Board
Of Education. A hearing on the bills,
which came from Thomas ". Churchill,
president OF the Board of Education, AZ
a result Of the MaXwell-Gayn Churchill
fight. was given tonight in the Senate
/ Chamber by the joint Senate and Assem-
bly, Cities Committees.
President Churchill. with many mem
bers of the Board OF Education. and a
large delegation of the marlborough As
/ ~ociation OF Women Teachers. headed by
Miss Grace S,rachan. its president: the
New York Teachers Association and the
Men Teachers Association. were present
, in behalf OF the measures.
Mr. Churchill and Miss Strachan both
made speeches for the proposed legisia-
ton. one OF the bills creates several ad-
diticnsl school suDerintendents and places
;he appointment Of all sIperintendents in
the hands Of the Board Of Education in
stead OF the board Of superintendent.
Miss Strachan has been mentioned az a
candidate for one Of the proposed new
positions.
Or Flexner declared that he had sub
mitted the bills To number Of the
principal educators in the country and
that all ~ them had signed document
expressing their unconditional opposition
TO the theory upon which the bills wer.
drawn lie was particularly opposed to A
bill which took from tae Board Of Super
intendents ana placed in the hands OF
the Board OF Education the laying out
OF tn courses Of study OF the schools.
This bill gives 20 inexperienced men a
power which should be performed by ex-
perts" ne said. and will expose the
citv's school system 10 rid!cule through
out the entire country. There IS 10 doubt
that New York city needs An overhaul
ing of It's school laws. including the char
ter provisions. hut instead OF this patch
work I beg Of YOU 10 create commits
sion which Will completely eliminate the
obsolete provisions in the charter and en-
able us 10 get rid Of persons VINO iai 70
do their duty
Both Dr. FleNner and Bliss Cannot. rep
resenting the Henry Street settlement
| and Neiehborhood Workers Association,
declared that the Mckee bills would be
an entering Wedge for politics in the
! schools Asked for her reason for max
( ing this assertion Miss Gannet said that
! il put too much power IN a body that
was not made up OF experts. and was
I subject 10 political appointment
Professor Hooper OF the Brooklyn In
| stltute who also represented the Brook
/ lyn League stoutiy defended Superintend-
| ent Maxwell.
! DR. Maxwell has done a tremendous
work" he said but he mas MS tempers-
ment he j. ~ obstinate as the scotch
man and Irishman combined. and possibly
I he hasn't taken all the suggestions when
! th. Board Of Education has made But
ne Is honest and true. and has stood Ike
"A rock. If he has failed IN this case. don
! tax. away his powers and make " d
/ Laughing stock I say that the forV-siN
members Of the School Board should go
10 MIN and tell him what they want. and
be- more likely 90 get 1t than they Will
through these bills
He expressed the opinion that d.. Max
well is one OF the greatest assets the city
has. and II IL were to spend $1,000 II
couldn't get man to NIL his place as
we'll as he does.
The argument OF those VINO Favored the
bills was that the Board OF Education
should have the powers which are held
bv every other similar body in the coun-
try. Among those who spoke for the bills
were DR.. Ira VILE and Morton Stein
members Of the Board OF Education. and
Charles Greene. its vice-presdent. besides
President Churchill and Miss Strachan.