THE ELi;CT|10N Ul 
 WILLIAM; Hf llAXWELL «« 
 riT^ SUPERINTENDENT 
 
 ■/ S(p:HQ^'^ EMERITUS. 
 rillt CIT^ ui NEW YORK 
 
 K/^^ 
 
 \. 
 
PRINTED BY THK B0I8 OF THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL 
 
 Fifth Avenue and 138 St.. N. Y. 
 
^>^ THE ELECTION OF 
 WILLIAM H. MAXWELL «« 
 CITY SUPERINTENDENT 
 of SCHOOLS EMERITUS, 
 THE CITY OF NEW YORK 
 
 1918 
 

 OCT 
 
 : ^^ JD, 
 
 19 
 
 i9lB 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Prefatory letter _________ 3 
 
 Act of the Legislature _______ 5 
 
 Address of the President of the Board of 
 
 Education _________ 9 
 
 Action of the Board of Education _ _ _ _ 15 
 
 Minute of the Board of Education _ _ _ 19 
 Resolution of the Board of Estimate and 
 
 Apportionment ________ 25 
 
 Minutes and Resolutions ______ 29 
 
 Letters_ ___________ 35 
 
 Editorial comments ________ 63 
 
Prefatory Letter 
 
 New York, March 4th, 1918. 
 To My Friends: 
 
 Owing to a protracted and severe illness, which 
 rendered necessary two serious surgical operations, I 
 found myself, at the beginning of the year 1918, with 
 my physical strength impaired to such an extent that I 
 felt unequal to performing adequately the duties of 
 Superintendent of Schools in The City of New York. 
 Hence, though I lacked four years of the statutory age 
 of compulsory retirement, {70), I applied, through 
 President Arthur S. Somers, to the Board of Education, 
 for retirement on such terms as that body should deem 
 appropriate. 
 
 The Board of Education, acting under a statute 
 passed in 1917 by the New York Legislature, granted 
 my request and unanimously elected me City Superin- 
 tendent of Schools Emeritus, at Jie full salary I had 
 been receiving as Superintendent of Schools, $10,000 
 per annum, for the duration of my life. This action 
 of the Board of Education was later unanimously ap- 
 proved by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. 
 
 Believing that you will share with me my gratitude 
 to the educational and financial authorities of The City 
 of New York, and that you will regard their action as 
 a tribute to the profession of teaching, I beg leave to lay 
 before you, in the accompanying pages, the formal pro- 
 ceedings taken by the various bodies involved, some of 
 the comments by leading newspapers and by educational 
 journals, and some representative letters and resolutions 
 of commendation selected frofn the great number I have 
 
 received. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 \ Hl^ic^A^ 
 
 City Superintendent of Schools Emeritus 
 
ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE 
 
Act of the Legislature creating the office of 
 
 City Superintendent of Schools Emeritus 
 
 for The City of Ncav York 
 
 Chapter 621 
 
 An Act to amend the Greater New York charter, 
 by creating the position of city superintendent of 
 schools emeritus. 
 
 Became a law May 22, 1917, with the approval 
 of the Governor. 
 
 Passed, three-fifths being present. Accepted by 
 the City. 
 
 The People of the State of New York, represented 
 in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: 
 
 Section 1. The Greater New York charter, as 
 re-enacted by chapter four hundred and sixty-six 
 of the laws of nineteen hundred and one, is hereby 
 amended by adding thereto a new section, to be 
 section ten hundred and seventy-nine-a, to read as 
 follows: 
 
 CITY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS EMERITUS 
 
 § 1079-a. The board of education is authorized 
 to appoint at any time a city superintendent of 
 
schools emeritus whose duty it shall be to consult 
 and advise with the educational officials as and when 
 necessary. No person shall be eligible for appoint- 
 ment as city superintendent of schools emeritus 
 unless he shall have served as city superintendent 
 of schools of the city of New York for at least fifteen 
 years. The city superintendent of schools emeritus 
 shall receive for the duration of his life such an 
 annual salary as the board of education and the board 
 of estimate and apportionment shall determine at 
 the time of his appointment, but he shall not receive 
 an annuity from the public school teachers' retire- 
 ment fund or any other pension fund of the city of 
 New York. The salary of the city superintendent 
 of schools emeritus shall be included each year in 
 the annual budget as part of the general school fimd. 
 § 2. This act shall take effect July first, nineteen 
 hundred and seventeen. 
 
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF 
 THE BOARD OF EDUCATION 
 
Address of Honorable Arthur S. Somers, 
 
 President of the Board of Education 
 
 of The City of Ne^v York, before 
 
 the Board of Education, 
 
 January 30, 1918 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: I desire today to 
 call your attention to a matter of such importance 
 that I believe it to be now controlling. 
 
 When this Board came into existence, it found 
 itself tace to face with the necessity for a complete 
 reorganization of various departments, for the pur- 
 pose of bringing the work formerly performed by a 
 larger Board within the scope of the Board as at pre- 
 sent constituted. In accepting the responsibility 
 imposed upon us, we declared for a definite adminis- 
 tration of the professional and business control of the 
 Department. We have been concerned with the 
 need for such control as will accomplish our ends, to 
 wit, the establishment of sound business practices 
 that will enable those charged with professional re- 
 sponsibilities to carry on the work of the schools, and 
 serve the best interests of our children. There is a 
 pressing need for a responsible administration of the 
 educational functions of this Department, and it is 
 to this need I wish to call attention. 
 
 11 
 
As you are aware, in April, 1915, Dr. William H, 
 Maxwell, City Superintendent of Schools, was strick- 
 en with a serious illness. Since that time he has 
 struggled with wonderful courage and vitality to 
 win back his full health and vigor. The previous 
 Board of Education extended to him every help, in the 
 hope that he might win the fight he was making. 
 From time to time he has been granted a leave of 
 absence, and returned to duty for brief periods only 
 to find himself unable to participate actively in the 
 management and conduct of his high office. 
 
 Dr. Maxwell recognizes that his gradual recovery 
 of health is too slow to warrant the expectation of 
 return to active service in the immediate future, and 
 he recognizes also that the work requires the presence 
 of an active and energetic man. 
 
 In 1917 the State Legislature passed a law em- 
 powering the Board of Education to elect a City 
 Superintendent of Schools Emeritus, to receive for 
 the duration of his life such an annual salary as the 
 Board of Education and the Board of Estimate and 
 Apportionment shall determine at the time of his 
 appointment. The time is at hand when I believe 
 that this Board should take advantage of the author- 
 ity vested in it by law to create this position and elect 
 Dr. Maxwell to fill it. 
 
