New-York tribune., 1919-01-06

"A catastrophe would ensue If an at
tempt were made TO operate the public
school system in accordance with the
financial limitations established in the
hudret conditions by the Board OF Es-
innate. This is the startling language
ussd by the Superintendent of Schools.
Dr. William 7. EttiNger. in q letter to
the Board ot Education on December
50 last. which accompanied memoran-
dun made by the auditor OF the Board
Of Education, Henry r. N. Cook.
1T is for you to consider" continues
the Superintendent, whether or not
you are prepared to surrender the
principle that the educational needs cf
the children are TO determine school
policies 1t is mconeeivablc that you
would not resist vigorously any attempt
Of the Board of Estimate to restrain
your educational policies by the terms
and conditions Of this financial straight
jacket
Since Dr. Ettinger was elected City
Superintendent last May, with the ac-
tive support OF the Mayor over the op-
position Of the President of the Board
OF Education, it is apparent that n
principle which he considers vital to
the schools is in question.
What Is thaU principle? That the
educational experts, the board of
superintendents, shall control the
purely pedagogical work OF tire
schools, being checked only by the
veto power OF the Board of Education
Experience Set at Naught
II The city officers, over the heads
of both the superintendents and the
Board of Education, can dictate the
school policies by fixing, 10 Il cent,
how much may be paid each month
for each particular kind of teacher
hitting some subjects and forbiddng
others, then not only is the state cduca-
ton law nulliied. but the advice and
experience Of all educational authori-
ties are set at naught.
Under the law the Board Of Educa-
tion has the absolute disposal for 1919
Of the product OF 40 mills on the real
and personal property liable to taxa
ton III 1918, which product amounts
to S42'O96, 1853. Further, it can count
upon receiving, during the year about
S2,40o,000 from the state. its right to
which the Board of Estimate is now
contesting in the courts. But the
Board Of Estimate refuses to recog-
nlze the law and has attached to its
budget grant an elaborate set of
"terms and conditions' which the
president of the board informed the
Mayor on November Is at would be
impossible to adhere to without dis
organizing the entire educational sys-
tenn
Since the Controller may refuse to
honor the payrolls unless the schools
are administered as directed and the
letter of President Somcrs has pro
duced no notifications. either some
higher power must be invoked to un-
bind the "strait-jacket" or disorganiza-
ton viii ensue, accompanied by the ey-
olusion of children from school and
failure to pay teachers and ianitors.
Drastic Remedy Threatened
So drastic a remedy as summoning
the State Department to take charge of
the schools under the legal powers
provided fer such emergencies is un-
Ger consideration by school officers.
Inc auditor instancea the following
as examples of the destructive condi
tons imposed BY the budget: No
teacher may be appointed TO till va
cancy existing on January l, 1919, or
occurring during the year, except with
the consent of the Board of Estimate.
10 make that still clearer the Board
OF Estimate, on December 80. required
the Board Of Education to transmit to
1t as soon as possible statement Of
vacancies existing on January 1. AS
about 1000 vacancies occur durinr the
year, which the Board of Superintend-
ents has been accustomed to fill from
eligible lists upon the formal approval
OF the Board of Education, endless de-
lays and disputes are likely TO arise if
each appointment must be sanctioncd
by twelve votes Of the Board OF EST
mate
For the teaching of each subject in
the high schools a fixed sum is ap-