Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-27

Elm 1NU OIL AN w AS
tees, school commissioners, or whatever title
might be, who had control OF all matters reia.
ting to the schools-the erection OF buildings the
Commissioners sought to absorb ali these now
ers, and, devil-1sh Hike, catch every thing within
their reach.
A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT..
81 do not approve of the Commissioners tax.
ing the entire control Of the schools" said Mr.
Solomon @. Brown, who formerly represented
| the colored schools of the county on the board
1.-THE memorial presented to Congress repre-
| should be more trustees than at present. for in
some districts there is entirely too much terri
live, the colored schools do not receive visit
| from trustee once year. If it were not for
| the care of citizens and the good character OF
! Commissioners are undertaking q dangerous
thing when they assume to appoint teachers. I
sive trouble a sedtag that viii
Commissioner plan, as believe ali other good s,
citizens are. The schools are now in good con-
| superintendent ought to be elected by the trus-
| tees, because, as it Is now, he is in no wise
amenable to the trustees. have no complaint
| to make against the present board at ali: thew
| have done as well as they could under the cir
cnmstan af excepting some personal disputes
| APPROVES THE SCHOOL. BOARD SYSTEM.
| Mr.. George w. Brown was In favor Of the
board Of school trustees having control of the
pubic schools, and yet he didn't see how any
citizen of standing would be willing to assume
| the labOrs of a trustee, without any remunera-
| ton, and with the troubles and Guarres That
| are bound to occur.
IN FAVOR OF THE scHooL-BoARD SYSTEM.
| Mr.. F. j. Heiberger said: 81 am very
much interested in all matters pertain
| Ing to the education OF our young,
and have carefully read everything that
has been published about the situation.
put am free 10 say that have as vet been I'M
able to see the point at issue which should have
| Drougnt about the contention between the
commissioners and the trustees. am in favor,
however, of school matters being regulated by
give time and attention to the matter in hand
| OPPOSED TO FURTHER CONCENTRATION OF
[ POWER.
Mr.. E. F. Brooks said: at we keen on con-
| centrating power in the Commissioners we will
soon be nowhere. For that reason
am in fay of continuing the school board
| The school trustees are taken from among the
residents of the District and are nearer to the
people. They give their careful and personal at
| tentiOn to school matters, and are there
fore better able to understand the needs Of the
SCHOOLS ihan other officials, who are over
! Wnehneo with a multitude of duties"
| FAvoRs A SCHOOL BOARD.
Mr.. j. Strasburger is in favor of q school
board Of twenty-four, If necessary with powers
| to act as heretofore.
| SHOULD HAVE AN ADVISORY BOARD II THEY
| LIKE.
| Mr.. c. NJ. Bell states that the Commissioners
| should have an advisory board OF school trus-
| tees II they desire it, to relieve them from the
| troubles of details in school matters.
THE POWERS SHOULD NOT BE DIVIDED.
Mr.. VIM. H. Morrison says he would have
| but one superintendent OF schools, who would
De competent to examine all applicants for
teacherships. and upon the recommendation
! OF the trustees the Commissioners to appoint
| and have the power Of all action in the prem
ises. The powers should not be divided.
CONTROVERSIES DISTASTEFUL TO TAXPAYERS
| Mr. John McDermOtt stated that he takes
great interest in the success OF the public
schools and often thinks they might be man.
aged more efficiently than they are There
| seems TO be too much talk among some Of the
trustees. He has tired of reading controversies
between trustees, and has been passing over
the the subject OF late The taxpayer has to raise
Versles are distasteful to them.
IN FAVOR OF THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS.
Mr.. j. VIM. Lee is in favor of having q school
board, and giving the school board all the DOW
ers they have heretofore enjoyed. He is in
| favor OF three trustees from each school dis
trict.
THINKS THE COMMISSIONERS ARE RIGHT
Mr.. ID. P. Hickling, druggist, thinks an adj
visory board of trustees would be just about the
right thing in view of the wranglings of the old
board. There is too much talking and differ
ence between the trustees and in his opinion
the bill before Congress proposes to have too
many trustees. One trustee ought to be enough
Ior eac school division. Thinks the Commits
sloners are right In having an advisory board.
THINKS THE BOARD SHOULD HAVE FULL CON.
troll.
Mr.. Robert Ball thinks that the school mat
ters should be cOnfided to q board OF trustees
composed of men who know the wants of the
citizens have the interests of the District at
munity and the appointing power and thew
should be given the full control Of the schools
ne mad been surprised that men Of the charac-
ter and standing OF the recent incumbents
should consent to remain in a board as mere
figure heads.
WOULD REDUCE THE BOARD TO THREE MEM
BERs.
Mr.. Robert Cohen would have board of three
school trustees only. Too many make too much
wrapgling, as has been seen of late. Three men
could probably be selected from among the
present board who could be serviceable, and not
inclined to wrangle and make trouble. The
puoilc are disguised with wranging. All COM
mittees and boards are apt to be too large A
few are best, and generally do the best and
prOmptest work.
NO NEED OF A BOARD WITHOUT POWER.
Mr.. Myron NJ. Parker said: "If there is to be q
board of school trustees, believe that the pub
lie schools should be governed by it. can't
see what else the trustees are for except to gov
ern the schools, and there is no necessity for
l.
power"
THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE POWER ENOUGH
John Z. Beall thought that the Commissioners
are vested with power enough, and that the
trustees should be given by Congress the power
to govern the schools
THE SCHOOL BOARD SHOULD GOVERN
Mr. George Adams, of the firm OF Adams &
Beall, said that being a new conner in WASH
ington he was not very well posted on the stu
ation but on general principles he thought the
school board should certainly govern the
schools.
BORNE BACK BY THE WIND.
Mr.. +. NJ. Green was about to board street
car when he was caught by STAR reporter
but the following answer was borne back by
the wind: 81 am in favor Of giving the power of
governing the schools to the school trustees"
NO IMPROVEMENT ON THE OLD SYSTEM.
Mr.. August Burgdorn stated that while It
may be unpopular to go back to the old system
it seemed to him that the sys tenn we had some
years ago Is preferable to the "idea OF central.
izatiOn. 81 would have" he said, leach district
or division under three trustees and principal
with general superintendent over the whole
This system worked well in the past The an
pointing power is in the Conmfs sioners Let
them appoint such trustees they have conf
dence In and then let the trustees govern the
schools 1t certainly is no improvement to ap-
point a board of trustees and then give them
no power or authority in the work to which
they are appointed"
Mr.. Charles Walter states that he is tired of
the sQuabbling OF the past and he Is in favor IF