Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-06

The District Cotnmissi01ers, through their
SECRETARY. have addressed the following letter
to Dr. Robert Reyburn, chairman of the ex-
school trustees COMPLETES: "Your favor OF the
2sth ultimo has boon received and its contents
poted. The bill presented by your committee
has been carefully read and considered, and
have been transmitted sooner but has been de-
iaxsd by the pressure Of other matters.
forests Of the public schools will be much better
jus. Existing s Jaw put. g i, snan
them. The act OF 1878, which abolishes the
board of school trustees, transfers all the power
and duties exercised by that board to the Com
saeh agents and to accept such provisions
- may DO necessary to carry into execu-
this same act the appointment of trustees who
Re to have the powers and perform the duties
In relation to the care and management of the
public schools authorized by law is conhded to
tho commissioners. In their letter of the 31>t
OF December last. addressed 10 the board Of
school trustees, the commissioners call atten-
ton TO the provisions OF the act of 1873, and
give Is as their opinion that the terms care and
management have reference to the schools as
complete institutions fully organized and
janliors. ''
the care ana management of 1t is assigned to
the trustees, under laws existing in 1873 hav-
ing reia a., thereto, ana Il only remains TO
10 by ihis what laws are specifically
'Fhe bill presented to the Commissioners by
your committee proposes to establish q board
OF school trustees consisting OF twenty-four in
imposes more engrossing duties upon them
than does the present law all of which they
are TO perform as under the old law without
compensation. The Commissioners do not think
that plan which thus imposes upon unpaid
agents duties so numerous and SO difficult, and
at the same time holds them for SO great re-
sponsibiliiy, is good one, and they think also
that the plan proposed is detective, in that it
divides the responsibility for the proper con-
duct of the schools among O. large number of
trustees and SO continues system, which, for
As to the number of trustees, it should be
borne In mind that for four years (from 1873 to
1852 there were nineteen trustees; that the
school authorities concluded that nineteen
were too many and that vita a view to secnr-
ing the pest results they advised that the num-
Der should be reduced to eight or nine So
earnestly was this theory urged that
number, to nine. Why there should
be any change at this time does not sufficiently
appear. II plan can be devised which will
conduct OF the schools, render patronage with
respect to the appointment of teachers impos-
sibie, place the guardianship and protection OF
Inc M I'M immensely valuable property represented
hands and under the supervision of agents paid
for such work, keep division, factions bick err
1ngs, and scandal out of every sort of contact
With he school system, and it along with all
this the services OF citizens Of ability and edu-
cation can be obtained as advisers OF the Com
mlssloners 1n their supervision OF educational
matters relating to the public schools, the Com
missioners think great work will be accom-
pllshed for the good Of the public schools TIE
Com missioners believe that this can be accom-
pl,shed without further legislation, and they
Intend 10 deyQte the means at their Gisposa!
and every force and agency which they can call
70 tnelr assistance TO the INTRODUCTION and per-