Evening star., 1927-09-12

Chicago's school controversy, which
began with the accusation from
Mayor Thompson that Supt. Nc
Andrew was a "stool pigeon OF King
George" and wound up with the
charge of insubordination against the
school head, is appraised with practl-
cal unanimity by the American press as
a drive to turn the schools over to
political machine. Removal of the
superintendent has been ordered by
the school board, but the mltter is
pending in court.
"Of serious nature Is the effect Of
this conduct upon the children, and
thereby upon the future not only or
the city itself, but Of the State and the
upper Mississippi region" declares the
Springfield Illinois State Journal. "A
community that has no more regard
for it's own welfare than to permit
without protest it's schools and its
children to be exploited for the politi-
cal and selfish interests of ignorant
men and women intrusted with brief
power cannot be said to be worthy OF
the privilege of self-government."
OF the superintendent the New York
Evening World says: "All of the
charges made against him are false,
and these pro- British charges are so
ridiculously false as to make a fool
grin. But Thompson now has a sub
servient Board of Education, and it
has the power to throw down the
superintendent for any cause, and
Thompson wants him thrown down
and out for his own political comfort
and aggrandizement. That is pretty
near the whole story. Happily, DIR.
McAndrew is not going to fall without
a fight, as Chicago's demagogic mayor
may learn later on"
X y Il +
The Fort Wayne News-Sentinel ex-
claims, Its a shame, but-oh. well.
the people usually get about the kind
of government they have coming to
them, although it's pity that school
children have to pay for the ignorance,
the prejudice and the folly Of certain
absurd adults.' The Buffalo Evening
News says that during the time
Thompson was out of office the schools
were taken out Of politics. 'He is de-
termined to reattach them to his polit-
ical machine" the News adds. HE
is going to make the Department of
Education serve him. not the children
of Chicago. II he has his way, he
will more than ever shame the city"
The Chicago Daily News, citing the
conclusion of the mayors investiga-
ton that mo existing American school
history is suited to Chicago's needs"
and that "a history therefore should
be specially written" remarks, Here
is a profitable contract waiting for
some 100-per-cent American who can
make the grade under ruminative and
calculating eyes in the Chicago city
hail." The Chicago Tribune declares
that "the raid on the teaching of his
tory in our schools must be resisted"
and that there Is yet to be found any,
body siding with the mayor, 'who has
standing either as educator or his
torian."
"McAndrew's removal seems to be
accepted as return to the old politi-
cal spoils system" in the opinion of
the GAINESVILLE Gazette, "and the school
board Is to be used by Mayor Thomp-
son as a part of his machine" The
Watertown Daily Times suggests that
"the Chicago school children are going
to be reared on Bill Thompson's politi-
cal catechism." but that paper adds:
why blame Thompson? He is a
shrewd politician and he knows the
art Of ballyhoo. The fault is with the
people Of Chicago who fell for him."
1Ac dttdSh, stdteS the bTOOkIyH
Daily Eagle, "renews to general at
tention the quality of the opposition
to DR.. McAndrew. 1t represents the
viciousness and malevolence Of those
who resent efficiency. intelligence and
decency in the conduct of public
schools. and who believe that those in.
stitutions should be run on a political
basis for the benefit of the politicians
and their friends" The Newark Eve
ming News, referring to the basis of
the matter as "charlatanry," holds
that DIR. McAndrew does not deserve
to be made the victim of the cheapest
kind Of municipal politics"
II 4
''The fight would be laughable II
the public could see 1t in it's true
Light says the Louisville Courier