New-York tribune., 1922-12-18
Miss McCoOey's
.ChoicebyScllool
.BOardCensured
=. +. A. Terms Appointment
of B'kyn Boss Sister as
Associate Superintendent
Plain Political Selection
Cause for Public Concern
Advocates Legislative
Changes to "Insure Ex-
ercise of Merit System"

The Public Education Association
issued statement yesterday attacking
the appointment by the Board Of Edu-
cation last Wednesday OF Miss Mar.
garet j. McCoocy az kssoc;ate Super
irtendent Of Schools, % Gil the vacancy
caused by the death Of Mrs. Grace
Straehan Forsythe. Miss McCoOey Is
q sister o. John n. McCooey, the
Brooklyn Tammany leader, and Il is
intimated that political considerAtions
had much 20 do with her choice for tho
position.
The association, through its director.
Howard W. Nudd, asserts that BY its
action the board certainly did not dis
pei the widespread belief that political
factors would figure In the appoint.
iaent. II adds that In a few months
three additional associate supcrintend-
ents arc 20 be chosen, and that II Miss
McCooey's appointment Is an indica-
ton Of the standards the board would
follow IN filling these posts there Us
cause for grave public concern. Il
says further that under the cireum-
stances drastic legislative changes
would be necessary to insure the
proper exercise Of the merit system
and provide a Board OF Education
which will not betrsy the public conf
dence.
"0thers Better Qualified
"The Board Of Education did not
make clear" reads the statement in
part, why this particular appointment
| should have been made when there
were other persons obviously better
qualified. The failure Of tho board to
| present concrete comparison Of the
relative qualifications Of the numerous
persons under consideration and 20
point out the specific determining fac
tors which led u 10 make its final
choice was not a very effective way TO
| dispel belief I'm the dominance Of po-
litical considerations.
within the next few months three
associate superintendents will retire
because Of aRe-Dr. Sinner In Feb
ruary, DR.. Walsh In March and DR..
/ meleney in December, 1923. n the ap-
! pointment which was made on Wcdnes-
I day ia any indication Of the standards
which the Board Of Education will ap.
/ ply IN filling these posts, there is real
cause for grave public concern. II the
board cannot Of It's own yolition apply
the standards which should be applied,
then drastic legislative changes are
necessary 20 insure the proper eTer-
else OF the merit system and TO provide
a Board Of Education which will not
betray the public confidence.
"In view OF the controversial char
acter Of the discussion OF this appoint
ment and OF similar appointments In
the past. II Is obvious that better
method Of selecting persons for posi-
tions Of high Importance must be de-
yised.
"To save the Board Of Education
hereafter from charges OF personal or
political prcferment, the odministra-
| tive machinery Of the school system
should provide for the cumulative
gathering Of data regarding persons
eligible for appointment 10 positions
where eligible lists prepared from
competitive examinations arc not re-
quircd, in order that there may. be al.
Vays available a descriptive list OF
competent persons for the vacancies
| that may occur.
Eliminate Scramble
"Thore should be no occasion for The
/ hssty gathering OF Impressions from
/ this source or that, nor Tor an atmoa-
! pherc Of secrecy which IL bound 10
breed suspicion. This would be o
much more dlgnihed method Of pro-
cedure than at present Bnd would elm
/ inate the necessity Of general
scramble for jobs. which must be very
| distasteful 20 persons OF real ability
and self.respect. Indeed, II Is well
know fact that many Of the best quail
/ fed persons in the system refuse 10
cheaper themselves by becoming car.
. didaies for positions which they would
I be highly competent 20 m ane for
which. under proper circumstance
/ they should be seriously considered.
| The hollowness OF the present method
Of selection Is witnessed By the fact