 Dr. Maxwell has been Superintendent of Schools 
 since 1898, when the Greater City was created. Prior 
 to that time he served as Superintendent of Schools 
 of the City of Brooklyn. In all, he has served more 
 than thirty-five years in the Department of Educa- 
 
 12 
 
tion, and this extraordinary service is one of which 
 the City may well be proud. To him more than any 
 other man or woman is due the full measure of credit 
 for relieving the schools of political influence and 
 making possible the appointment of principals and 
 teachers from eligible lists in order of merit. He has 
 done more. His remarkable genius for administra- 
 tion made possible the centralization and reorgan- 
 ization of the public school system in 1902. He has 
 fought for many years for enriched schooling for the 
 children. He has developed manual training in- 
 struction, music, drawing, physical training, ungrad- 
 ed classes for the care of defective children, classes 
 for blind children, and other special subjects that will 
 long live as a credit to his wonderful and unselfish 
 force. He is responsible for the development of 
 secondary education in the City, for improved meth- 
 ods of training teachers, for better school buildings, 
 and for the creation of a public demand for proper 
 accommodation of children. 
 
 I might go on indefinitely and recite many fine 
 contributions he has made to public education. He 
 is entitled, because of what he has done in the interest 
 of public education, to the highest appreciation of 
 the citizens of our City, and I believe that, for what 
 he has given to our schools, his election as Superin- 
 tendent Emeritus at his present full salary will merit 
 enthusiastic approval. If elected to that position, he 
 will not sever his connection with the public schools. 
 We shall have the power, and I believe we shall ex- 
 ercise it, of calling upon him at any time for advice 
 
 13 
 
and help in the solution of important problems. It 
 is an honor well deserved by him, and a rare privilege 
 to be permitted to bestow upon one so worthy this 
 distinction of merit. 
 
 I therefore recommend, ladies and gentlemen, 
 that this Board now create the position of City Super- 
 intendent of Schools Emeritus, and that Dr. Maxwell 
 be elected to that position at full salary, in accordance 
 with the provisions of Law and subject to the ap- 
 proval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, 
 to take effect February Uth. 
 
 I recommend further that, if this be done, the 
 Board of Education designate an Associate Super- 
 intendent, as Acting Superintendent of Schools, and 
 that the Board immediately take under consideration 
 the question of selecting a Superintendent of Schools 
 to succeed Dr. Maxwell. 
 
 14 
 
ACTION OF THE BOARD OF 
 EDUCATION 
 
Action of The Board of Education 
 January 30, 1918 
 
 Mr. Ryan offered a motion that the position of 
 City Superintendent of Schools Emeritus, in accord- 
 ance with the provisions of Chapter 621 of the Laws 
 of 1917, be created, and that Dr. William H. Max- 
 well be elected to fill the position at an annual 
 salary of ten thousand dollars ($10,000), subject to 
 the concurrence of the Board of Estimate and Appor- 
 tionment. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Murray 
 and Mr. Yeska and was adopted unanimously. 
 
 17 
 
MINUTE OF THE BOARD OF 
 EDUCATION 
 
Minute Offered by the Honorable Frank D. 
 
 Wilsey, Chairman of Special Committee, 
 
 and Unanimously Adopted in the 
 
 Board of Education on March 
 
 twelfth, 1918 
 
 Dr. William H. Maxwell, Superintendent of 
 Schools, tendered his resignation to the Board of 
 Education to take effect on February eleventh last, 
 when he accepted appointment to the office of City 
 Superintendent of Schools Emeritus. He withdrew 
 from active service that extended over a period of 
 more than thirty -five years, but he still is subject to 
 call by this Board for advice and help in the solution 
 of problems that confront it. In recognition of 
 this long, faithful, and notable service, your Com- 
 mittee presents for adoption this minute of tribute: 
 
 Dr. William H. Maxwell, first and only City 
 Superintendent of Schools of The City of New York, 
 was elected to office by the first Board of Education 
 of the Greater City and began service on March 15, 
 1898. He was re-elected in 1904, in 1910, and in 1916. 
 Before this he had served from October 3, 1882, to 
 September 6, 1887, as Associate Superintendent of 
 Public Instruction in the City of Brooklyn and from 
 
 21 
 
the latter date until March 15, 1898, as Superin- 
 tendent of Public Instruction in the same city. 
 This is a record of continuous service in the cause of 
 public instruction in cities of the country that is 
 noteworthy. 
 
 In that time he was the dominant figure in the 
 complete reorganization of the school systems of 
 the various communities consolidated into The City 
 of New York, and worked with courage, vigor, and 
 determination to place the schools of this city in 
 the foremost rank among the public schools of the 
 country. How well he succeeded, the record of the 
 public schools demonstrates. In this brief minute 
 it is not possible to recount all the achievements of 
 the public school system while he served as Super- 
 intendent. To summarize them, your Committee 
 quotes from the address delivered by President 
 Arthur S. Somers on January 30th of this year, when 
 he moved the election of Dr. Maxwell as City Super- 
 intendent of Schools Emeritus: 
 
 " In all he has served more than thirty-five years 
 in the Department of Education, and this extra- 
 ordinary service is one of which the city might well 
 be proud. To him more than to any other man or 
 woman is due the full measure of credit for relieving 
 the schools of political influence and making possible 
 the appointment of principals and teachers from 
 eligible lists in the order of merit. He has done more. 
 His remarkable genius for administration made pos- 
 sible the centralization and reorganization of the 
 public school system in 1902. He has fought for 
 
 22 
 
many years for enriched schooling for the children. 
 He has developed manual training instruction, music, 
 drawing, physical training, ungraded classes for the 
 care of defective children, classes for blind children, 
 and other special subjects that will long live as a 
 credit to his wonderful and unselfish force. He is 
 responsible for the developement of secondary edu- 
 cation in the City, for improved methods of training 
 teachers, for better school buildings, and for the 
 creation of a public demand for proper accommoda- 
 tion of children." 
 
 In all of his work, Dr. Maxwell has ever had in 
 mind the better schooling of the children. He has 
 been a leader among workers for more rigid compul- 
 sory education laws, for ample accommodations for 
 children, for a richer schooling, for smaller classes 
 and for better teachers. No greater tribute to Dr. 
 Maxwell could have been paid than that which is 
 evident in the unanimous public approval of the 
 action of the Board of Education in electing him 
 Superintendent Emeritus at full salary. 
 
