New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-10
NJ ANENY FAV0RS
SMALLER BOARD
Says Such Body Would
Be More Responsive to
Democracy.
WOULD GIVE HEED
TO TEACHERS IDEAS
Sure Appointees of Mitchell
Would Be Men of Strong
Progressive Type.
BY HENRIETTA RODMAN.

BY HENRIETTA RODMAN.
George McAneny. president OF the
Board of Aldermen, spoke ye,terday OF
the proposed reduction of the Board OF
Education from forty-six members TO
nine.
"ln my opinion" said Mr.. McAneny,
"a small board would tend to promote
not only efficiency in the schools, but
democracy as we'll It is a recognized
principle that a small governing board
is always more responsive to enlight-
oned public opinion, more keen to in
troduce progressive methods, than is a
large one"
Some of the teachers fear" | said.
that a small Board of Education would
be more autocratic, would tend to act
like closed corporation. or star cham
ter' settling the affairs of the schools
without consultation with the teach
ers."
Experience rather justifics the OPP
posite opinion" replied Mr.. McAneny.
Wherever a small board is substituted
for large one you are likely to find
the members more in sympathy with
modern ideas of democracy. 1t is i'm
possible for Mayor to select forty-six
men who are abreast of modern de-
velopments in education, but he can
lind nine or eleven such men.
at seems to me that the teachers are
far more likely'to have their ideas on
the conduct of the schools recognized
by small board with expert knowl-
edge of school affairs than by a large
board without such knowledge"
"Are you in favor of granting to the
teachers some actual power in the
conduct of the schools" | asked. Tin
matters of discipline of the teachers
themselves, for example?"
81 am not prepared to express a def
rite opinion" he replied, but | think
some scheme might be worked out to
obtain the participation of the teachers
in the management OF the schools.
90 not believe that the final decision OF
school questions should rest with them
but | think a plan could be perfected
whereby they would take part in the
first stages of discussion and inquiry.
"lf the bill now before the Legis-
lature goes through. the first small
board will be appointed by Mayor
Mitchell, and we may be sure that he
will select men of a progressive type
who will lend willing ears to any sug-
ge Sted reforms in the direction OF
greater democracy"
Mr.. McAneny seemed to me unusal
" kind, intelligent and efficient, and
bovp all. t~ustworth~. To M disap
pointment, he was tolerant when
spoke OF the teachers, rather than en-
thusiastic.
V'o 20 % oo0 citizens elected. ,re
sumably. for the very qualities which
make Mr. Nc tne1y-kindres intel
ligence, efficiency and honesty. In
wondering why we're so ul'mpressive
Wne. | e~tercI Public School A.
The Bronx saw the Dinky Birc
hanging where tha classic cherub;
har~ - c-orv well ro-I'n'ed school
"The children in the school I came
from sent this, and 'Th Sugar Plum
Tree and 'Wyrken, Blynken and Nod,
to the children here" Angelo Patr
toll me. eve studied Stevenson ir
that school. Read his poems. reciteC
them and imagined how he would treat
thi subject or that. Then some of the
children wrote poems, too.
you would like to see them? Here
they are, a Few only; they wrote
many"
THE SQUIRRELS THANKSGIVING.
Dancing about IN chestnut tree.
Cracking their nuts for a Jubilee;
Wasting no time. bur hurryns about.
The busy squirrels run In and out.
They show their thanks
In squirrel pranksl
WINTER
Winter days are right for me.
when not leaf Is on a tree.
When not robin Is In sight.
rs fine 90 watch the rabbits flight
Across the Icy snow
And then I saw the following letter
written by this principal of a public
school to his pupils:
Build together, fight together. work
together play together, grow together
Always and always dream together
until you dream as one, until there Is
no mine or yours-but ours. always
ours. Always and always let there be
gladness in your hearts and healthy
spring to your bodies; let there be
smiles on your lips and laughter in
your eyes. Always and always let
there be in your strong hand the weak
err one of your brother.
$40 you know that you are wonderful
Indeed you are! Do you know that
through you America will cast from its
life bitterness, class race? Indeed 1t
will! You are history, you are the
nation, you are America; America that
is big and full Of promise; America
not of yesterday. but of tomorrow. OF
endless to-morrows; the past we for
get"
The third meeting Of the series be-
ing held in Teachers College. Column
bia University, will take place on
Wednesday. February 10. 1918. in Room
lOI. II. A. Building. at o'clock. The
speakers: DR.. Ira $. Vile, member of
the Board of Education, and Mrs. ?. J.
O'Connell, superintendent Of the Al
lance Employment Bureau.
CRUSHED BY FLOAT;
ONE DIES, ONE SAVED