New-York tribune., 1919-06-15
Ettingger Says He
Isn't Worried bv
"Mayor's Barrage''
Tells New York Principals at
Dinner He Will Not Enter
Controversy With Execu-
tive and Prefers ''Ouiet
Sector''

DR.. William L. Ettinger, superinten-
dent of schools, replying to the attack
made upon him by Mayor Hylan in
letter to Aiming S. Prall, president of
the Board of Education, yesterday, told
the New York Principals Association,
at it's dinner at the Hotel Astor last
night, that he is not much perturbed
by the Mayors "barrage." DR.. Ettinger
paraphrased a story told by the late
Mayor Gaynor\in reply to attacks in
the course of his administration. The
story concerned young husband who
suffered much from the temper of his
wife, and, when asked by friend how
he could stand it, replied:
whats the use. 1t amuses her and
it doesn't hurt me-"
THAT is my feeling" said Dr. Ettn-
GER" about the terrible barrage from
the trenches on the other side of the
bridge. Thank God, I am in a quiet
sector tonight"
Earlier in the evening DR.. Ettinger
made the following statement for the
press:
There is no particular reason why
I should enter into any controversy
with the Mayor. The merits of the sit
uation have long since been proved. I
do not wish to put myself on q public
platform. Just let it go at that and
beyond I have nothing to say"
Against Anti-Americans
In his address to the school princi-
pals DR.. Ettinger emphasized the ne
cessity of roofing out anti-American
teachers and teaching from the public
schools and called upon the principals
to join in the work. He said:
IL have no patience with the teacher
who says that he or she has one set of
principles to deliver to the public
during the time spent in school and
another set of principles to preach at
some other time-principle which
are not in harmony with our American
institutions. Such a teacher is false
to the duties of the teaching profes-
sion. Is it not true that whatever
teacher does or says after he leaves
school has its influence upon his
pupils? 1t is your duty to make clear
to such teachers that they are false
to their duties when they give vent
to opinions which are not in harmony
with our great American institutions
and ideals?
81 do not think tlsat there are more
than twenty or thirty Of such in
the whole school system, and l think
they are the vocalizers of the pro-
fession. But be they few or many,
it is our duty to root them out of
the system. Our children must be
taught that these institutions of ours,
the product of growth and develop
ment, won often at great cost, are too
sacred to be overthrown at the be-
hest of those who are not in harmony
with the ideals of the schools. and
that our institutions contain within
themselves the seeds of growth and
progress, so that the changes that may
be appear necessary in them are not
matters of revolution, but matters
of orderly attainment
A similar note was struck by the
other speakers at the dinner DR.. John
II. Finley, State Commissioner of Edu-
cation; DR.. Hugh S. McGill, field secre-
tary of the National Educational Asso-
citation, and Mrs. Archibald Shaw
principal of the Hamilton Institute for
Girls. The Rev. James Cairns, of Win
chester, England, spoke on British edu-
catlonal ideals and praised highly the
American school system.
What the Mayor Wrote
Mayor Hylan's letter to Mr.. Prall, re-
ferred to by Mr.. Ettinger, read:
81 note that Superintendent Ettin-
ger, who is anxious to have the Legis-
lature increase his salary by $4,000,
which the Board of Estimate and APP
portlonment opposed, is attempting to
give the public the impression that
the Board Of Estimate and App ort;on-
mcnt is opposed to keeping open the