New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-22
SCHOOL BOARD TOO
BIG, SAYS DR.. ELIOT
Tells Public Education AS
ISOLATION Seven Mem
bers Are Enough.
FIXED INCOME
ALSO SUGGESTED
DR.. Howe Takes Part in Discus
sion of Proposed Revision
of City Charter.

Dr Charles W Eliot president emeritus
o. Harvard University. in speaking last
night al meeting aeld 10y the Public
Education Association. ir the Hotel
Plaza. asserted that the New York Board
~ Education. composed. rs IL is, OF
large membership. was inefficient and i'm
capable of accomplishing the best results
for The public school system. Dr. Ehot
advocated "a small board OF seven mem
bers Dr Frederick c. Howe, director OF
the Peoples Institute. also supported the
suggestion OF q small board.
Sound theory and recent successful eN-
rerience in many parts OF the country
said Dr Eliot. indicate that a small
board. consisting OF from five TO twelve
members. is much more effective than
large board such as New York now en-
ploys A small board, the members OF
which are replaced gradually and never
many al once. can sit around small
table and talk together I'm conversational
tones without excitement or occasion Tor
oratory. and a majority OF its members
az any particular moment Will always
have had some experience. \ large board
Ike the present board I'm New York,
which has foriy-six members. cannot en-
joy these advantages.
Greater New York. comprising two
large boroughs and three smaller. might
appropriately create a Board Of Education
Of seven members--or nine. II 1t were
thought important TO represent proper
tionately the different masses Of popula-
ton I'm the several boroughs but for bust
ness efficiency seven members would IN
doubtedly be better than nine. This small
board should exercise no executive func-
tons whatever.
The present board Of forty-six mem
bers undertakes 10 exercise executive
functions in great variety through its
committees the board maintaining no few
or than sixteen standing committees.
There is hardly a person on the present
board who could properly be called an
educational expert. il was never intend
ed or expected that the Board OF Edu-
cation should itself be composed Of edu-
cational experts and yet it tries 70 do In
some fashion an immense mass Of expert
work.
no person experienced in any sort OF
Observation-Disclosures education
Al or industrial-would believe that the
Board Of Education was competent 10
deal effectively or wisely with such mat
ters or could properly be charged with
such functions. Any competent railroad
bank or factory manager who examined
the administrative structure Of the New
York public school system would be sure
10 ask. How has It been possible TO main
tin under such a board even the present
INADEQUATE system? The answer TO this
question is that the city has had the ben
eft Of the devoted services Of remark
able Superintendent and OF thousands OF
teachers who were faithful to their call
ing and their pupils IN spite Of many
trials and discouragements
The functions Of the New York Board
Of Education should be confined 10 the
determination Of general policies, the ap-
pointment Of the principal executive OFF,
GERS Of the system on the boards own
initiative. the appointment Of lesser Off
GERS on the nomination Of superior Off
GERS. and the maintenance, through care
fullv selected experts. Of thorough inspec-
ton. supervision. accounting and public
itv. Every member should be success
full man OF affairs. either professional or
commercial. aid patriotic citizen.
DR.. Eliot said that such a board should
not be hampered by varying appropria-
lions. but should be given fixed indie
nendent income. necessary for its growing
needs. The fact that the New YORK
Board of Education possessed neither
fxe6 income nor control over its expendi-
lures gravely impaired its efficiency ana
r,snonsibjlity and lowered the service
ablcness and dignity OF the board Or
Eliot said.
The meeting was for the purpose OF
starting discussion preliminary 10 pro-
nosed revision Of the educational chapter
~ the city charter. and DR.. Eliots stand
for 2 smaller board is expected by those
favorine such q change 70 carry consid-
cradle weight.
About three hundred persons interested
in nublic education attended the meeting.
Charles p Rowland, president OF the as
eociation. presided. on the platform Win
the sneakers were Judge Victor J. Dow
ling. otto T. Barnard. William jay
Scbieffelin. Henry Moskowitz. Lawrence
+. Abbott. Victor MorGwetz. Robert fui-
ron cutting. ogden L. Mills. Robbins Gil
-, Frar,iltou Orrnebee, Cyrus {. Miller