The Detroit times., 1916-11-03
Many Prominent De-
trOiters Favor Pro-
posed Reduction
NUDGE CONNOLLY
A SUPPORTER
School Inspector Albert
Sherman Also An
Advocate

Detroiters Who have the welfare
Of their city a. hcarLs hImost with.
put exception are supporting The pro
posed charter amendment providing
Y Tor seven man school board. which
- to be- voted upon Nov. :.
take the conirol' Of our puahc
\ school system 'ut OF politics. the
cry OF those who would centraliIe
the authority 81 the school system,
4 placing Il in the hands OF a small
board OF cocapttent men, Instead OF
\ the board Of II members, one from
each ward. Even members OF the
present board are among those who
are agitating for the amendment
Inspector Albert Il. sherman, f'r
nine years a principal IN schools p
Z various parts ~ Michigsp, Is aincng
the school board contingent IN favor
OF the smaller organization.
'"As a member OF thP board. can
make no criticism % rs personn Il
said Inspector sherman They are
a good lot OF men. ~ the same
time. II H. m undispvted fact 'ha.
our school board Is used merely -
n stepping stone bv men with pal'u
cal ambitions, Po,iics and De gov
eminent OF our city schools do NOT
mix. II requires Years OF study De-
fore one can be teacher. IL should
require qualifications other than
those which make 'for success 1
polltics 10 take q hand in The con
troll OF our public school system
smaller board, composed OF compe'
tent men who will g!Ee their time
and their best judgme ut 10 the con
duct OF our schools. naturally would
give more beneficial service than the
body formed OF a man from each
ward"
Judge william 2. Connolly is an
other booster for the seven-man
board He said
~People are beginning to recog'
nize public service as they should
n Is simply a case Of good business
management Conduct the affairs OF
the city as YOU would your private
tusiness and then you'll eliminate
many OF the disadvantages OF city
Tmanagement. A private corporation
centralizes control on A few men.
y The city OF Detroit ought 70 central
ize control Of its school system on
R few competent men. instead OF ieav-
Ing a 10 a body gathered from all
parts OF the. city and holding once
n nv virtue OF political, success. School
I. hoard affairs should be taken out OF
POLITICS Let them Be conducted on
\ basis that viii give the taxpayer
100 cents for every dollar &c pays.
small board OF capable men VIII
ACCOMPLISH more than a body organ
ized on the ward basis
X Attorney Thomas A. Conlon maze
the following statement in favor o.
the plan: -,
boara are Capitalization or au'noE'lF
as well as responslntilty' -, ..-.-4
when memlAEs- OF the schpol hga ~
40 elected r--frrr--th@y l"E'S'a 4"
Tor the ehoo4-diztrict-En9 no. i9e
az where wsEa-ss=A2- - : " IVA favorabi5
tnnwn q, elected AZ large
Under the small ~schgol board INC
suthoritv il distributed. The super !,
fntendent % schools ~ the head -
the educational dspartnent, .et
wouid be the head Of the business
The large school board meets n
public and talks. The small board
meets and dfCides
APPOINTMENTS 81 large boards e~0
held M IN subcommittee Tor fac-
\ sicnAl reasons
rpaividuai BtAmhaEE@=of TIC larE
board know. practically nofAfrc Hf
the work geIiof sub-cnnnm tfers 'r
I which they ND not belong and tsf
public knows sbsolutelE nnthir
ResponslbiIBit' FOR wr'-"ufoinr 0-
( fncoupetencv Sannot rps''v Dbl" place"
where the arr school ho4fl exists
aud the sub-Cfpn rniftee lends Itself -
& sufocratic ~ uvHavorv methods
The small Hoard cannot escape e
wat~hfui cdrEt'tueucy ~ cauuo'
avoid tho co~sequeuCe % ifs ante
n am cannot cvbdc responsibility
The tendcnr, thruuut Tho count f
g. IN tho dlrertion 81 small boards
and 7 ain ~ the same npininn now
< that T was WHEN was car8iiHt,
n Tor tho legislature u yoars aE1
a WHEN 7 Advocated the small schnr
board In my talks I was frequent
told BY politicians and lothers ne wei
y that ~ I continued sSvoraflrF
email hoard would be defeafed. ru
Y continued my talks along the iI~,
! that "a" All school board wrajt 90
H better for the Detroit schools thai