 Foremost figure in the educational system of 
 this City, Dr. Maxwell has exerted a powerful in- 
 fluence upon education in the State and in the 
 Nation. He has served in the councils of the State 
 Department of Education, and has been President 
 of the Department of Superintendence of the Na- 
 tional Education Association, and also President of 
 the National Education Association. 
 
 In presenting this resolution to your Board, the 
 members of this Committee desire to express to Dr. 
 
 23 
 
Maxwell the hope that he will be spared for many 
 years to consult and advise with it as Superintend- 
 ent Emeritus, and we extend to him our congratu- 
 lations upon the record he has made, and of which 
 this report presents a brief review. In these ex- 
 pressions we know all of the members will join, and 
 therefore we move the unanimous adoption of this 
 report and resolution: 
 
 RESOLVED, That the foregoing be adopted 
 as an expression of tribute to Dr. William H. Max- 
 well, Superintendent of Schools, and now City Super- 
 intendent of Schools Emeritus, and to the services 
 he has rendered to the public schools of the City, 
 and that an engrossed copy be transmitted to Dr. 
 Maxwell. 
 
 Frank D. Wilsey 
 Anning S. Prall 
 Arthur S. Somers 
 SPECIAL COMMITTEE 
 
 24 
 
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF 
 ESTIMATE AND APPORTIONMENT 
 
Resolution Adopted by Tke Board of Esti- 
 mate and Apportionment February 8, 1918 
 
 WHEREAS, The Board of Education, pursuant 
 to the provisions of chapter 621 of the Laws of 1917, 
 at a meeting held January 30, 1918, adopted a reso- 
 lution appointing Dr. William H. Maxwell, Superin- 
 tendent of Schools, to the position of City Superin- 
 tendent of Schools Emeritus, and fixed the salary of 
 said position at ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per 
 annum, to take effect February 11, 1918, therefore 
 be it 
 
 RESOLVED, That the Board of Estimate and 
 Apportionment concurs in the action taken by the 
 Board of Education in fixing the annual salary of the 
 position of City Superintendent of Schools Emeritus 
 at ten thousand dollars ($10,000). 
 
 27 
 
MINUTES AND RESOLUTIONS 
 
Minute adopted by the Board of Examiners 
 
 Since Dr. William H. Maxwell has, upon his 
 appointment as City Superintendent of Schools 
 Emeritus, definitely withdrawn from his long-con- 
 tinued activities in the school system of New York, 
 the Board of Examiners desires to express the feel- 
 ings which all its members have, of appreciation, 
 affection, and regret. 
 
 From the organization of the Board of Exam- 
 iners in September 1898 to the date of the enactment 
 of the Education Law of 1917, a period of over 
 eighteen years, Dr. Maxwell was our colleague and 
 chairman. 
 
 During the long period of his service as the 
 administrative head of the schools of New York, 
 his experience, his scholarship, his command of de- 
 tails and of policies, and his wise judgment, made his 
 labors as a member of this Board and of the Board of 
 Superintendents, and as City Superintendent of 
 Schools, actually invaluable to the cause of education 
 in this city and in this countiy. 
 
 Speaking particularly of his connection with 
 the Board of Examiners, we cannot forget, nor will 
 the public forget, that it is largely to him that the 
 
 31 
 
present merit system in the Department of Education 
 owes its origin, its sound development, and its 
 strength. For some years after his appointment as 
 City Superintendent, Dr. Maxwell devoted much of 
 his time and attention to the work of the Board of 
 Examiners, deeming that the selection of fully com- 
 petent teachers and principals is a matter of prime 
 importance in a system of schools. His ideals of 
 thoroughness, fidelity, and justice, he impressed upon 
 us all, and upon the whole educational department. 
 His extraordinary mental clearness and his power of 
 solving difficult questions of policy, were recognized 
 by all who had to do with him. 
 
 But at this time we would speak rather of the 
 personal than of the official side of our relation with 
 him, though it is difficult to express in adequate 
 terms our sense of deep regard, respect, and affection. 
 Notwithstanding the strength and firmness of his 
 mind and character. Dr. Maxwell has always been 
 known to us as a man of a kind and generous nature, 
 appreciative of every honest effort, and open-minded 
 to every sincere opinion of his colleagues. Close 
 association with him during these years has been a 
 privilege for which we cannot fully express our grati- 
 tude. Now that the hour of official parting from him 
 has come, we are filled with countless recollections 
 that must always cause us to love and honor him. 
 
 James C. Byrnes 
 Walter L. Hervey 
 Jerome A. O'Connell 
 George J. Smith 
 
 32 
 
Resolution adopted by the Department of Superin- 
 tendence, National Education Association, 
 March 1, 1918, at its meeting in 
 Atlantic City 
 
 Resolved, That we note with extreme satis- 
 faction the high standard of professional recognition 
 fixed by the Board of Education of New York City, 
 in the generous treatment which it accorded Super- 
 intendent William H. Maxwell, who for many years 
 rendered distinguished service in this department. 
 In expressing our appreciaion of the action of the 
 Board of Education, we at the same time assure 
 Dr. Maxwell of our pleasure that his worth has been 
 so appropriately recognized. 
 
 33 
 
From the clerical staff in the office of the 
 Superintendent of Schools 
 
 The members of the clerical staff who have 
 served under WILLIAM H. MAXWELL, Superin- 
 tendent of Schools, tender to him, upon his advance- 
 ment to the rank of City Superintendent of Schools 
 Emeritus, this expression of their esteem. 
 
 We deeply regret his relinquishing active direc- 
 tion of the office, for to us it has been a great priv- 
 ilege to serve under so inspiring and able a leader. 
 
 The unceasing and steadfast endeavors of the 
 Superintendent to strive for the general good of the 
 schools have been an inspiration to all in close con- 
 tact with his work, and we are grateful that the op- 
 portunity came to us to be under his direction. 
 
 We sincerely congratulate him upon his election 
 as City Superintendent of Schools Emeritus with full 
 emoluments, — an honor unique in the history of our 
 city, but none the less richly merited. 
 
 34 
 
LETTERS 
 
From the Association of Women Principals 
 of Tke City of New York 
 
 The honor of being elected City Superintendent 
 Emeritus of the greatest school system in the country 
 has come to you, and your warm friends, the Women 
 Principals, wish to extend to you their congratula- 
 tions and sincere good wishes. 
 
