New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-25
MAXWELL REPR|MANDED
BY EDUCATION BOARD
/ etter Superintendent Wrote to
President of Body ArOuSes
Resentment.
BUDGET CAUSE OF ROW
Churchill Asked Head of
Schools Not to Attend Con-
ference of Public Edu-
cation Association.

Dr William II. Maxwell, City superin-
,snJent of Schools was reprmaned by
,,s Board Of Education yesterday because
., letter the city superintendent had
.rritteD 10 Thomas w. Churchill, presi-
ssrt Of the board
The superintendent listened to a faying
which oldtimers said had never been du-
,rcated IN his thirty-one years in the
scbool service. lsidOr Levy. pointing his
s,eer AT Or. Maxwell. said that with all
his experience the superintendent did not
saon, 10 realize he was an official en-
Moved by the Board Of Education. and
sbould conduct himself accordingly.
Mr.. Levy said the letter written by Dr.
Maxwell was insulting TO the board as
vau as 20 its president. and that II a
teacher had written such a communica-
linn 10 Or Maxwell the board would have
unbeld him IN adjudging the teacher insu-
bordinate He Furthermore declared that
Dr Maxwell should be reprimanded.
From the letters read It developed that
President Churchill had written TO Dr.
Maxwell requesting him and others di-
-sctlv under him not to attend a confer
spce Of the Public Education Association
last Monday 10 discuss at first hand"
,bs budget requests Of the Board Of Ed
rcation for 1914 President Churchill took
,be stand he did. he Explained. because
the budget had not been finally acted on
By the board.
In his answer Or. Maxwell said he had
slvavs been constrained in his thirty-one
YEARS Of service 10 accede 10 any request
from the president Of the board
nIn this case. however" the letter said
q feel justified in reaching a decision not
IN accord with your views
The board went into a committee OF the
whole. with John Greene in the chair
after il was decided TO take up the mat
ter with a view to appropriate action.
There was an executive session later,
ana finally the board. by vote Of Is 10 s.
upheld the attitude Of the president II
was resolved as the feeling of that body
that his attitude was necessary and ap-
nrop-iate: that information as 10 matters
nsnding before the board should not be
given out by appointees or employees Of
the board WllnOul lAS SaHCA4t4l VI TIC
hoard or the order of its president.
II was further stated that 1t was the
duty of the City Superintendent on re-
eeipt Of said letter. TO notify appointees
and employees Of the board who were so
invited not 70 participate in such unau-
thorized conference
In his letter Dr. Maxwell said he had re-
sarded II as a large part of his duty as a
publjc officer 10 give information regard
lng the schools to any citizen or body Of
citizens who asked for II. He did this, he
said, TO defend publicly their work. their
administration and my own actions
against unjust attack. and 10 profit by
,ust criticism and opportune suggestion.
In regard 10 the order OF the president
70 direct his colleagues" not 70 attend
the meeting. Dr. Maxwell denied the pres
jdent had any such authority. and even If
Ia had II would be inconsistent with his
ideas Of courtesy that ought to prevail
among ladies and gentlemen TO direct
them 10 pay no attention 10 an invitation
from any reputable body OF cilzehs 70
participate in a conference.
when 4 man becomes an officer In the
public education service" Or. MaxWeil
continued. he loses none Of the rights OF
an American citizen. Free speech IS one
OF those rights. have too keen sense
Of the limitations Of my official authority
and too profound regard for the IN
st,tut!ons Of my country 10 attempt 10
interfere with the right Of free speech
even at the request Of the president OF
the Board Of Education
In the arguments for and against ac-
ton by the board it developed there was
an idea prevailing that the meeting IN
question was one which aimed 70 criti-
Csc the board. Mr.. Churchill, when he
spoke 70 the board from the floor said