National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-13
THE COMMISSIONERS AND TIE
pURCTC SGHOOTS

The recent action of the District Com
missioners in consolidating the boards OF
school trustees of the city, county and
Georgetown seems to be misunderstood by
the outside press, and especially by the So
called independent journals. From one
end of the country to the other almost, the
statement has been made in as many differ
ent forms as there are newspapers and
editors, that the late order of the Commits
sioners established mixed schools in the
District of Columbia, and some of our CO.
temporaries go so far as to insinuate, if not
assert, that the feeling among our citizens
upon this subject borders upon that now
existing in some Of the Southern States.
1t Is really difficult to see how this idea
could have got abroad, but it is a remark
able fact that the Democratic and Liberal
Republican editors who cannot but know
its utter falsity are by no means disposed
to correct the error or to place the Commits
sioners in their true light before the country.
The motive Of the misrepresentation doubt
less lies in the supposition that it will in
some way subserve the interests and ad-
vance the prospects of the opposition in the
coming fall campaign.
The question of mixed schools, we are
prepared to say from conversation with
two of the Commissioners and who in this
matter are authorized to speak for the third
one, Mr.. Blow, now absent did not enter
into their deliberations when the PROPOSE
ton about which so much is untruly writ
ten was under consideration. 1t had moth
ing whatever to do with it, and bore upon
it in no manner, shape or form. Neither
personally nor officially are they in favor
of mixed schools, and they will take no
steps in that direction during their occu-
pancy Of Office. In consolidating the boards
they simply discharged the duties imposed
upon them by Congress, to devise ways and
means to simplify the government and effect
economy in the expenditures. When they
assumed charge Of the District what did
they find so far as the public schools are
concernedR No less than four boards, each
with its retinue of officers, the one indie
pendent Of the other, and all exercising a
separate and distinct Jurisdiction. 1t was
not the fault of the old government that it
was so, but of Congress which prescribed
and ordained it. The act creating the Com
mission gave it the authority to cut down
the force Of District officers and effect what
ever reforms they might deem advisable, and
in pursuance of that law the consolidation
was made. If the independent journals
which have been for so long time sssailing
the authorities of the District had the least
consistency or desire for fair play they
would commend instead Of condemning this
action upon the part of the Commission, for
the reason that It is in the direct line of the
policy for which they have been clamoring,
namely, that of reform and retrenchment.
Under the present regulation the schools
will rerasin precisely as they were before
the change took plsce-the white children
will attend the schools especially provided
for them and the colored children will do
the same. There will be no intermingling
of the races and no attempt made to bring
about that result The white trustees will
attend to their own schools and 50 Of the
colored men. The advantages which will
be gained by the public at large, however,
are important and should be taken into con-
sideration. Under the new plan the school
books will be uniform. We shall not have
in one section Of the city one set of text
books and another set in the school in the
next district 50 that If the parents of child
remove from one school district to another