 We, who hold our present positions as the result 
 of a system of examination and merit built up by 
 you, look about us and count the many fruits of 
 your years as head of the city school system and 
 ofifer you our gratitude and appreciation. 
 
 The city is wise in keeping you still first in its list 
 of school officers, for while the great burden of thirty 
 years of service makes active participation in man- 
 agement of educational affairs too severe a strain, 
 your counsel and opinion may yet guide those en- 
 trusted with the accomplishment of measures pro- 
 posed for the good of the children and teachers of 
 New York. 
 
 That you may be with us long in this new role of 
 consulting and advising expert is. Superintendent 
 Emeritus Maxwell, our sincere wish and greeting 
 to you. 
 
 Loretto M. Rochester, Secretarv- 
 
 Jessie B. Colburn, President 
 
 37 
 
From Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, President, 
 Columbia University 
 
 The morning's papers report your retirement 
 yesterday as Superintendent Emeritus under the 
 terms of the statute passed last winter. You have 
 completed and honorably laid down one of the 
 greatest and most impressive tasks in the history 
 of American education. Your reputation is secure, 
 and no matter what changes the future may hold 
 in store, your building of the foundations of the 
 public school system of the Greater City of New 
 York will remain an achievement of the first rank. 
 
 I am very glad you have thought it wise to lay 
 aside your burden while there are still years of en- 
 joyment lying before you. There will now come 
 that leisure for reading and for reflection, in which 
 you so greatly delight, and which the severe labors 
 of forty years have often so sadly interrupted. 
 
 38 
 
From Hon. Frederic R. Coudert, former 
 member of the Board of Education 
 
 Congratulations and regret. Congratulations 
 that your great services should have been recognized 
 by the governing powers as they always have been 
 by the public; and regret that you should be leaving 
 the active management of the schools, upon which 
 you have left so indelible an impress. 
 
 It was always a pleasure to me to be associated 
 with you and I recognize what your high, firm char- 
 acter and breadth of view have done for our school 
 system, often indeed in the teeth of adverse circum- 
 stances. You have had to deal with problems of a 
 complexity, magnitude, and novelty that I am sure 
 no city has ever been confronted with, and you have 
 been able to cope with them successfully. 
 
 I shall always remember with pleasure my three 
 years on the Board and the agreeable relations of 
 friendly cooperation with you. I wish you many 
 years more of usefulness and happiness. 
 
 39 
 
From District Superintendent John Dwyer 
 
 and the Principals of School 
 
 Districts 23 and 24 
 
 At a recent meeting of the principals of the 
 twenty-third and twenty- fourth districts in the 
 ofhce of Superintendent Dwyer, your letter in regard 
 to teaching choice literary selections to the pupils 
 in our schools was read. It became the subject of a 
 lively discussion which would have interested you. 
 The discussion is to be continued at a future meeting. 
 
 You have ever advocated standards in literature 
 that are fine and high, and so it seems fitting to have 
 your last message to us a reminder of the value of 
 acquaintance with some of the exquisite literature 
 of our language. 
 
 In parting from you as our Superintendent, we 
 wish to express to you our continued friendship, arid 
 the high esteem in which we hold you. You have 
 led us in lofty ideals and have not neglected to be 
 our friend. We shall cherish the memory of both 
 the leadership and the kindly regard. 
 
 John Dwyer Samuel Viertel 
 
 Elias Silberstein Anna V. Mc Carthy 
 
 Julius Bluhm Mary A. Carr 
 
 Hugh J. Smallen Mary A. Regan 
 
 John King Clark Mary A. Conlon 
 
 William A. Hannig Mary A. Curtis 
 
 Frank A. Young Elizabeth M. Ball 
 
 Arthur G. Gorton Ellen C. Gilbert 
 
 Gabriel R. Mason Lida B. Earhart 
 Bert P. Seelye 
 
 40 
 
From Mr. James H. Edsall, District Superin- 
 tendent, Districts 28 and 30 
 
 The principals of Districts 28 and 30, assembled 
 to discuss your circular letter of January 30, 1918, 
 to the District Superintendents, desire to express to 
 you their deep appreciation of your splendid sugges- 
 tions regarding the memorizing of choice selections 
 from English literature. 
 
 Like you, we feel that it should be our duty, in 
 training these boys and girls entrusted to our care, 
 to provide not only for mental alertness during busi- 
 ness hours, but for enjoyment and inspiration during 
 their many hours of leisure. Association with good 
 books and the power to recall to mind the choicest 
 expressions of the master writers, must make for 
 enlightened, cultured citizenship. We hope, as a 
 result of our study of the outline you have given us, 
 to secure in our schools a deeper love for what is 
 beautiful and true in literature. 
 
 41 
 
May we take this opportunity to express the 
 hope that we may receive from you from time to time 
 other suggestions, the fruit of your many years of 
 rich experience? 
 
 George B. Germann 
 Wallace S. S. Newton 
 Warren M. Van Name 
 Anna L. McDevitt 
 Richard F. McCormack 
 Frederick W. Memmott 
 Margaret Davidson 
 Margaret Laing 
 Frances A. Weiss 
 Temperance Gray 
 Minnie Q. Ledwith 
 
 Clara C. Calkins 
 Amelia Schaller 
 Annie A. L. Egan 
 Purvis J. Behan 
 Sidney M. Fuerst 
 Sarah B. Van Brunt 
 Mary E. Elmore 
 Margaret E. Bacon 
 Edwin B. Uline 
 Mary A. Conley 
 Jennie M. Mackay 
 
 42 
 
From Mr. William Fairley, Principal, Com- 
 mercial High School, Brooklyn, and Presi- 
 dent of The Association of High School 
 Principals of The City of New York 
 
 The Association of High School Principals of 
 the City of New York feel deeply that your transition 
 from active to emeritus rank on February 11, 1918, 
 marks an epoch in our school system. The term 
 emeritus in your case is rich in literal meaning. The 
 city honors itself in retaining you on its rolls, in 
 giving you the full emolument of your rank, and in 
 reserving to itself the privilege of calling upon you 
 at any time for counsel. So far as we are aware, the 
 whole arrangement with and for you is unique in 
 school annals. 
 
