Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-17
The New School Year.

Tomorrow the public schools of the Dis
trtct will reopen for another year with as
surances of a larger attendance than ever
before. The equipment of buildings and the
force of teachers have not been quite pro-
portlonately increased, but sufficiently 50
to insure a fairly comfortable administra-
ton for the scholastic and physical welfare
of the pupils. Congress has not yet fully
learned that the national capital Is a rap
Idly growing community and that 1t has
never yet been given an adequate educa-
tional establishment. Consequently the in
creases of recent years have served mainly
to prevent a widening Of the gap between
needs and equipment. That the gap has
In fact been diminished at all Is due to the
persistent efforts of citizens to bring the
houses of Congress to a true conception Of
their duty as guardians of the local in
tereSts.
There Is much to be done yet in another
direction. The pay scale of the teachers g
too low for the general welfare of the
school system, and every year the District
loses the services of several of the most
competent instructors of various grades.
Discouraged here after years of painstak-
ing. conscientious work as in the schools,
seeing no prospect of material advance
with other cities which have realized the
need of paying their teachers living wages
and encouraging them to put forth their
best efforts. Perhaps in time Congress will
grant the necessary increases for Washing
toms teachers and so enable the school
authorities to keep In the local service the
men and women who now stand for all
the success that has been achieved In the
local educational field.
It Is unfortunate that the school year
should open with a serious problem of ad-
ministration unsolved. The Eastern High
School controversy affects. OF course. only
a small number Of pupils directly. but IN
directly 1t bears upon the attitude toward
the schools Of many parents who are not
at present concerned in the management
of that institution. Had the troubles
there been brought to a focus earlier IN
the summer 1t would have been possible
for the schools to open without doubt as
to the organization OF this important branch
OF the higher public education in the Dis
trict.
The matter however. Is now in the hands
OF the board of education for adjustment.
and the citizens await the decision to be
rendered next week. It will be the part
Of wisdom to accept that ruling. whatever
1t may be. IN a spirit Of acquiescence. The
schools have not lost any of their actual
value to the community because Of this
controversy, nor will they lose unless diff
ferences are kept alive There should he
peace and good order at all points in the
educational field. good discipline in the
schools and a wise administration over all.
to the end that the teachers and pupils
may work together in harmony and with
good scholastic effect. and the teachers
VIXEN their performances justify. may at all
times be assured of the hearty support OF
the executive body of trustees. The board
of education has accepted the full respon-
sibility for settling this matter in the best
interests of the schools. and 1t is to be
assumed that it will decide according to
the highest dictates of good school man
agement.