Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-13
SCHOOL HEAD DELAY
IS HIT BY CATHERINE
RoWen, Also Tired Of Bicker.
ings, Wants Action-Beeber
Losing Patience
ISSUE IS UP TOMORROW

anamakpr and DINNER BeeDer. OF Tue
special committee on superintendent
Of the Board Of Education TO ask for a
postponement in the selection OF a
school superintendent at tomorrow 4
meeting Of the board. Joseph W. Cath
crime and William Rowen. other mem.
bers Of the committee. say they will
force fight for a decision.
This petty sQuabbling and bicker.
Ing is enough TO exhaust the patience OF
anybody" said Mr.. Catherine. out
side NJ the fact that il is annoying, it
gives critics Of the board a real oppor.
tunity 10 find fault and at the same
time is working real harm TO the
public school system Of the city.
These constant disagreements and
chickering's have caused no end Of dis.
sension and discomfort among the
teachers and administrators of the sys.
TO put the system in a demoraliIed CON
dition.
when a committee was appointed to
End man fitted to give the schools
here q real progressive administration
the idea then was TO find the best man
available for the post and to comb the
country for him. A country wide
search revealed the names Of ten men
With splendid records. They were con
eeded BY educators all over the country
70 be the pick OF the field and sll well
qualified To give the city the kind OF a
constructive administration il needs.
Bickerinss Reduced List
"All Of these men at the time were
willing TO come to this city, especially
as it was agreed TO increase the salary
from $4,000 to $4,000. But the bicker-
inEs OF several members Of the board.
who were determined to have the men
they wanted, rather than dispassion-
ateiy to consider who was best fitted for
the post. gradually reduced the list Of
men available. who preferred to remain
where they were with harmony than
come where there was discord.
Now matters have come TO a point
where action Of any kind Is better than
no action at all.
There still remain for consideration
two members Of the original list formu.
Endorsement Of educators oil over the
country. DR.. Edward c. Broome,
superintendent Of schools Of East
Orange, n. j.. and Or. Charles L.
Meek. superintendent Of schools Of
Madison. Wis. are both available and
cannot see why II should be neces.
sarY to want TO make any further search.
Both men have made enviable records.
'Simon Graft. despite the fact that
he was for DR.. Chee.man Herrick, took
. manly and admirable stand when be
found a large number Of board mem.
bevs opposed to DR.. Hcrrick. IL we
cannot elect DR.. Herrick.' he said, let
US then get together on another good
man He stated that any Of the re-
naming candidates was satisfactory to
him.
Outsider Could Overcome Prejudices
II personally have taken from the
start the attitude that the best man zee
could get should be brought to this city.
For that purpose the salary was raised
and now the board stands ready to
increase the tenure of office from oil.
to four years. This would make it
possible for the man selected 10 plan
and carry out an effective administra-
tive program.
"Ot the new members Of the list pre-
pared. only one man stands out as com.
pairing with the orig nal list. and that is
Fred Hunter. superintendent OF schools
Of Oakland Calf. In view Of What
happened to DR.. Wilson. fear he
would be but one moro educator TO add
70 the humiliation of the city by de.
clinips 10 be considered for the post"
Mr.. Rowen was emphatic in condemn
ing any further delay.
''It seems to me-" said Mr.. Roven.
that The time has come for us 10 stou
fooling and get down 10 the business
Of elect!ns q new school chief. ".
have birkered for nearly eight months
now without any result
In the meantime the school system
is limping along on tentative basis.
~ NkA
called since the last board meeting and
! don't know what the others bay.
In mind, but, for my part. want 10 see
action.
Men Here Good Enough
"Ws have people 10 Philadelphia good
enough for the post, Besides Dr.. Her.
rick We have DR.. John l.. HanAy, nct-
Ing president OF the Central High
School, and DR.. Fred Gowins, principal
of the Girls High School. not 20 men.
Wtst Phiisdelphia High School for
Boys, who has asked for the post. -
Mr.. Beeber said that he and Mr..
wanamaksr wanted q postponenent 10
Insure electing the best man possible.
He wants to eliminate those prsvtSssly
considered and choose q man from the
new lise.
II am getting tired Of all this fight.
ing" said Mr.. Beeber. The other
members OF the board seem to want
to pick their oWu men. am wasting
Q good deal OF time on this matter and
my patience Is nearly exhausted.
members OF the board do not seem n
be able TO agree on any Of the men who
have been named. ! would Ike 10 see
sctiop, too, but don't believe you can
Ese IL the wsy things stand now.
The men named in the new list sre
Fred W. Wright, deputy commissioner
of education Of Massachusetts,; John NJ.
Withers, superintendent Of schools ot
st. Louis; william McArdrew asEo.
'iats superintendent Of schools Of Now
York: Or. Julian A. G. Chandler.
professor at william and Mary Col.
l.Ee and formerly superintendent Of
schools Of Richmond, Va. Mr.. Hunter,
Enos q. Scot, superintendent ~
schools ~ Trenton, \. j.; s. y.
WCb~r, superintendent Of schools OF
Pittsburgh.
Broome or HerriCk Have Chance
1t is considered likely that the chief
contenders for the post at tomorrow
meeting will be DR.. Broome and Dr.
Herrick
Dr. Herrick has not definitely ad.
mitted his withdrawal satisfying him.
self with the comment. II have nothing
10 say. Any statement must come from
the office Of the Board of Education" "
Representatives Of local instructors
will attend the meeting to urge the
selection Of the local asprants-Dr.
Heyl and DR.. Schoch.
II was suggested today that in event
OF failure TO reach a decision at to-
moTroR'k Meeting IhAt q citiznna' cnrn