The New York herald., 1922-03-01
BOARD EDUCATION
FIGHTS MEYER BILL
Members Testify at Albany
Hearing Their Body Is
Free From Politics.
CONSPIRACY CHARGED
Measure Declared to Strip
New York City of Con-
trolling Schools.
HILAN HEARS SPEECHES
Acting Chairman Ryan AS
serts He Is OH Track of Arch
ConspiratOrs.
HlLAN HEARS SPEECHES
Special Dispatch 70 THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
lh..r. IraI, DO


The New York Board of Education
is free from politics and has accom-
/ plished more for the schools Of New
York than any OF it's predecessors,
members Of the body declared to-day
at hearing before the Senate Educa-
tion Committee on the Meyer bill Gre
ating board of fifteen to be appointed
by the Mayor and the members of the
State Board of Regents residing III the
city.
Opponents insisted that the measure
was unnecessary and the result OF
propaganda TO strip New York city
of the control Of its schools. They
charged that politics was behind the
bill. answering arguments of its ad-
vocates that It would drive politics out
of the city's schools.
Mayor Hylan attended the hearing
and showed keen interest whenever the
names of Clarence Meleny and William
McAndrews. the recently reelected asso-
ciate saperintendents were mentioned.
Fair Treatment Wanted.
IAN we want is fair treatment" said
George ]. Ryan, acting chairman OF the
Board OF Education. stop all this prop
aganda. The proof that il is smolts
screen covering up some interest group,
was evidenced ten days ago when Me-
lcny and McAndrews were reelected in
the face Of all the hue and cry that they
were to be thrown out l am going to
trace down the archconspirators. This
bill is the outcome Of their propaganda.
We are going to nail some Of the great
I ANS sitting by and trying to get
away with it,
Edward Mandell, district euperin-
tendent. representing the Federation OF
Teachers Associations. charged that the
motive behind the bill was to take away
control Of the schools from the city.
Many opponents OF the bill said they
would favor an elective school board.
but Mrs. Cora L. Magncss. executive sec
retary Of the local school board. one OF
it's advocates replied that many OF the
people OF New York had the intelligence
Of children OF 8 and were not educated
In American ideas.
II doubt IL II would he wise to trust
them,' she said.
Mrs. Magness's Charge.
Mrs. Magness charged that the schools
were steadily getting worse. that little
money was being spent on them, and in
answer 10 Mr.. Ryan. declared the pres
ent school board knew so little about
school affairs that it was absolutely
negative.
Speaking against the bin Harry r.
Chambers, a member OF the Board OF
Education. said the New York city
school systenfswith It's 100000 pupils,
$4,000 teachers and 500 schools was the
greatest in the world and that IL there
is anything wrong the state Regents
have the power to correct It. He said
the representatives OF the $4,000 teach
ers had come TO Albany TO oppose the
bill and denied that any Of the Board
OF Education could be called political
sppointees He particularly opposed the
provision abolishing the Board of Super
intendents.
DR.. Henry Berg. representing tax pay
ers, Mr. Rabineaux, president OF the
Principals Association Aiming 5. Prall.
former chairman OF the Board Of Edu-
cation; Miss Nichol. secretary OF the
Federation OF Teachers Associations, and
Peter A. Brady or the State Federation
OF Labor aieo opposed the bill.
Among those who spoke for the bill
besides Mrs. Magness were Howard w.
Nudd, secretary Of the Public Educa-
tion Association Harry c. Lewis OF
the Citizens Union, Mrs. Marion y.
Kelly OF the Womcn's Municipal
League. William NJ. Chadbolrne OF the
Public Education Association. Mrs.
James Russell Parsons Of the local
school boards and the Rev. Albert u.
Roraback OF the Federation Of Churches
OF Brooklyn. Mr. Chadbourne insisted
that the New York schools we're in bad
shane because OF the system rather than
the shortcomings of any OF the city
offcialS