New Britain herald., 1928-01-11
SCHOOL BOARD BARS
 POLITICS, RELIGION.
Sscy. Bur Amvas Critics Of
 noddn Mlcation SIstan

Politics and religion play no part in the routine of work which the school board accomplishes because members elect officers who are best fitted regardless Of their religion and political afKiliation." Secretary Henry T. Burr of the school committee told 15O members of the New Britain Woman's club at . meeting yester- day afternoon at the chapel of the First Congregational church.
 This statement was made In an- swer to . criticism of republican members of the board for allowing a democrat as president and q demo- crat as chairman of the school ac- subcommittee. An other point brought out by MT. Burr in his talk on ''Schools and Critics" was against people who have ap- preached him criticizing the board for letting a contract to | Catholic.
 The school board never takes into consideration the religion of . per- son regardless of whether he is to be named as teacher. or is to be named as an agent of tho school committee in any way" the board secretary said. He said he. repub- lican and a Protestant, President King. a democrat and a Catholic: and Superintendent Holmes, make up the personnel of the teachers 
 MT. King and I, as school board naturally have the great est power on the committee, but we could never say of the other that he brought politics or religion into his decisions. Occasionally person is elected to tho board who has poli- tics uppermost in his mind, but he is either converted in time or he folds up his tent like the Arabs and silently steals away
 When I was elected to the board five years ago, there was a man at the head of 1t who was g democrat. Judge Gaffney was there, not be- cause of political affiliations, but because he was the best man for the position. When he resigned We elected Mir. King. a democrat be- cause he was the best man fitted for the place." Mir. Burr declared.
 Politics and Religion
 MT. Burr's talk, in part follows:
 schools touch us in two im- portant places-our children and our pocketbooks. The best way to de- g democratic government is to note the criticism of the people. Public servants will not attempt to be your bosses if you take their work in a tolerant and good natured spirit.
 Some time ago a person came to me and said: It seems to me that you republican members of the school committee are asleep at the switch. You let the democrats have the chairmanship of the board and of the school accommodations com mittee while the republicans have nothing
 "A person showed me the news paper recently which stated that . contract had been let to a certain concern. He said: Another Catho- lie gets the contract. It seems to me that they get all the contracts from the school board. What is with the Protestant mem- bers3'
 Tn my live years on the board I have never seen any Of the entire boards movements made as a result oe o ,cI+ioo1 Ur n1iuinu. VI, oyovu onf
 "On the teachers committee are myself. a Protestant and 8 repub- lican: MT. King. & Catholic and a and Mr. Holmes. Occas- ionally We have persons who come on the board with political notions in their minds.
 Sometimes persons come to mem- bers of the board requesting that a certain teacher be appointed and often parents come to me asking that their child be transferred to . school in another district. In the case of the teacher the best fitted is appointed and the best encourage ment can give is to tell the people I will present their names after which an investigation will take place.
 Confidence in Supt. Holmes
 "Often do l hear: You board members let the superintendent run things while you sit back This criticism is justified to certain ex- tent. for 1t Is the boards intention that the superintendent conduct the