New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-24
M'KEE BILLS FAULTY,
SAYS ASSOCIATION
sOveraI Bodies Unite in Demand
for Commission to Draft
New School Law.
HANUS REPORT AS BASIS
poard of Education Criticised
for Failure to Comprehend
Nature Of It's Most
Helpful Functions.

IlOAHA ri NtAACblOhGs
The Public EducGtion Association is
ned Yesterday what is called 'declara-
ion" Of several civic and educational
bolies and influential persons of this city
hat the Mckee education bills now pend
&c in the legislature were unstatesmau-
ike and should he suppanted by more
oomnrehensve and constructive lcgisla-
lion providing for an education commits
.ion 10 draft a new school law for New
YORK CITY which would clearly define the
nowers Of the Board OF Education and of
the sup~intendents employed by the
board.
The list Of organizations and individuals
that have united I'm urging the creation
n such a commission is as follows.
The City Club, John NJ Glenn. for the
SAGE Foundation; Henry :. Pritchctt. for
the Carnegie Foundation; Abraham FleX-
nor for the General Education Board. Al
Ian Robinson. for the Allied Real Estate
interests: Paul II. Hauus. director of the
school Inquiry jerome Greene. for the
commitce Of citizens appointed, with the
snr-oval Of President Mitchell, to co-ordi-
uats public action regarding the Hanus
-eport: Charles T. Rowland for the Pub
ne Education Association; Felix Adler. for
the Ethical culture School; Lyman Abbott.
lanes L. Russell. Dean Teachers Col
lege: George u. Strayer, professor Of
school administration. Teachers College.
Elmer T. Brown. Chancellor. New York
University: Thomas A. Ballet, Dean
school Of Pedagogy. New York Univr-
sitv. John KincsbuTy. Association for I'm
provinC, the Condition of the Poor: W.
Frank Persons Charity Organization So
ejsty: Homer Folks, State Charities Aid
Association. Lillian Wald. Nurses Set
Element: Wallace Buttrick General Edu-
cation Board. Henry Moskowitz, Associa
ton Of NeChb0rhOod Workers. Equal
Franchise Society COLLEGIATE Equal Suf-
frage League. New York Suffrage Assoc
cation.
Change Educational Conduct.
The statement SAYS that the Mckee
bills propose 10 change the educational
conduct Of the school system Of New
York CITY En- certain important respects
and should be opposed for the following
reasons:
"l) They would give 10 the Board Of
Education the practical control of the
Professional educational conduct of the
schools
Though they resemble each other IN
this respect. they do not suggest any gem
eral plan for defining ana rcarranging
N. functions of the Board Of Education
and the school experts respectively.
BY confounding the relative functions
dalay board and Of educational experts,
they reproduce the chaos out Of which
The New York school system has only
partially emerged.
by placing the initiative in the hands
Of a lay board OF changing personnel
they do not make for a consecutive edu-
catonal policy.
They 20 counter 10 the results Of all
educational experience in this country
and TO the enormous prepOnderance Of
educationa opinion.
% They are not fundamental in char
acter.
"A thorough and costly investigation Of
the New YORK school system ry Dr. Paul
H. Hanus and d staff Of well known edu-
cationa. experts has just been completed,
and their report has just been placed be
fore the public. Bias ~ favor Of ANY
branch Of the public school system cannot
Be asserted OF this report. for II severely
eriticises both the organization and ad-
illustrative methods Of the Board Of
Education and the work of the profes-
sonal educators within tho System.
Chief Point OF Criticism.
One Of the chief points Of criticism of
this report is the failure Of the Board OF
Education 10 comprehend the nature OF
Us proper and most helpful functions and
Us constant attempts by committees or
as whole 10 DO the work which can
properly be done only by the professional
soucatOrs Of the system.
No legislation should be undertaken at
his time that does not give careful con
Melaton 20 this report, as well as 10 all
modern educational practice and opinion.
Any legislation attempted should seek 10
remedy fundamental weaknesses in the
system
n
ignore general experience and opinion.
out they also defy the criticisms and rec
Lamentations Of the specialists who have
Examined our schools.
Constructive statesmanshlp demands.
ist an acknowledgment That the school
system Of New YORK Guy requires over
hauling, and, second. an effort TO obtain
legislation that Is comprehensive and fun
eamental in character and based strictly
upon the best Information and educa-
uohal opinion available"
10 this end It is urged that the Legs
~VuFe empower the Governor 10 appoint
commission 70 draft an educational sec
"Oa as substitute for the present edu-
'auonal provisions Of the city charter.
ana y also Is urged that the commission
mould be- composed of New York city
'es'dents who are interested I'm the schools.
WHY W0MCM I'VE nIN0RCE