Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-25
NEW SCHOOL SYSTEM
Provisions of Senator Cul-
lom's Bill.
NO SECRET PROCEDURE
PUBLICITY AND oPENNESS CHAR
ACTERIZEs DETAILS.
Truant Schools, Pension Fund, Better
Salaries and Educational Qualifica-
lions of Teachers.

| Publicity and openness In all admnistra-
| tive details is the dominant characteristic
| of the school system recommended by the
| bill introduced In the Senate by Mr.. Gull
| lom of Illinois to provide for the control,
! administration and support Of the public
| schools of the District Of Columbia and to
| determine and regulate salaries of all en-
ployes of the board of education
| After providing that the control of the
| public schools shall be vested In a board
| of education to consist Of nine members,
| to serve without compensation, three OF
whom shall be women. and three Of whom
| shall be of the colored race, the appoint
| ments to be made by the President of the
| United States for a term of three years.
! the bill declares that the organization meet
| ing. and all meetings whatsoever there
! after. shall be open to the public.
No Star Chamber Proceedings.
| Star chamber proceedings are not to be
| countenanced In any particular. The an
| nual report is to be made directly to the
President of the United States; dismissal
| of teacher shall be only after trial by
| the entire board, upon written charges
| and upon a two-third vote for expulsion:
| the superintendent Of schools shall keep on
| file and open to the public directory or
| all teachers. dates of appointments and
| other personalities of the entire force en-
| ployed by the board of education, which
| directory shall be published annually: the
secretary of the board OF education Shall
keep ftemiZed account OF all receipts
and disbursements OF the board. subject to
audit and open to the public.
Educational qualifcat tons of the whole
force Of school employees from the sup
erintendent to the kindergarten teacher are
made specific. The duties of the board as
an administration body in contradistfnc-
/ ton to the educa tional duties of the three
expert agents, superintendent of schools,
a superintendent of buildings and supplies
and a supervisor OF lectures, are clearly
determined.
The Head Of the System.
The supervision Of all matters pertain
ing to instruction In all schools is vested by
the bill in superintendent Of schools, who
shall have had at least three years expert
ence as a superintendent of schools and
shall hold doctor OF philosophy degree
from an accredited college Ten superin-
tendents OF buildings and supplies shall be
responsible for the condition and care OF
all school buildings and premises. The SUI
pervisor of lectures shall serve without
pay, shall hold a master of arts degree
from an accredited college and shall have
control and direction of the free lectures
to the people and shall select and ass gn
lecturers and other persons. whose services
may be required in connection with the lee
lures
Assistant superlntendents for white and
colored schools are provided. The present
supervising principals, upon scheme SIM
liar to that of the bill introduced recently
by Representative Foster of Vermont, in
which salaries are based upon the number
of session rooms under supervision, are re-
tanned under the name principals of ele-
mentary schools" principals of high
schools" Principals of high schools are
likewise provided, but the position OF gen.
Gral director seems to be eliminated
Qualifications of Teachers.
In Connection with the matter of exam
ination for appointment of teachers eligi-
bility clauses are clearly defined For
elementary schools the equivalent of the
Washington High School course and four
years experience or certificate from
normal school ranking with the Wash
/ ington Normal School and two years ex-
perience are required. Only graduates of
the Washington Normal School are made
eligible without examination Eligibility
of principals in elementary schools for
examination shall be a college degree
from an accredited college and four years
successful experience or certificate from
the Washington Normal School and six
years successful experience. All princi-
pals must have taken the oral and writ
ten examination and shall have educa-
tiona1 and executive supervision of the
schools within this charge and be directly
responsible to the superintendent
Stringent exactions are made for eligi-
bility to the high school ranks and ex-
aminations are demanded for progression
from class to class
One of the novel features of the bill pro-
vides for the segregation into special classes
of all habitual truants and incorrigibie pu
pills. and, looking to the passage OF a COM
pulsory education law. provides that the su-
perintendent shall group into special schools
all pupils that are deaf, blind or mentally
defective.
ceive daily copies of medical inspection rec
ords.
Pensions for Teachers.
In the matter of pension funds for the
teachers Of both white and colored schools
the administration OF the created funds is
vested In a board of trustees, consisting of
the president OF the board of education. the
chairman of the committee on teachers, the
superintendent and two assistant supertn-
tendents and four teachers from both the
white and the colored schools The fund
shall consist of all funds now available to-
gether with such additions as Congress may
prescribe. donations and bequests and all
deductions from annual salaries OF officers
and teachers. amounting to per cent
thereon. provided the same does not exceed
$13 per annum for any individual teacher
Teachers who shall have taught twenty
five years fifteen of which have been spent
In the District schools, or. II disabled, who
have taught twenty years, ten of which
have been spent In the local Institutions.
shall be entitled to receive 60 per cent an
hually of the average salary provided the
same does not exceed $500 for teachers
and $1,000 for principals.
In separate dill Mr.. Culiom presents a
schedule of permanent salaries similar TO
those submitted by the board of education
and Representative Foster. but rather more
generous than either. one significant fea-
ture being provision for the retention of
skilled teachers in the lower grades
The bill In general is regarded as tending
strongly TO the general advancement OF Dis
tricts educational interests Truant schools
pension fund. better salaries and education
al qualifications of teachers are rega rded
as among the excellencies of the proposed
system.