New-York tribune., 1918-04-21


Many men are mentioned, many names
canvassed, but with DR.. Finley elm
mated, there does not seem to remain
any one--at least in the local field
who stands out prominently above his
rivals.
Under the circumstances it would
certainly tend to clear the air if the
boards discussions could be overheard
as 1T were, by the public. Here is Il
place where neither politics nor re-
iigion should be allowed to enter. The
terms of human life and Americanism
For the board to come out in the open
and say to the mothers and fathers of
the city, Here are the men we are
considering; here are the reasons we
favor this or that one,' would, at least
be a guarantee of good faith.
mo one wants to criticise the mo-
tives of this board in advance. The
charge that any board would prove
merely partisan in such matter as
this is altogether too serious to be
lightly made. But, after all, the pres
ent board is for the most part COM
der so important decision as this. It
is possible that, even with the best in
tentions in the world, it might err in
its selection through inexperience. If
it should so err, after having all it's de-
liberatiOns Of q star-chamber nature,
the implications might make its future
life uncomfortable in variety of
ways.
dence, on the other hand, would be to
obviate this possibility. 1t would be
really is actuated by disinterested and
high minded motives as we all hope
and believe it to be-and which are in
dispensable to proper solution of this
Wider Power for School Head
AS special point in this connection
Mr.. Tiff dwelt upon the enlarged
powers which the new Superintendent
of Schools will have.
"Mr. Maxwell had great deal OF
power" said he, "but, with the smaller
Board of Education, and operating un-
der the new charter, his successor will
have even wider sway, and will have
to be q man of correspondingly big
gauge If we are not to get into trou.
BILE. Is there such a man among the
present assistant city superintend-
ents?
The consensus Of authoritative edu-
catlonal opinion seems pretty we'll per
suaded that there is not.
"In Dr.. Maxwell" said former Pres
1dent Wilcox, In explanation Of this
"New York had superintendent oil
notably forceful, dominant personality
That sort of man makes an excellent
leader, an ideal type to get things
done; to build up system and insure
cohesion and drive. On the other hand
by the very force of his leadership, he
often fails to stimulate qualities of
leadership in others. He Yields them
into the scheme of his machine. He
makes them efficient instruments for
the application of his policy. To thar
extent, their real value to his sys-
tenn lies not at all in their ability to
originate, not in the least in their
powers of creation, but simply in their
pre-arranged schedule.
"That," continued Mr.. Wilcox, "is the
sort of situation with which we are con-
fronted in New York to-day. The pres
ent staff is composed Of men and
women who have in just this fashion
been fitting into a system, who have
been schooled as instruments rather
than as creators. and who have not,
therefore, had an opportunity to DEM
onstrate their power Of leadership or
their ability to administer the New
York schools,
"That none of them is conspicuously
fitted for this position, however, the
survey of opinions from disinteres sted
educators published by The Tribune
last Sunday seems to indicate, This
being the general opinion in educa-
tional circles, it would certainly seem
wise to look elsewhere before reach
ing decision--for the school system
OF New York City cannot afford to en-
trust such power and responsibility
to any but the best man available"
Churchill Defends Board
10 this statement of the case there
was only one dissenting opinion from
all those interviewed by The Tribune
This came from Thomas w. Churchill
president of the Board of Education
through some Of it's stormiest periods
from 1913 to 1916.
"Certainly the Board of Education
should give careful consideration to
any suggestion that the public, through
proper channels, cares to give it," said
ne. Certainly the board should hold
itself free from dictation from any spe.
clal interest of any sort. But, having
SAID that, no one has right to 90 on
and say that there is no man now
within the school systems who is Fl,
Tor the job OF superintendent, That
statement IS not SO. On the contrary
there is not one of the present assis..
tant city superintendents but is cana.
Bile OF filling the higher place. And one
OF them should have it. 1t is fit and
proper that faithful service within the
system-such as they have all given
should be rewarded when the chance
comes: 10 say that the elevation OF
one on OF tnem would be unfortunate and
unworthy and untrue" '>
ASKED II ne considered that either
Dr. Shallow or DR.. Ettinger-the two
men who have been frequently spoken
OF as the choice of Mayor Hylan, anc
who are understood to be seriousl,
considered by. the >board-was of :
cal'bre equal to the appointment, Mr.
Churchill replied most empnaticall,
that he did.
Either one Of them," declared he
would give us school administrator
that would be a credit to the CITY,"
Shallow and Ettinger Opposed
Many former presidents of the Boare
Of Education, who have worked viii
all the present aspirants to the CITY su
perlntendency and quite appreciate tn,
good points of all of them, arc loatf
to go far into personalities. AS rule
they prefer simply to say that the,
DO not feel any of these men are quite
up to the standard demanded-and tt
let 1t 60 at that. DR.. McMurray. how
ever, university man, whose work lie.
outside the New York school system. ir
response to Mr.. Churchill's claim, re-
| Dlied.