 It would be fulsome for me to attempt to recount 
 in any detail your achievements of these long years. 
 Certain things, however, we cannot fail to make 
 mention of. You have wrought into a splendid 
 unity the most gigantic school system of the world. 
 The task has been one worthy of a Kitchener. In 
 doing this, your mind has not made of the child a 
 mere pawn, but each one has been to you an immor- 
 tal unit, with all the worth involved in such concep- 
 
 43 
 
tion. For the teaching staff you have won consid- 
 eration and respect in the community. Your in- 
 flexible insistence upon the merit system and the 
 exclusion of political influence has been magnificent. 
 Your delight in battle for what you have deemed 
 right has been an inspiration to us all. 
 
 We of the secondary schools have special reason 
 for gratitude to you. New York was disposed to 
 look askance at high schools. Your regime has so 
 fostered and developed them that henceforth any 
 attempt to throttle or minimize them would provoke 
 storms of resentment. You have secured for us here 
 a secondary system which in many respects is re- 
 garded as unequalled. 
 
 No new Lens will ever make our educational 
 Olympus seem as majestic as heretofore. We felic- 
 itate you on your record, and on its recognition by 
 the City, and bespeak for you long years of well 
 earned and happy leisure: feeling sure that you will 
 not be inactive, but always planning and urging 
 forward things of highest educational value. 
 
 May we not suggest a function of inspirational 
 worth for us all: namely, that from time to time 
 you visit us at our several posts of duty to counsel 
 and to cheer us? You will of course continue, 
 exofflcio, a member of our Association, and to have 
 you with us at any of our meetings would greatly 
 gratify us. 
 
 44 
 
From Dr. E. J. Goodwin, President, 
 
 Tke Packer Collegiate Institute, 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 If I rightly remember, this is the day on which 
 you retire from your long and distinguished service 
 as City Superintendent of Schools of New York. 
 May I extend to you my very cordial congratula- 
 tions, and best wishes for complete restoration of 
 health and many years of happiness? You have 
 such fine achievements to look back upon, that the 
 memory of them cannot fail to give you great satis- 
 faction. To very few men in this country has For- 
 tune granted such opportunities for eminent and 
 efficient service. To no man in the country engaged 
 in public school work has so much honor ever been 
 due as that which comes to you today, at the end of 
 your years of service and at the beginning of your 
 retirement. 
 
 I sympathize with you more today because, as 
 perhaps you know, I too am on the eve of retirement 
 from active service. This is my last school year. 
 
 45 
 
From Mr. S. R. Guggenheim, Treasurer, 
 Public Schools Athletic League 
 
 During your active management of our public 
 schools it was my privilege to have very pleasant 
 relations with you in regard to the work of the Public 
 Schools Athletic League. I regret therefore to 
 learn from the papers that your health will not 
 permit you further to continue the active direction 
 of our schools. It is gratifying to note, however, 
 that your long and honorable career has been fit- 
 tingly recognized by the Board of Education. You 
 have served us faithfully and well, and I beg to 
 express the hope that you may enjoy for a great 
 many years the signal and well merited honor that 
 has been conferred upon you. 
 
 I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you often, 
 but in the meantime wish to convey to you my 
 kindest regards and best wishes. 
 
 46 
 
From Hon. Robert L. Harrison, former 
 member of the Board of Education 
 
 I cannot allow the occasion of your retiring from 
 active participation in the management of the public 
 school system in New York to pass, without express- 
 ing to you my regret that your health compels you 
 to take this step, and once more to assure you of my 
 appreciation of the splendid work you have done for 
 the schools of New York. I recall with much pleas- 
 ure the many days and nights that we spent together 
 in the early years of the late school board, in trying to 
 weld together the various systems prevailing in the 
 different boroughs. This task was accomplished not 
 without a great deal of difficulty, so the new school 
 board begins its life with no such difficulties as those 
 with which you had to contend. I hope, as you have 
 been relieved of your great burden, that you will 
 still for years to come be able to help the authorities 
 with your advice, and I hope that there will be suf- 
 ficient intelligence in the board to have your advice 
 followed. 
 
 47 
 
From Miss Emma L. Joknston, Principal, 
 Brooklyn Training Sckool for Teachers 
 
 Accept my congratulations upon your appoint- 
 ment as Superintendent Emeritus. The title will 
 acquire a new meaning through your bearing it. 
 You will give the office distinction. 
 
 Even if you seem to have no very active part in 
 school affairs, I believe that "What Maxwell would 
 have done" will be what the authorities — and es- 
 pecially your successor, whoever he may be — will 
 try to determine when shaping new policies. 
 
 The fact that you are still a part of the New 
 York City school system will give that system pres- 
 tige in the estimation of educational authorities in 
 other places. The knowledge that your advice can 
 be obtained will sustain all of us. 
 
 Your gradual, instead of sudden, withdrawal 
 from the command has proved already to be a mas- 
 terly method of keeping the system controlled by 
 the principles you have established. Even your suf- 
 fering, you see, has contributed to your life work. 
 
 I am saying nothing of our loss — that cannot be 
 measured. 
 
 48 
 
From Miss Margaret Knox, Principal of 
 Public School 15, Manhattan 
 
 Perhaps you have not missed my message; but 
 I must write, if only to tell you why you have not 
 heard from me. I simply could not bear to write to 
 you except as the Chief of this great school system. 
 I cannot bear the thought that you are no longer at 
 the helm, keeping our schools steadily and surely on 
 the straight voyage to the goal that places us fore- 
 most among the cities of the world in the public 
 education of their people. 
 
 I have always been so proud of you and your 
 great work and have felt a sort of partnership in it, 
 more than the ordinary teachers of the city, because 
 of our common birthplace and, I think, of more 
 things than that in common. Armagh and Tyrone 
 have surely given bone and sinew and brain and 
 heart to much that is good in this country of our 
 adoption. 
 
 49 
 
Frora Mr. Charles W. Lyon, District Super- 
 intendent, Districts 4 and 5 
 
 The district superintendent and principals of 
 districts 4 and 5 unanimously tender you congratu- 
 lations upon your selection as Superintendent Emer- 
 itus. We regard the honor conferred as a signal 
 recognition and appreciation of a life's labor in and 
 for the cause of education. When the municipality 
 confers and the public so heartily approves this 
 graceful tribute of respect and regard, it is indeed a 
 happy augury that high ideals of service will inspire 
 the future. 
 
 Congratulations to you, felicitations to the 
 community. 
 
