Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-27
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
OPINIONS OF THE CITIZENS.
what They Think Of the COmmi ssiO toner's
Plan.

Plan.
NODE OF GOVERNING THE sCHooIs-FoLKs
WHO THINK THERE SHOULD BE REFORMS
LARGE MAJORITY AGAINST THE COMMITS
sIoNERs.
STAR reporters have interviewed many citi
sens for the purpose of ascertaining the pre-
vailing sentiment regarding the proper mode
OF governing the public schools. Questions
were propounded to the gentlemen interviewed
with the view Of elicitng their preference as be.
tween the plan proposed by the District Com.
mfssioners OF managing the schools themselves
with the assistance of a board of trustees. whose
functions would be merely advisory a nd the
system which has heretofore existed here and
which provides for a school board to have con-
troll OF all matters relating to the schools, ex-
cept the disbursement OF moneys. Below will
be found the results of these interviews:
9KAyTTATrSG TOWARDS CAPITALIZATION.
81 think the triumvirate has made a griev-
Gus mistake" said Mr.. John T. Given, Gin
assuming to take the control of the schools 1
arm constantly reminded of the sentence
that used TO be printed at the head
o o. the old 49, Globe, Power is ever
are gravitating towards Capitalization. / am
In favor of the old regime in school matters.
One trouble has been, think. that recognition
has not been given To native merit in the selec-
ton of teachers and others. think the trium-
virate made mistake when they imported a
superintendent of public schools. The new
superintendent may possess the proper QCalifi-
catons-i don't question that-but object to
the thing on principle. 1 am decidedly opposed
10 the method the Commissioners propose for
managing the schools. IL is a reflection on the
Intelligence of the community for the Commits
sionerS To arrogate to themselves any such
power. The idea that we have not pure and
aisinterested men enough to take charge of
LnH schoois! think the management and gov
srnment of the schools should be exclusively i'm
NE hands of the people, under proper restric-
hons as To contracting debts and the disburse-
nent OF money. This reflection cast upon the
people by the Commissioners in assuming to
manage the details of schools, ought not to be
submitted to for a moment have not given
careful attention to the bin now before the SEN
ate. i would not like to see those who favor il
make the mistake of drifting to the opposite
extreme OF having an enormous unwieldly
board of trustees
LET THE TRUSTEES RUN THE SCHOOLS.
II am in favor of having good board of trus-
tees and letting them run the public schools, !"
said Mr.. John G. Judd. az don't believe in one
man power"
IN FAVOR OF BOARD ALL THE TIME.
Kew. W. A. Bartlett, pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian church. said: 81 am in
favor Of q school board for the District schools
all the time. There is a tendency to concen-
trate power In the Commissioners and take
every thing away from the people. think the
Com misS1oners have all the duties they can
possibly attend TO without adding school mat
tiers To Them The board should be enlarged,
"a
of the people,"
OPPOSED TO THE ONE MAN POWER.
Joseph Shillington says he is opposed to the
one man power. No man should exercise the
power of appointing all the teachers of the pub
lie schools, and no three men should do it; this
duty, with others OF the school board is about
enough for any set OF men TO attend TO.
EXPRESSES HIS REGRET.
MI. John NJ. Stake, of West Washington
states that he was on the board of guardians of
the Georgetown schools when their facilities
were limited. and they were finally forced to
call on the general government for aid. which
was given, since which time the schools of the
District have been brought up to the present
when he gave utterance TO his regret as citizen
ana tax payer that the services ofone who has
always shown his interest in the schools like
Mr. LovejOy have been lost.
SEES NO OTHER REMEDY
VIM. Pierce Bell states that there had been so
much wraDgiiug in the old board that he saw
no relief except by some such measures as have
been suggested by Commissioner Webb, and he
therefore Is on the side of the latter.
AN INDEPENDENT BOARD NEEDED
Mr.. Daniel Breed, of the county, who was one
ofthe trustees appointed over the colored schools
in 1862. states that a board not too large as i'm
dependent OF the Commissioners as il is posi-
bic for board 20 be. with the powers to disburse
the money, II needed, and they should have
entire control over the superinfendentS teach
erS, Sc The board should be composed of gem
tIemen OF intelligence and experience. thorough
ly competent, the various businesses and pro-
LESSONS, including, If possible. eX-teachers, rep
resented thereon-the lawyers for their legal
knowledge, the physicians for their knowledge
OF sanitary measures and others for their prac-
ticai business knowledge.
No ONE WANTS A CHANGE
Rev. L. Stern, pastor of the Washington He
brew congregation, was one OF the signers of
the petition to Congress recommending the Gre
alton OF q school board with specific powers
Nv hat think about the controversy is clearly
Set forth there ne said to- "A STAR reDOrfer
- mink all matters relating 10 the schools in
1hls District should be conducted by a board of
trustees who are citizens. Its all right tor the
trustees To be appointed by the Commissioners
Dut ali powers with relation to the schools
should rest with the trustees when appointed
The schools have been so well conducted and
nave progressed SO well under the board that L
90 not think any one wants a change. / be-
heve the people of the District are almost
unanimous in their support OF the board"
BOARD FOR EDUCATIONAL MATTERS ONLY.
MI. X :. Davis says that the school trustees
should have nothing TO do with school build
ings, tanitors and fuel, and should devote their
time 10 purely educational matters the other
matters TO be attended To by officers including
Bioners.
THINKS THE COMMISSIONERS MISTAKEN.
M. j. +. y. Wilkinson, ex-trustee who signed
the petition, says the school board has the right
In the controversy. The Commissioners he
tninks, have been mistaken in their eonstruc-
SiOh VI tue law Dy WnIcn they claim the right
10 exercise the powers of the school board.
NOT WITHIN THE PROVINCE OF THE COMMITS
sIoNERs
Kew. s. NJ Newman, pastor of the Congrega-
tfonal church, expressed the opinion that there
should be q board of school trustees given con-
siderable discretionary powers by the Commits
kloners, who Will personally look after the in
terests of the schools. He thought the Commits
sioners had not the time to attend TO the mat
Ter, and that such duties did not come within
their province.
THE TRUSTEES OUGHT TO RUN THE SCHOOLS
Il think the trustees ought 10 run the schools"
said Mr. Frederick NJ. DetweiIer: the Commits
sioners have ali they can properly attend to
now"
ENOUGH ELSE TO ATTEND TO-
MI. w. h Tenney, OF West Washington, said:
Il nave considered the subject, and think
that the Commissioners should have the power
Of appointing trustees and the power OF re-
control of the trustees. The trustees should
nave power TO appoint all teachers and dis
purse ali moneys appropriated for school pur-
poses and should they violate this trust by dis
ourslnG money not appropriated, the Commits
sioners should remove them and appoint such
that would ctsburse within the limits of the
appropriation. The Commissioners have suffi-
eient duties TO attend to without UNDERTAKING.
70 run tie schools"
OPPOSED TO GENERALIZATION.
Messrs. Buckley and Marbury, of West Wash
inston. are both Of the opinion that due power
should be vested with the school board. and
there should not be Capitalization OF power
with the Commissioners.