New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-13
7 ak Of
City Hall

II is ofte found advisable in a mill
tary campaign, when the enemy presses
in one sector, to attack him in another
and force a retirement all along the
lin. Possibly General George W. Win
gate had some such tactics IN nlnd IN
Suggesting 70 the Fusion forces line
Of attack on Tammany which involves
the public school system, but ignores
entirely the controversy over the gary
plan. =
For some time Tammany has been nav
ing something the best Of the Gary de-
bate, from purely political standpoint
because IL has been infinitely easier 70
defame this radical reform, TO cry
"Rockefelerl" and to weep over the
passing Of the Little Red Schoolhouse,
than il has been TO explain It's many
and revolutionary advantages. And the
friends OF the Gary System have had TO
buck against not only vhe conservatism
and prejudices of public whose public
schools nave become religion. but also
against the organized resistance OF the
great body of public school teachers,
opposed 20 any change IN routine or
any lengthening of hours.
The immediate defence Of the Gary
plan against the Churchills and the
Hylans, therefore, while valiant, has
encountered heavy odds and would
profit greatly from a counter diversion
somewhere down the line.
The general, who has been a Com
missioner of Education for many
years, would remind the voters that on
January the entire public school sys-
tenn of the city will pass out OF the
hands Of the present large board, with
its continuing traditions, and into
those Of a small board of seven mem
bers, all of them to be appointed by
the next Mayor Of the city.
by the state education law, passed
last June" he writes, the present
Board of Education, consisting OF
forty-six representative men and won-
en-, many of whom have had long ex-
perience in connection with the schools
ard all of whom give very large
part OF their valuable time without
compensation, is legislated out Of Of
flee on January / next. II will be
succeeded by a board Of seven, who
will be given the most sweeping powers
over the thousands of janitors and
ether employees, over upward OF $1,000
teachers and supervisors, over the pur-
chase Of land, construction OF build
ings, instruction Of over 10000 chill
dren and over the expenditure Of more
than S30000,00O year"
At this juncture he interpolates a
word or two Of special interest 20 those
thousands of teachers who, out Of hos
tility 10 the introduction of the Gary
system, are helping to put Hylan IN
Office.
I'm place Of the present law" he
SAYS, (Which provides that no teacher
can be dismissed except after prefer
ring charges and a trial and by the
vote of at least twenty-four members
of the board, and in the case OF an en-
ploye whose place may be desired for
political reasons by the vote or thirty
seven members, the removal OF either
can be made By the vote OF the majority
Of a board of seven. This means that
ring OF four will control the welfare
and fortunes of all the employees and
all of the members Of the teaching and
supervising staff Of our great system.
There may be some teachers who
WOulQ prefer the yOhf ~ - .'''
that Of Mitchell appointees. But ne
great bulk of them in their hearts VII!
probably agree with General Wlngate
when he adds:
"If Mayor Mitchell should be re-
elected the city can depend on 1t that
ne would select for the new board OF
seven men Of experience and charac-
ter, who would not be affected by any
Interior consideration. but would give
a sound and unbiased judgment as %
what was necessary for the welfare OF
the schools. Bur if he should not be,
as will certainly be the case unless
there is a universal non-partisan rally
among the voters of the city in his
favor the statements and antecedents
Of Judge Hyan indicate that he VIII
appoint a very different class Of mer,
and that the old days OF my youth,
when political influence and questions
of patronage controlled the destinies
Of the teachers and employees. and, IN
fact, our whole system, will be re-
stored"
The general is inclined to mourn
the passing of the old board as that
of great and historic institution, a
wholly natural attitude for one who
has served in il so long and so faith
fully. While great many Of his fell
low citizens will decline to share his
grief on this score they will join him
in regretting that the change should
have been decreed TO coincide with a
municipal election.