The Washington critic., 1886-03-03
WASHINGTON, MARCH 8, 1886
oIrR punLIC SCHOOLS.


IL is plain, even to the commonest
understanding, that the usefulness OF
our public schools must depend upon
the harmony, effectiveness and COM
prehensive intelligence Of their system
of management No matter how com
pctent the Superintendent may be, or
how thoroughly qualified and pains
taking the teachers by whom he is sur
rounded, they can do but little towards
clevating the character of the chools,
so long as their efforts are hamperel
and handicapped by factions contro-
verses or conflicts of authority on the
part of the tribunal having the educa-
tional interests of the District in trust.
The peculiar nature of our local gov.
crnment Is to some extent responsible
for existing difficulties. The ultimate
control rests Of course with Congress,
but it cannot be expected of Congress,
or even of Congressional committee,
that il should resolve itself into school
board. Neither is It to be expected of
the District Commissioners, with the
multitude of other and higher obliga-
tions imposed upon them, that they
should also be burdcncd with the de-
tails of complex department. requir-
ing constant and vigilant supervision,
as well as a certain degree of expert
knowledge. This duty--the immedi-
ate government of the schools-should
be entrusted by the Commissioners to
board Of duly appointed trustees or
directors, as it is in all other wellreg-
ulated cities by the municipal councils
or through a popular election.
The operative maintenance of the
schools should be left to the discretion
Of the directors, subject only to such
limitations of expenditure and general
policy of management as properly per-
tains to the superior functions of the
Commissioners, but the less inter-
dependence between them the better
for the schools. Matters of discipline,
courses of study, assignments of
teachers, everything in fact relating to
the school-room proper should devolve
largely, If not wholly, upon the super.
intendent, and as the trustees or direc
tors are to be held responsible to thu
Commissioners for their efficient dis
charge of duty, the superintendent
should be held directly responsible t,
the School Board rs its executive agent
1t were preferable that the superintend.
ent were elected by the School Board
He certainly cannot serve two master;
and do justice to his office.
The great object should be to sim
plify the machinery of the schools Sc
that 1t may run without friction; thai
the respective duties of the Commits
sioners, Of the directors, of the super
intendent may be so clearly defined q
not to clash with one another that thu
element of favoritism and spirit o
patronage may be eliminated as far q
possible from the system, and the ave
nues to dangerous innovations and un
wholesome jealousies as far as possibl,
closed.
In regard to mixed schools, the con
tingency is not to be for moment en-
tertained. We do not believe that an,
great number of people of either rae,
arein favor Of such movement, nor tha
either of the District Commissi oners /
so disposed. Public sentiment upol
this question is fixed and unalterable
1t cannot be invaded or trespasse
upon, even by decision of the Su
preme Court, without irreparable dis
aster to the schools. THE CRITIC ha
too much faith in the good sense o
this community to believe that
would permit such change: nor ha
it any fears that the Commissioner
would undertake it, even II clothe,
with the authority and inspired by
disposition to do so. At the same tim
care should be taken In the choice o
trustees not to open the door to sucl
an agitation, but to secure only tn
services of such citizens as are know
to have the progressive welfare of til
schools at heart and to be incapable {
perverting their positions to persona
OF speculative ends. The schools ar
very near to the people and their diret
tors should be men of the people, /
whose honesty and zeal and entire di
interestedness the people have fu
confidence.
r.n nv
Secretary Manning vigorously d