The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-29

piete Makeup OF tho BODY.
Tho District Appropriation Act, approved
June s, 1909, provided for the re-orsani-
zation OF the pubic school system, By the
appointment Of q new Board of Education,
District. That duty was performed jester
day by the naming Of the following per-
sons to servo HpOn the said board:
CHARLES J. BELL, President Of the Ameri-
can Security and Trust Company.
J. HOLDSWGRrH GORDON.
H. RICHARD klNGSNAN.
Gen GEORGE II. HARRIES.
1rs HENRY LTTCHEiEID WEST.
JAMES L. BUhDY.
trs V. r. FRANCiA
In naming the members Of the Board
Of Educatipn the law stipulates that it
shall consist Of seven persons, and the
commissioners elected that two OF its
members should DO cotored people and
that two should be women. The last two
in the list are those who are to represent
the coiored schools Of the District.
The names OF the board were suggested
by Commissioner mcfarland, VINO has
supervision over the public schools, and
were ratified by the other Commissioners.
After the meeting of the Commissioners
yesterday Mr.. Aacfarland authorized the
following statement:
Il feel sure ttat tho Board OF Eiuca-
ton will command the confidence and the
support Of the coEl:f:u unity, for its members
arc representative and disinterested citi-
zens who meet all the requirements OF the
law and the circumstances. They de-
serve tho thanks OF the community for
undertaking this very important public
service at . personal sacrifice which, in
some cases. IL so great that they were
naturally reluctant to make it. The fact
that the law required the appointees to be
both residents and taxpayers for five
years Immediately preceding the appoint
ment, narrowed the choice among those
who were Otherwise eligible. and SO did the
fact that many OF that class had gone
abroad. or e2sewhere for the summer. Of
had made plans for doing SO. which they
could not or would not break to remain
here and work during the heat.
1T was only the public spirited who
keeuly appreciated the fact that our school
system has reached crisis. and that the
new board is to make its future in the
interest OF the forty thousand public
school pupils and thetr successors. and.
therefore, in the interest of the city, who
duties in midsummer. As the board was
to come into being on July 1, and must
appoint tho Superintendent and the AS
siStant Super;n tendents and the other OIL
Gals and instructors in time to make
preparation fo< the opening OF the schools
in September, the work could not, of
course, wait. The city is to be congratu-
lated that men and women were to be
found who could and would do it under
all the conditions.
in the selection OF the members Of the
Board of Education. neither political nor
social influence was allowed to interfere.
and the only desire and purpose was to
get the best people possible under the
circumstances. 1t was recognized that
they could not all be taken from one
section OF the city. but that it was equal
ly irnpracticable to make a sectional board
of it by trying to put representative OF
every section upon it.
Tho board is to represent the whole
city, and to administer the whole school
system, aAd 1t Is to work as whole, and
not to split up into representatives OF
school divisions. 1t is to be the executive
authority, and every member OF it is to be
an administrator OF every part OF the
school system. Its members must be free
to go at any time to any school during its
session. or to hold a meeting at any hour
of the day. This fact ruled out Of consider
alton men and women holding Office under
the Government or under the District, and
others who were not masters Of their own
time, without going into the question of
double compensation. At the same time.
idlers were not wanted, but busy men and
women who had shown success in their
own affairs, because they always do best in
such public service"
BY reference to the names Of the APP
pointees it will be seen that two members
of the old Board of School Trustees, name
ly, Gen. George H. Harries and Mrs. j. r.
Francis. are reeppointed. II will be seen,
also. that while no special effort was made
TO represent localities. practically every
section is represented. For instance. j
Holcsworth Gordon is not only a promi-
nent member Of the bar, but is citizen
of Georgetown and viii represent that sec
ton of the District. DR.. Richard Kings
man is physician. residing on Capitol
Hill. and stands for that section, while
other members of the board are from the
populous northwest part of the city.
Under the law the Board of Education
practically takes control of the public
echooI system. 1t will appoint one Super
intendent Of Public Schools at $1,000 per
annum, two assistant superintendent at
81, 500 each. one secretary at $500, one
clerk at 81. 100. two clerks at $1,000 each,
and messenger at ST20.
One of the assistant superintendents II
is assumed, will have charge OF the COL
ored schools. and 1t may also be assumed
that the said superintendent will be
colored man or woman. They are further
empowered to employ and remove ali
teachers. officers and other employees of the
public schools. provided that the gradu
atss of the rofflal schools shall have pref
erence In all casas when appointments of
teachers for the grade schools are made.
Commissioner Mcfarland has worked
long and conscien.iously in obtaining
suitable persons to servo on this board
There have been many consultations and
much wire pulling on the part of candi-
dates for the several positions on the
board. But as it was finally made up 1t
is stated that In every case the office
sought the appointee."
ChrisfiaA Union Delegates.