Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-07
Commissioner Maofarland's Views as
to Its Composition.
INTENDS IT TO Be 4 WORKING BODY
Several Good Appointments to Be
Filled by the Board.
DUTIES AND COMPENSATION

zation of a new school board This pro-
vision, in brief, authorizes the Commits
sioners of the District Ito appoint seven
persons. bona fide residents and taxpayers
of the District of Columbia, and who have
been such for five years Immediately pre-
ceding their appointment, who shall con-
stitute a board of education
This provision of the bill takes effect
July l. the terms Of the members of the
board Of education being seven years, lex
cept that the terms of the persons first ap-
pointed shall terminate as follows: One
each year, to be determined by lot among
the seven members of the board first ap-
pointed" The compensation of the men,
bers of the board is $40 each for personal
attendance at each meeting, but shall not
exceed for any member $500 per annum.
The board is given by the bill complete
jurisdiction over all administrative matters
connected with the public schools of the
District of Columbia. except that all ex-
penditures of public funds for such school
purposes shall be made and accounted for
as now provided by law under the direc-
ton and control of the Commissioners of
the District
1t is made the duty of the board of edu-
cation to make all needful rules and regu-
lations which may be proper for the govern
ment and control of the schools, and the
board is required to annually report to the
Commissioners the condition and opera
lions of the schools, and the sanitary and
structural condition of all buildings in use,
as well as those in course of construction,
with recommendations respects needed
changes which reports shall be transmit
ted by the Commissioners to Congress.
The Boards Appointing Power.
The board is authorized to appoint one
superintendent of public schools at $4,000
per annum. two assistant superintendent at
900 each, one secretary at $500. one
clerk at 81 400, two clerks at $1,000 each,
and a messenger at $120 One of the as
sistant superintendent, under the direction
of the superintendent, shall have charge
O. the coored schools, and the board is au-
thorized to remove said officials at it's pleas
ure. The board is also empowered to en-
ploy and remove all teachers. officers and
other employees connected with the public
schools not already mentioned, provided
that the graduates of the normal schools
shall have preference in all cases when
appointments of teachers for the grade
schools are made. To the board the su-
perintendent is required to annually sub
nit for its approval the course of studies
ard list of textbooks and other apparatus
to be used in the schools.
Since he assumed the duties of his Of
flee, not a day has passed that Commits
siCner Mcfarland. who has immediate SUI
pervision of the public schools. has not re-
ceived applications, recommendations
suggestions relative to the personnel of the
board of education. These applications and
suggestions and recommendations are rep
resented by a great mass of letters tele
grams and other written matter, which he
has filed away for future consideration.
Then, too, not day has passed that he
has not received one or more delegations
calling for the purpose Of presenting the
name of some citizen for appointment as a
member of the board of education, and par
ticularly has this been true of the colored
people, who seem to be unusually inter-
eSted in the matter.
Having the schools under his immediate
supervision, 1t Is expected, of course, that
Mr. mcfarland will take the initiative in
the matter of nominating the seven mem
bers of the board but so far as can be
learned he has made no other promise than
that every name presented to him shall
receive due consideration. and that the
very best persons obtainable shall be nomi
mated. Some time between this and the
first of July Mr. Mcfarland will nominate
the seven persons upon whom he will
recommend shall be placed the RESPONSE
blities attaching to members of the board
of education. 1t Is known that he con-
siders these responsibilities many and
grave. and as the new board will be a
working one in every sense of the word,
and will be required to perform an i'm
mense amount of work between the first
of July and the opening of the schools
next September. it is understood Mr. Mac
farland will nominate no person as a men,
Der of 1t who is not prepared and willing
to remain in town during that time and
devote all of his or her energies to the work
which will devolve upon every member Of
the board
Should Re Working Board.
1t is also believed that Mr. Macfarand
Is of the opinion that the board of educa-
ton shall at all times be working one,
and 1t Is said to be his purpose to nominate
persons for members thereof who will be
at liberty to perform the duties devolvng
upon them at any and all hours of the day,
SO That the meetings shall not be restricted
Ttar tons ant ira1,,
Another opinion for which he is given
credit is that the board shall not be di-
vlded up so as to represent or control diff
ferent sections of the District, for it Is
said Mr.. Macfarland believes that the
board should be one broad enough to cover
and labor for the whole District in all it's
transactions and thought. That Is, the
Commissioner will, it is believed by those
who best know him, expect every member
OF the board to be willing to work hard
Tor the best interests of the whole District,
ana ne VIII In his selection of persons for
membership in the board be dominated by
one purpose, to name the very best men
and women obtanable for the positions,
without regard to political or other less
important reasons. No one, 1t is believed,
will be appointed who holds any office un-
der the general or District governments for
the reason that they would not be masters
OF their time and no one to whose qualifi-
catlons there exists the slightest doubt
Several of the citizens associations of
the District have presented names of per-
sons residing In their respective territories
to the Commissioners for appointment as
members OF the board Of education. No
one has greater respect for these associa-
lions and their recommends tons than has
Mr.. Macfarand. He believes every recon-
mendatlon made by them should receive
from the Commissioners the most careful
and thoughtful consideration, for. being to
a very large degree representative bodies.
he holds, 1t is SAID that they have been and
will continue to be very helpful to the
Commissioners. b.
Will Not Discriminate.
There are, however, a dozen or more of
these citizens associations in the District,
and as there can be but seven members of
the board Of education it Is said to be more
than probable that Mr.. mcfarland will
find 1t impossible tor favorably consider the
recommendation of any Of these organza-
tons In the matter for the simple reason
that 1t would hardy be fair or just to do
so in one or two Instances and then be
unable to do as much in respect to the 9TH
ers. Hence it is not believed that the Com
missioner will nominate any person whose
appointment has been requested or recon-
mended by a citizens association simply
because that person is member of the or
ganization and would represent Immediately
the section of the city or District embraced
within its territory. But. as above explained,