 During your Ibng incumbency of the office of 
 Superintendent of Schools, so momentous have been 
 the problems and so profound the change in the at- 
 titude of the people to our common schools, that he 
 would indeed be a bold prophet who would attempt 
 to estimate their worth, for which time alone can 
 furnish a true perspective. 
 
 50 
 
Though relieved of the onerous and multitudi- 
 nous duties of your high office, it is a pleasure to 
 know that your advice and counsel will be sought as 
 Superintendent Emeritus. It is with this thought 
 in mind that we offer you assurances of our con- 
 tinued esteem and affection. 
 
 Mary C. Donohue Carrie E. Krowl 
 
 Elizabeth J. Hofer Mary A. Phinney 
 
 May Jackson Adeline E. Simpson 
 
 C. D. Fleming Bella Strauss 
 
 Annie M. Atkinson John F. Townley 
 
 Sarah H. Conant Elizabeth Walker 
 William A. Kottman 
 
 51 
 
From Mr. C. B. J. Snyder, Arckitect, Super- 
 intendent of School Buildings, The 
 City of New York 
 
 Yesterday's announcement by President Somers 
 of your intended retirement from active service came 
 as a distinct shock to me, as I had continued to hope 
 and anticipate that your gain in health would be such 
 as to enable you once more to take that control of 
 affairs of which the Department stands in such need, 
 particularly at this time. 
 
 The new Board under the leadership of Mr. 
 Somers, is doing wonderfully well, but it is quite plain 
 that your absence fixes a limit to what it might other- 
 wise accomplish. 
 
 Few there are, I think, outside of Mr. Douglass 
 and Miss Ives, who fully realize that you and I have 
 worked together for twenty years without the slight- 
 est hint of disagreement during all those years. In 
 fact, I do not recall that an unpleasant word has ever 
 passed between us. 
 
 This period of time was not one during which 
 routine governed, so that all things were made easy, 
 but on the contrary, it included what was probably 
 
 52 
 
the greatest piece of constructive work along educa- 
 tional lines, ever known. 
 
 My part necessarily was small as compared with 
 that you had to carry out, but nevertheless our work 
 was so inter-related, that there was abundant oppor- 
 tunity for disagreements, and that there were none 
 seems almost wholly due to that great kindliness 
 and gentleness of spirit and personal courtesy which 
 have so endeared you to those of us who knew you 
 best. 
 
 I sincerely trust that now you have been relieved 
 of the very great burden and consequent worry, of 
 active responsibility for the conduct of affairs here, 
 you will find true pleasure and relaxation in an undis- 
 turbed contemplation of the chaotic educational 
 conditions under which we have been laboring during 
 the past two years, and point the way, as only you 
 may do, to the true solution of the problem. 
 
 53 
 
From Mr. Henry Snyder, Superintendent 
 
 of Public Schools, Jersey City, 
 
 New Jersey 
 
 I am extremely sorry that the condition of your 
 health compels you to withdraw from active work. 
 We have so long been accustomed to look to you for 
 safe guidance and brilliant leadership in educational 
 matters, that we shall long miss you. 
 
 It is most gratifying to all your friends that New 
 York City has given you phenomenal and deserved 
 recognition in your retirement. May you live long 
 to enjoy the honor which the city has accorded you 
 and the admiration which we all have for you. 
 
 54 
 
From Miss Helen A. Stein, Principal of 
 
 Intermediate School 159, Borough of 
 
 Manhattan 
 
 I was a very silent member of your corps during 
 your long illness, but regretted deeply your enforced 
 absence even though I gave little expression to it. 
 
 I cannot, however, allow you to retire from 
 active service without thanking you for the many 
 kindnesses shown me, and of assuring you of my deep 
 and sincere appreciation of your wonderful leadership. 
 
 No one who has worked under you, or mth you, 
 can ever forget your ability to handle any situation, 
 and your powerful mind, and no one who has been 
 in the schools for years can help do other than thank 
 you for their great improvement under your direction. 
 
 May the complete rest that you may now enjoy, 
 bring you renewed strength and happiness. 
 
 If at any time you could honor our school or my 
 home with your presence, I should be very grateful. 
 
 If I can ever be of any service to you, I trust you 
 may call upon me freely as a most sincere friend. 
 
 My prayers and best wishes have always been 
 yours. 
 
 55 
 
From Hon. Morton Stein, former member 
 of tke Board of Education 
 
 Recently I have been thinking of you more fre- 
 quently than usual, and sincerely wishing that now, 
 relieved of great responsibilities and arduous details, 
 you will apply yourself solely to the absolute recovery 
 of your health, and that end having been accom- 
 plished that you will, in the new freedom thus found, 
 have opportunities for giving to our country and 
 our city the benefits of your counsel and your exper- 
 iences, — either by way of biography or works dealing 
 with pedagogical and administrative problems. 
 
 There should be left for the generations to come, 
 who will be the losers through lack of presonal con- 
 tact with you, something tangible from the hand of 
 him who gave to public education in The City of New 
 York its present force and direction. 
 
 I am wishing for your speedy and complete re- 
 turn to health, and trust that you will have many, 
 many years of happiness and contentment as Super- 
 intendent Emeritus. 
 
 56 
 
From Mr. Joseph S. Taylor, District 
 Superintendent Districts 14 and 18 
 
 I cannot permit you to pass from the stage of 
 active mastery in education without tendering my 
 humble word of appreciation, regret, and congratu- 
 lation — appreciation of your great work and what 
 you have done for me individually, regret at your 
 retirement and ill health, congratulation upon the 
 generous provision that a grateful City has made for 
 the enjoyment of your well-earned leisure. 
 
 The history of education will in due time rank 
 you among the great educators of all time, and as 
 the greatest educational statesman of our day since 
 Horace Mann. For permitting me to lift my head 
 among my educational brethren I give you hearty 
 thanks; for I am well aware that I owe my oppor- 
 tunity for larger service entirely to you. At a time 
 when it was fashionable to sneer at educational pro- 
 gress and at progressive teachers, you encouraged 
 me by giving me a chance to grow, to look up, and 
 to take a small part in the great forward movement 
 of which you were the centre and mainspring. 
 
 Because of the notable service which you have 
 rendered to my profession, it is painful to me to see 
 you retire. 
 
 57 
 
Something greatly worth while seems to have 
 passed out of my ken. I have a feeling of lonesome- 
 ness, as if a sure support had been withdrawn. 
 
 Where shall we find such leadership as yours? 
 Where the strength to meet and subdue the evil 
 influences that ever threaten the child's welfare? 
 Where the conscience, as true as the compass, that 
 ever guided you through the maze of public life? 
 
