Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-10
THE SCHOOL BOARD BlLl,
Tie Citixeuss Commsssee Write 20
Chairman He0phill Abous %.

80 Ssss3eug COootetee Wrtte 20
Chairman Hs@phin About Dc.
THEY TAKE ISSUE WITH raR COMMISSIONERS As 10
QUESTIONS eorn or Law AND facr-rHr AUTHOR
III or TEE SCHOOL TKrsrxxs-A rrrrK.Kxck %
orrSroN ~ 10 TER CONDITIONS or rsg scnoots
The subcommittee OF the CITIZENS Representa-
i've Committee OF One Hundred, having charge OF
the pending school board bill, have addressed q
letter to Chairman Hemphin OF the House District
COMMITTEES, as follows;
The adverse report OF the Commissioners OF the
District OF Columbia upon the pending hoard Of
education bill is based upon misstatements az fact
which should be corrected They beg the entire
question by their incorrect assumptions.
!. We agree with them that old -established ana
successful methods OF administration should not
be supplanted, unless upon a clear showing OF i'm
Droved methods. But the application OF this sound
doctrine II not against upon The factS but AZ n
sgxns >, tne Commissioners From the commence
30, 1886. the public schools OF this District have
been created and developed under the system
for which we contend. board OF trustees chosen
from the body OF the people, had. during that en-.
tire period, been clothed with the executive author.
ity In the management OF the public schools The
eminent exists expressly continues and affrms
that authority. The point OF controversy, how.
ever Is that By their order OF December 20, 1855,
the District Commissioners set aside the mandate
OF the statute, and by unlawfuly assuming TO
themselves the authority conferred upon the trus-
system OF school administration, not only unneces-
sary In the light OF District experience, but
demned by the experience OF all other American
cities
. II Is not true, as the Commissioners assert
that the organic act OF June IL, 1878 intended 70
put or Did put the school board in the matter OF
transfer OF authority TO the Commissioners, upon
the same footing with the police, fre, and health
boards As originally drawn the act OF 1878 abol-
ished all these boards alike. but IL was Al the In
81 a ia faV nx~~a A
continue the school board with the provision that
'.said trustees shall have the powers ana perforia
OF the public schools which are now authorized by
law" These "powers" and "duties" were DEFINED
by law to be ''the management OF the public
schools" and the detailed provisions thereof were
In substantial accord with the provisions OF the
pending citizens bill
q 1t S not true that experience is against the
the fact The small board OF nine members was
an innovation, introduced experimentally In lSS..
Nor Is IL true that the larger number OF trustees
would make them sectional representatives and
import "discord, ravortIsm and strife into the AZ
fairs OF the schools" There are about 200 schools
In the District and II Is obvious that three truS-
tees from each division better visit and super
wise their interests than trustee, and by their
greater number avoid the favorltism suggested.
As they In turn would be controlled by the entire
board the general interess 5 OF the system for toe
entire District would be conserved, whilst partic-
ular sections would be able 10 secure fair and
equal consideration.
{. Nor is 1t true that by the proposed bill 1.-THE
board created are TO make contracts FOR the pur.
chase OF sites the erection OF buildings and 10 con-
troll all expenditures Whatsoever without reference
TO the Commissioners" All Expenditure, OF moneys
are left In the control or the Commissioners. In
limited direction the board is simply clothed with
quasi veto power, ana In another limited direc-
ton with . power OF Recommendation. In The
matter OF sites and plans Ior school buildings fol-
lowing the Boston school law the BOARD Is clothed
with power OF approval The Commissioners are
In no wise obliged TO buy the sites or 10 build upon
the plans approved; but they cannot buy or build
contrary thereto. The board Is also empowered 70
submit TO the Commissioners detailed and speclic
estimates annually for the appropriations needed
for the next ensuing year, and 10 examine and
recommend TO the Commissioners tor approval or
disapproval all bills In connection with the public
schools. This Is. however, purely advisory, and
the Commissioners LAY disregard the same In
their own discretion.
T. The only remaining point contained In the said
letter 10 you from the Commissioners Is the Asser-
ton that the schools Were never In better condi-
ton Than at the present date. That Is matter OF
opinion, upon which citizens may honestly differ.
1t Is not, however, true that the general opinion
missionera The number, character and standing
OF the gentlemen who have, since the Commits
sioners unlawful order OF December 80, lss5,
pressed this bill upon the attention OF Congress
sunciently negatives the correctness OF the above
loose statement OF the Commissioners.
For full discussion OF the case We respectfully
invite your careful consideration OF our memorial
nled with Congress In support OF the pending
bill
This letter is signed by Reginald Fendall
Robert Reyourn, N. D., A. T. bIltton, W. II. A.
wormley, Cnas. T. Hovey, r. Stobo Farrow, w. c,
Dodge, W. Scott Smith, Arch'd Greenlees, and Geo
White, committee.