Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21
New Ideas Not Needed.

In support of the proposition to import
a man from outside of the District to be
superintendent OF schools, It Is urged that
new ideas are necessary here. that the
promotion of G. local man to be superin-
tendent Is a species of ''inbreeding' that
produces decadence. that fresh blood is
necessary to vitalize the system. To these
arguments the great majority of the cit
liens of Washington seriously take excep-
ton. They remember with chagrin a GER
tain Infusion of fresh blood few years
ago, with an injection Of new Ideas.
which developed until the usefulness of the
entire educational structure was imperfled
The schools are just recovering from this
importation. The average Washingtonian
has marked distaste for experiments and
innovations In the public schools. He pre-
fers to trust to the natural progressiveness
OF the teaching force. He knows that the
teachers and their principals keep in close
touch with the current thought in the edu-
cational world. and are fully aware of the
progress of the science, and capable of
adopting and applying the best conceptions
in the teaching of children that may be
developed anywhere in the civilized world.
In any case. even If 1t were desirable at
some time to draw upon the outside field
for SUPPLEMENTARY talent, this is decidedly
not the time to do 1t. What the District
chiefly needs today is harmony In its
schools. good discipline peace from fac
tionalism. effective administration. AS be-
tween pedagogical ability and executive
capacity. the superintendent who possesses
the latter at this juncture will be the
more valuable man.
With the schools in their present condi
IT,, ~ -
extremely hazardous enterprise. threaten
ing to carry the Generalization even fur
Their and deeper. The present teaching
system is believed to be excellent. 1t has
been highly praised by experts from
abroad. For some years the chief COM
plant about the system was that the sal
airy scales were too low. The people of
Washington. cognizant of the urgent need,
have been striving to secure the needful
Legislation to effect reform In this direc-
ton. and have finally succeeded They
want to hold fast to the old teachers and
principals. They want to preserve the old
ideas that are in vogue. Their very activity
in behalf of the teachers and their demand
upon Congress for the passage of new SAL
airy law may be regarded as an evidence
that they do not want to go elsewhere for
their administrative officers. They have
lost 50 many OF the best men ana women
of the school staff of late years through
the lack OF sufficient salary inducements
here to hold them that they believe that
Washington, rather than being in posi-
ton to profit by the ideas and the talents
OF outsiders. Is rated by other cities as
capable OF supplying other cities with both
teachers and ideas.
Washington has the men fitted for the
position, and 1t has all the vitality in the
school system necessary. What 1t needs is
a good discplinarian at the head OF the
system-a man who is not hampered by
factionalism and is capable OF effectively
carrying through the existing educational
policies. Such a man Is surely to be found,
and the public will be grievously disap-
pointed If the new board OF education falls
to find him