 Coupled with the feeling of regret and lone- 
 liness at your going, is the consolation that your work 
 remains, and that your fame is secure. The Future 
 will feel about you as Lowell said he felt after one 
 of Emerson's lectures — as if "something beautiful 
 had passed that way." 
 
 58 
 
From Mr. Joseph H. Wade, District Super- 
 intendent, Districts 25 and 26 
 
 My deep regret at the passing of your active 
 leadership of our schools is tempered by the thought 
 that you have been appointed to the high honor of 
 Superintendent Emeritus of the public schools of 
 New York City. 
 
 You have merited in the fullest degree this re- 
 cognition of the splendid work you have done for our 
 city, and I wish for you many years' enjoyment of 
 the leisure you have been granted by the Board of 
 Education. 
 
 59 
 
From Dr. Ira S. Wile, former raember of 
 the Board of Education 
 
 Your appointment as City Superintendent 
 Emeritus must be hailed with satisfaction by all who 
 recognize the indebtedness of the City to your broad- 
 minded, conscientious, and earnest efforts in behalf 
 of the boys and girls of this City. 
 
 It is a regret that your illness has prevented you 
 from continuing in active service, and there is no 
 doubt that much of the confusion in the system is 
 due to this fact. I trust that the school system will 
 have the benefit of your counsel and advice for many 
 years to come, and that the City Superintendent 
 Emeritus will continue to be a prominent factor in the 
 constructive work now pending. 
 
 No words of mine can adequately express the 
 deep admiration I feel for you, nor in the slightest 
 way indicate the extent of my respect for your ability, 
 power, and service, which have ever characterized 
 your endeavors to promote public education. 
 
 60 
 
From General George W. Wingate, former 
 
 member of the Board of Education, 
 
 and President, Public Schools 
 
 Athletic League 
 
 In congratulating you upon your appointment 
 as Superintendent Emeritus I do so with mingled 
 feelings of regret and pleasure; regret that the schools 
 should be deprived of the powerful influence for their 
 advancement, which you have exercised so ably 
 during the many years you have been City Superin- 
 tendent, and pleasure to think that you have at last 
 considered what your health has for a long time re- 
 quired, and that is freedom from the cares and re- 
 sponsibilities of the position. 
 
 You have done a noble work, in the most im- 
 selfish manner, and in doing so have exhausted your 
 strength. It is certainly time that you should re- 
 cognize that you have done much more than you 
 ought to have undertaken, and take the rest that is 
 necessary to restore your health. I hope and believe 
 this will be the result of your accepting the appoint- 
 ment. 
 
 61 
 
EDITORIAL COMMENTS 
 
From the Educational Review 
 
 The retirement from active service of Dr. 
 William H. Maxwell and his resignation under the 
 provision of recently enacted law as Superintendent - 
 Emeritus, close a distinguished and most effective 
 career of public service. The Educational Review 
 has, on more than one occasion, recorded its high 
 appreciation of Dr. Maxwell's service to American 
 education. Now that he is laying down his heavy 
 burden and is no longer in the way of ambitious 
 seekers after place and power, there is only praise and 
 appreciation for his intellect, his character, and his 
 public work. Dr. Maxwell has had too much intel- 
 lectual pride to waste time in wrangling with his 
 critics or in quarreling with his enemies. He has 
 contented himself with going steadily forward on the 
 path of progress that he had marked out, only paus- 
 ing now and then to demolish opposition, either by 
 a striking achievement or by an irrefutable argument, 
 or by a phrase. What New York would have done 
 without his guiding and directing mind in the form- 
 ative years of the Greater City's school system, one 
 can hardly imagine. That his fame is secure and the 
 foundations that he has laid can neither be shaken 
 nor removed, is certain, American education is pass- 
 
 65 
 
ing through a curious phase of materialism, senti- 
 mentaHsm, and crude philosophizing. It has lost a 
 large part of the vigor and definiteness which char- 
 acterized it until perhaps twenty years ago. Dr. 
 Maxwell saw all this coming and struggled against 
 it as best he could. The judicious historian of his 
 career will likewise be a prophet of that return to 
 sounder educational theory and better balanced edu- 
 cational practise that must sooner or later reassert 
 itself. 
 
 66 
 
From The Globe 
 
 By its action yesterday in electing Dr. William 
 H. Maxwell Superintendent Emeritus at full salary, 
 the Board of Education conferred a signal and well 
 merited honor upon a man who for more than a gen- 
 eration has served the schools faithfully and well. 
 For eleven years as superintendent of the Brooklyn 
 schools, and for twenty years as superintendent of 
 the schools of the greater city, he has fought courage- 
 ously and steadily to improve public education. 
 This record is unique among the terms of city super- 
 intendents of schools, at best a precarious position 
 and one usually noteworthy for controversy and 
 brief tenure. 
 
 For more than a quarter of a century Dr. Max- 
 well struggled to get into the school system manual 
 training, physical training, cooking, sewing, and other 
 hand subjects now recognized as vital in the schooling 
 of every child. But this is only a small part of the 
 record of his achievements. To him mainly are due 
 the creation of professional standards for teachers 
 and the establishment and maintenance unimpaired 
 of a system of advancement of teachers upon the 
 basis of merit, and not by reason of influence or politi- 
 
 67 
 
cal "pull." He battled for years to establish and to 
 extend the high schools, and during the last years of 
 his service his contention has been justified in full 
 measure by an extraordinary demand for education 
 beyond the grammar grade. To him also is to be 
 credited the opening of day and evening trade schools, 
 the wider use of the school buildings, the organization 
 of special classes for the mentally sub-normal, the 
 crippled, the blind, and the deaf, the experiment with 
 intermediate schools, the organization and develop- 
 ment of schools for the professional training of teach- 
 ers, and the organization of special classes for back- 
 ward children. 
 
 Rich in useful accomplishment but poor in 
 health sacrificed to the public service, Dr. Maxwell 
 now withdraws from actual service, subject to be 
 called upon for advice or help. The Board of Edu- 
 cation has done a gracious act that accords no doubt 
 with the sentiment of the community. 
 
 To find a successor to Dr. Maxwell is no easy 
 task. The choice will be a test of the small Board of 
 Education, to which the new state law intrusts the 
 selection. 
 
