Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-31
MAKES AN OBJECTION
MR. WILLIAM A. JOINER CRITr.
cIsEs THE FOSTER BILL.
Alleged Faults in Measure for Re.
organization Of the District
School System.

| The Foster bill for the reorganization %
| the District schools Is attracting much ate
tention Mr.. William A Joiner. director OF
| the training school at Howard University.
| in statement relative to the proposed
| legislation, says:
The bill lately introduced by Representa-
| tive Foster of Vermont, looking to a re-
| organization of the school system, deserves
more than passing glance by those inter-
ested In the welfare of the schools.
I'm the main the bill presented is just
and equitable, and gives evidence of care
| ful study of the best systems and an adap-
tation of these to the needs of the District.
1t is, however, defective in several of It's
provisions Its chief faults are
First, 1t carries class legisla ton; second,
1t undertakes primary educat ion third it
dlrerentiateS in the compensation for teach-
ing certain subjects without regard TO the
professional preparation involved; fourth.
1t makes promotions regular and annual.
with no provision for retardation or accel-
GRAFTON based upon merit; fifth. it does not
allow credit for experience to teachers COM
ing into The schools from other systems.
"A few of these objections will be re-
viewed briefly, others are too patent to re-
Quire comment
1T is obvious to one familiar with the
school system of the District that 1t was
| not the intention of the Trainer of the bill
to discriminate on the ground of color No
statesmanswould do that, and, least of ali,
one from Vermont: but it is Intended that
the bill shall assign the larger salary to the
head teacher having the larger number of
assistants to direct and the larger respon-
sfbilfty. Against this objection will nor
stand. But it should be plain on the face Of
the law that such Is the case and the
words white and colored' should not ap-
pear The reason for the difference, while
clear within the District, will not be COM
pretended beyond its limits and the effect, ,
VIII be pernicious wherever the import IL
not understood.
Quotation From the Bill.
Above all, 1t is the duty of educators
and educational laws to know no color and
make no distinctions that are or seem to be
pased upon such grounds seem to mark
this bill. Page 70, line 10. reads: r.
director OF department of secondary
education, white $1,000; director of depart
ment of secondary education. coored 81 100:
director of intermediate instruction white,
5000; director of intermediate instruction.,
colored, Sl,S00: director of primary instruc-
tion' White, 1000; director of primary In
sructlon, colored $1,000: supervisor of In
dustrlal instruction, white, 81. 500; super
visor or industrial instruction, coiored
sl,soo: supervisor of drawing in elementary
SCHOOLS, white, S,S00; supervisor of draw
Ing in elementary schools coored 81 400:
supervisor of music in elementary schools
WHITE $l,SOO; supervisor of music in ee-
Sl,4t SnDerNiSOr
or physical culture in elementary schools,
white $l,6o0; supervisor of physical culture
In elementary schools. colored 81 300. one
mead teacher of sewing, white, 81 800: one
nead teacher of sewing colored, 81, 200. one
head teacher of cooking white 81 800: one
head teacher of cooking. colored 81 200: one
head teacher of kindergarten, white 81 800:
one mead teacher of kindergarten, colored,
81. 200
Second Objection. s
THE second objection is fundamental,
and 1t Is hard to see how this point was
overlooked by the author of the bill No
mistake is more frequent and none less ex-
cusable IN school systems than the contin-
ual assignment of inexperienced teachers to
the primary grades and their removal
thence to higher grades as soon as they
have mastered the rudiments of teaching
thus leaving the first and most important
years Of instruction forever In the hands OF
noVlces. But this will be the case so long
as school boards and legislators persist in
paying the smallest salaries to primary
teachers and condition increased compen-
sation upon advancement to higher grades
There are few good primary teachers, and
the work of the entire system depends so
much upon the proper training In the early
years that 1t would be wise economy when
good primary teachers have been found or
developed, to retain them in the primary
grades, increasing their compensation as
experience and merit demand. The best
educational thinkers advocate this plan and
the most progressive systems have adopted
1t. Is not the national capital entitled TO
the best?
Fourth Point Vital
1.-THE fourth point is vital TO good work
within the system. So long as the sole or
principal basis Of promotion in a system OF
schools is longevity, just so long will that
system fail to get the best there IL In its -
teaching corps. Teachers have only to do
fair work and go on living; promotions
come in regular order. The energetic. pro-
gressive teacher the indolent and in
different one annually advanced ahead OF
him and with the same regularity. No ex-
pendlture OF time, money or energy in prep
aration will advance him beyond his medi-
OGRE fellows; time alone holds the certifi-
Gates of promotion, and so the great mass
of teachers sooner or later settles down to
more or less Indifferent work to patiently
watch the flight of time. Experience IS
worth something and faithfulness to duty
is worth much more, but energetic am
bilious teacher may, in two or three years.
make himself more valuable to a school
system than an indifferent one who has
kept school for twenty years. The bill
should make provision for the filling of va
cancies occurring IN higher grades by pro-
motion from lower grades based upon pro.
ficiency rather than longevity.
Fifth. No school system can long MAIN
tain q high standard which recruits its
teachers entirely from its own products
and the best teachers of other Systems cam
not be obtained If they must enter that to
which they have been called at the bottom
of the list, receiving no credit for expert
ence gained In past work. With amend
BILL If adopted, should produce a splendid
system of schools in the District"
CUMBERLAND NOTES,