New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-12
A POLICY WANTED
Mr.. WiIleox's Handling of Educational
Matters Must Be Changed

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: With the reelection of President
Wilcox Of the Board OF Education 1t would
be we'll 10 express a widespread feeling OF
impatIence at the situation existing to-day
in educational circles. We lsymen nave
heard a great deal Of silly talk about the
Mayor. "hand-picked" members in the board
But a few minutes talk with any teacher OF
official who is honestly convinced that the
Gary system is 70 be the salvation oil our
phenomenal waste of juvenile powers ana
city money, and who is really striving 70
make the adopted plan a success, VIII soon
convince one that President Wilcox has sue
ceeded in encouraging chaos and insuooruina-
tion in the city's school administration
Mr. Wilcox seems to have entered on his
Office last year more interested III placaI'hE
reactionary parties and the hidebound board
of superintendents than in helping the city
to spend its large appropriation intelligently
and get quick results. And. naturally, the
reactionary party in the city schools cannot
be blamed for availing itself Of his futile,
vacillating and temporizing policy. The good
material in the Board Of Education has lit
tie chance for exercising its powers while ITS
president is sentimental pacifist. Instead
Of prompt and direct orders in cases OF OBJ
struction and incompetence by reactonary
superintendents and officials there are IN
terminable and futile pourparlers, series
Of undignified retractions, explanations and
apologies that leave the obstructonists more
power for evil than ever. President Will
cox's undignified and conciliatory attitude
toward consistently hostile reporter on
"The Globe" which processes 10 serve impair
TALLY the school teachers Of the city, led to
deliberate and cynical misrepresentation in
"The Globe" Of the spirit with which certain
hard working principals are loyally putting
through the Gary plan. And the last meeting
of the Board of Education where President
Wilcox was reelected was occupied in telling
the city that the reporter Of "The Globe" was
a liar
This is merely hint of the chaos and the
weak policy that have been characteristic OF
President Willcox's last administration. His
reelection should assure the Mayor and the
taxpayers something more definite during the
coming year. We are tired OF the series OF
petty negotiations and compromises between
recalcitrant superintendent and education
officials in the pay of the city and the preSi-
dent of the Board of Education, who is re-
sponsible for the intelligent direction and ap-
plication of the large fund devoted to re-
organization. The time has come for a Wig
orous. clear-cut policy, in which something
gets done. We are paying literally to sup
port the Mayors choice and wisdom to end
the waste and incompetence and gross neglect
to which our children have been subjected in
the past Is President Wilcox going to waste
the valuable time OF the members of the
Board Of Education and of the city's en-
ployes and the citys money during the COM
ing year? It's time he got down to business.
New York Feb. Z, 1917 TAXPAYER.