New-York tribune., 1922-02-26
Citizens Back
Meyer Bill to
Save Schools
Need of Il Merit System to
Eliminate I'avori,ism and
Influence in Promotion
of Staff Members Shown
Plan 10 Fix Authority
Measure Praised for Aim
10 End Delay in Ercc-
lion Of School Buildings


The bill by Senator Schuyler NJ
Meyer to take the city's school system
out Of llylan- n-IIcarst-Tammany political
domination by making it independent
Of the city administration is indorsed
in statement issued yesterday by tho
Public Education Association, a citi-
zens' organization.
The association recently held pub
lie forum at Town Hall, at which both
those opposing the measure and spon-
sorlng il were heard, and in the course
of the argument by Comptroller Craig
against the bill the audience gave way
TO Kisses when he accused the admins
tration officials and teachers in the
school system of being responsible for
existing conditions. Under the caption
Crucial Qucstions.' the association S
statement says in part:
"What arc the merits OF tho Meyer
Ulman bill 90 The answer to tho cues
ton involves careful consideration OF
the tout fundamental points in the
measure Tho first point Is, should
the merit system be cXtcndcd in the
sch hoois'
Favoritism Is Dcplorcd
"Ihc bill requires that all positions
in the teaching and supervisory stAtf
with the exception of superintendent
and assistant supcgintoudcnts, be filled
from eligible lists prepared by the
Board of Examiners. One Of the most
deadoning influences IN Il huge staff
like that in our city schools is the
feeling that advancement is possible
not primarily because Of fitness and
enthusiasm for service, but because of
influence or iayortism Of enc sort or
another
"Thc second point is, Should full OK
ccutive esponsiblity for the admins-
traton Of the schools be vested in The
Superintendent Of Schools? The bill
does exactly that by making the pres
ont associate supeYintondents his as
sistants and placing full possibility
for their acts upon him. 1t makes him
the single agent Of the Board of Ndu-
cation in carrying out its policies and
gives him complete supervision over all
employees of the system, except the
secretary of the board and his secrc-
taria staff and the board Of examiners
in respect to their statutory powers.
Not only the Board Of Educntion, but
the pubic, VIII be able to place re
sponsiblity for success or failure
whore it belongs, and The supcrintcnd
oot VIII he able to be Il real leader in
the schools TO degree that has here
toforc been impossible.
"The third point is Should tho
Board of Education have control Of all
funds provided for school purposes
The bill, with great cxplicitness, does
this. Not only does this eliminate the
cause of many of the present unfortu-
nate conflicts between the school and
city authorities and Of much OF the in
defonsiblc delay in erecting school
buildings and in carrying on the york
OF the schools, but it centers respon
sibility in single head of the system
the Board Of Education
High Character of Board
"Thc fourth point is, should the
Board Of Education be appointed by
d commission comprising the Mavor
and the resident regents? In order
that the foregoing power and control
granted the Board Of Education NAV
be exercised most widely. it is essen
tial that the personnel of tho board
be of a high character and that no
lltlcal domination or influence be re-
duced to a minimum
The statement says go ono can