 68 
 
From the New York Herald 
 
 With the retirement, compelled by failing health, 
 of Dr. William H. Maxwell from the post of Super- 
 intendent of Schools, the city loses an educator and 
 administrator of highest rank. 
 
 From the time he entered upon his duties, when 
 the Greater New York was constituted in 1898, until 
 his health gave way two years ago, he was tireless, 
 day and night in working for the improvement of the 
 schools, and even when not fitted for active service 
 sent from his sick room valuable suggestions and 
 advice. 
 
 The present great and admirable public school 
 system of New York is a testimonial to his energy, 
 zeal, and ability, and his fellow citizens deeply regret 
 the misfortune that makes it necessary to add "emer- 
 itus" to the title he so many years bore with honor. 
 
 69 
 
From the New York Times 
 
 The oflfice of City Superintendent of Schools^ 
 now made vacant by the retirement of Superintend- 
 ent Dr. Wilham H. Maxwell, must be filled by the 
 Board of Education. The task of the board is not 
 an easy one. Dr. Maxwell was foremost among the 
 country's organizers and directors of great school 
 systems, and the high standards attained under his 
 administration must be maintained. It is the most 
 important educational post in the country, for there 
 are more than 750,000 pupils in the public schools of 
 New York. The education of these children, their 
 training in good citizenship, the success of the effort 
 to make them self-reliant Americans, worthy of their 
 opportunities in this democratic land, depend upon 
 the efficiency of the school system, for which the City 
 Superintendent is so very largely responsible. 
 
 70 
 
From The Brooklyn Citizen 
 
 The action of the Board of Education yesterday 
 in making Mr. Maxwell, Superintendent Emeritus, 
 as provided for by law, will be approved by the in- 
 telligent public. Mr. Maxwell's long services have 
 been of a kind to entitle him to treatment of the most 
 generous nature. For more than thirty years he has 
 been engaged in the work of school superintendence, 
 first in Brooklyn before the cities were consolidated, 
 and ever since consolidation, as the head of the system 
 of the whole city. It is no over-statement to say that 
 it was impossible for any man to devote himself more 
 whole-heartedly to his duties than Mr. Maxwell has 
 done, or to be more effective. 
 
 That the schools have not escaped adverse crit- 
 icism in some respects, is true, but what is equally 
 true is that to nearly every one of the things found 
 fault with, Mr. Maxwell has been opposed. It would 
 perhaps be somewhat misleading to characterize Mr. 
 Maxwell as an educational reformer, but it is certain- 
 ly not misleading to place him high in the list of the 
 most enlightened educators of the past thirty odd 
 years. There are no black marks against him. At 
 
 71 
 
every turn and in every possible way the spectacle 
 of his career has been that of an extraordinarily vig- 
 orous mind devoted wholly to the promotion of good 
 work. A review of his various endeavors to both 
 solidify and strengthen the system of education, to 
 obtain adequate school education, and to prevent 
 unnecessary expenditures, will show that wherever 
 else there may have been ground for complaint, there 
 has been none in his case. As to the so-called poli- 
 tical influences by which the schools have, according 
 to some reports, from time to time been affected, it is 
 at least evident that Mr. Maxwell never allowed any- 
 thing of that nature to move him. 
 
 The truth probably is, that the interference of 
 the politicians was never of any great consequence, 
 but whether it was or not, Mr. Maxwell had tact 
 enough to get the right results, irrespective of any 
 concessions made in any quarter to favoritism. In 
 matters of this kind it should perhaps be said that 
 those who comxplain most of the politicians, are gen- 
 erally men who have sought and failed to obtain 
 political backing. The really worthy servants of the 
 public make few complaints of this nature. At all 
 events, the broad fact appears that for more than 
 thirty years Mr. Maxwell has been able to carry on 
 his work in both Brooklyn and the consolidated cities 
 without any trouble with politicians of any kind, his 
 own manifest integrity and ability protecting him at 
 all times against any attacks of that kind. 
 
 That the action of the board yesterday was made 
 necessary by the impaired health of Mr. Maxwell is 
 
 72 
 
the chief thing to be regretted in connection with it. 
 The city can well afford to deal fairly with so worthy 
 a servant, and entertain the hope that he may live 
 long to enjoy the evidence now furnished of its ap- 
 preciation. That his health may improve under the 
 lessened strain which the new arrangement must 
 bring, must be the hope of every enlightened friend 
 of the schools. 
 
 73 
 
From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle 
 
 Dr. Maxwell served the city as Superintend- 
 ent for twenty years, in addition to his long serv- 
 ice in the old City of Brooklyn. His great work 
 was done not because of his familiarity with the local 
 situation but because of his high and broad ideals 
 of what fundamental education should be, and of his 
 genius for leadership. If the right man is found he 
 should be good for a term as long and fruitful as Dr. 
 Maxwell's own. 
 
 74 
 
From The New England Journal of 
 Education 
 
 On Monday, February 11, Superintendent 
 William H. Maxwell, of New York City, of his own 
 initiative, became Superintendent-Emeritus at a 
 salary of $10,000. 
 
 There is a phase of this action which deserves 
 more than a passing notice. On the day that Arthur 
 S. Somers became President of the New York City 
 Board of Education, Dr. Maxwell said to him that 
 he would be pleased to retire on such terms as the 
 new Board of Education should elect. 
 
 On the first day that William H. Maxwell taught 
 in the United States — in the Brooklyn High School — 
 Arthur S. Somers was in his class. 
 
 From the day that Dr. Maxwell became Super- 
 intendent of Brooklyn, Mr. Somers has been upon 
 his Board of Education most of the time, serving on 
 Dr. Maxwell's Board in Brooklyn and Greater New 
 York, for more years than have any other three men. 
 It was with genuinely delightful sentiment to both 
 Dr. Maxwell and Mr. Somers that this retirement 
 under such generous conditions took place. 
 
 75 
 
From the American School Board Journal 
 
 School boards, like other public administrative 
 bodies, are commonly believed to be ungrateful and 
 backward in rewarding meritorious service. The 
 charge is not applied personally to members as such, 
 and the claim could not be made if the laws and pre- 
 cedents under which they must act officially permitted 
 the men and women to do what their private feelings 
 dictate. 
 
 Quite graceful and altogether fitting for the city 
 of New York is the recent action of the board of 
 education in electing Dr. William H. Maxwell as 
 Superintendent Emeritus with his full salary of 
 $10,000 per year. But still more graceful and kindly 
 is the tribute which President Somers spoke before 
 voting the election. 
 
 76 
 
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