Evening star., 1900-03-31

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
They Should BE Saved From the
Sp0ilsmen.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
1t is to be feared that the menace con-
tanned In some of the minor features of the
proposed congressional legislation, in rela-
ton to the public schools, has been OBJ
scured, perhaps, by the satisfaction with
which its general features have been re-
ceived by a large number Of those citizens
who have favored the project of the SEN
ate subcommittee to enlarge the power OF
the board of school trustees, who shall have
exclusive control over the business affairs.
the appointment of teachers and the curric-
ulum of the District schools.
The general public, however, Is probably
not fully informed concerning those fea-
lures = the recommendation which are at
war with the principle of local government
in purely municipal affairs. 1t seems proper
therefore to call attention to the language
of the bill. and to suggest the possibility
of the ultimate degradation of the public
schools by associating them with the per-
nicious influence of controlling party poll
tics.
Quoting from the resolution:
There shall be a department of public
schools in the government of the District
of Columbia, and the President of the
United States is hereby authorized to ap-
point by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, five persons residing in the
District of Columbia, to constitute a board
OF education, whose term of office shall be
five years. ="
The loose wording Of this passage does
not insure the appointment of trustees from
citizens of standing and some years identi-
fics-tion with the interests of the District.
Residing" as a condition precedent for
trusteeship. is readily complied with by a
brief soiourn in the city on the part of any
person whom. from party interests. it might
be desirable to place in position where
SO much patronage is to be dispensed.
Quoting again from the resolution:
1.-The board shall have power to appoint
one superintendent for all the public
schools in the District of Columbia, sec
retary, disbursng officer. who shall give
a bond in the sum of ten thousand tS10,0O0)
dollars for the faithful discharge of his du-
ties. and two clerks. and to remove said
officers at its pleasure. The superintend-
ent, by and with the advice and consent of
the board, shall have power to appoint and
remove an assistant superintendent, all
teachers. officers and other employees con-
nected with the public schools not already
specified. ~
1t is evident that majority of three
trustees, who ara to be appointed by the
President control absolutely without check
or balance of any sort the appointment and
dismissal of the entire personnel of the
schools, including the executive officers. su-
perviSorS, directors, teachers and janitOrs.
This immense power is to be placed in the
hands of men appointed by the President
presumably under partisan advice, who
may be tempted to abuse this power by
making appointments in accordance with
the principles of the "spoils SYSTEM"
The remotest possibility Of political con-
troll of the schools should arouse citizens
to influence the Senate committee to modi-
fly the details of ths proposed legislation to
avoid such grave dangers. The principle
of local government In a purely local affair
Is at stake. This valuable idea as the
basis for the control of the public schools
can be maintained and the proposed re-
forms In the board Of trustees assured by
securing, in place of board appointed by
the President. trustees designated by the
Commissioners of the District who are citt-
zens of the District. intent upon the best
interests of the District and approachable
in all municipal affairs through citizens
committees. business men and the great
non-partisan associations of the District.
The Senate committee is now considering
the appropriation bill of the District of Co.
iumbia All the action that is to be taken
to influence this committee Is urgent and
should be emphatic. J. w, PILLNG