New-York tribune., 1922-04-06
Miss O'Connell
New Brooklyn
School Director
Succeeds Mrs. Forsythe as
District superintendent;
Board and Craig Clash
Over Special Salaries
Court Action Threatened
Bronx Parents File Protest
on Crowding;Say Children
Are Taught in Dark Cellar

The Board of Education at busy
session yesterday afternoon appointed
Miss Margaret F. O'Connel, former
principal Of Public School ITO, Man
haitian, a district superintendent for
Brooklyn, to succeed Mrs. Grace
Strachan Forsythe, who in January last
was made an associate superintendent,
Miss O'Connell's appointment. was rec
commended by the Board of Superin-
tendents and several members of the
board took advantage of the oppor-
tunity to express appreciation of the
new district superintendent's qua!ifica-
tions for the position.
A feature Of the meeting which was
not on the printed schedule was the
presentation to Arthur +. Somers, for
mer president of the board. who has
been connected with educational work
in the city for thirty years, of an en-
graved testimonial, morocco bound,
given him by the other members Of the
board. The testimonial was handed to
Mr.. Somers by George j. Ran, the act
ing president, who eulogized Somers's
work on behalf Of the schools OF the
city.
Compares Work to Ministry
Replying Mr.. Somers said that he
considered his educational work as
sacred trust and as grave responsl-
bility as he would consider his work to
be had he been ordained to the minis
try, and declared that he had never
in his thirty years experience come
across any person in educational work
in New York who was not actuated by
genuine desire to give faithful serv-
ice to the school children Of the city.
The prospect Of another tilt over
finances between the Board and Comp
troller Craig was opened in report
submitted by superintendent Ettinger
just before the Board adjourned, which
showed that the Comptroller had re-
fused to pay the salaries Of a number
of specialist instructors in the me-
chanical classes of Stuyvcsant High
School. The Comptroller's report said
that no provision for these salaries had
been made in the budget. Superin-
tendent Ettinger Indignantly said that
such provision was clearly made, and
that the Comptroller had "no shadow
Of authority" for withholding payment
of these salaries. He urged that the
Board of Education definitely estab-
lish its authority and protect its digni-
ty. The matter. he added, was urgent.
and the teachers were much disturbed
over the prospect of being kept in
definitely without their pay.
Court Action Suggested
Acting President Ryan appointed A.
S. Somers, M. Samuel Stern and Harry
b. Chambers as q special committee to
investigate the matter and report back
to the board. Mr.. Chambers remarked
that "if the Comptroller holds to his
stand, as previous experience indicates
he may do,' the only alternatives
would be an appeal to the Corporation
Counsel for a ruling on the legal
aspect of the case. or for the teach ers
affected personally to take mandamus
proceedings against the Comptroller.
Acting President Ryan said he thought
the Comptroller would consent to pay
the amounts due when the situation
had been explained to him.
School overcrowding in the Bronx
brought delegation of citizens to the
meeting, with Alderman James NJ.
Fitzpatrick as their spokesman. The
particular district affected is that at
present served by Public School No.
12, Bronx, at Benson and Frisby
avenues. The school, according to
Commissioner Chambers, who cham
pioned the cause of the protestants
on the board, has already eight more
classes than it properly can accommo-
date. Alderman Fitzpatrick said that
classes were being held in the cellar
Of the school, which is an old building,
used as school prior TO consolida ton,
| and in those "classrooms" the only
! lighting is by gas jet. The matter was
referred to the building committee
with a request for speedy report