Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14
Local School Legislation.

Tho NTorrell subcommittee of the House
1,fstriat COMMITTEES has concluded the public
a,,rirys on the various measures relating to
local school administration, and VIII now
probably proceed to consider them with
view to recommending the passage OF one
OF the number with or without amendments.
The arings before the committee have
been productive OF much talk relative to
the past and present condition OF the
schools Some OF this talk has been reie-
want to the issues Immediately before the
committee. bat much of II has been irrele-
want and unjust to the men and women who
comprise the exceptionally capable teaching
force There has been considerable critl-
clsm of the pedagogic methods and of the
scheme Of administration and supervision.
T. is quite plain that there is no general
agreement in the community that the exist
Ing plan Of school management is In need
OF change Some OF the most conservative
and thoughtful citizens have entered their
protests against a general reorganiza ton.
The subcommittee will lack no variety OF
advice on this question.
on the question of teachers salaries, how
ever. there is no divergence of opinion
Eyery witness before the subcommittee who
discussed the subject agreed that the teach
ers should be better paid, and should also
De assured Of systematic promotion. Each
of the pending bills provides such a system
OF promotion. They differ in degree, with a
wide margin between the most liberal and
the most economical These differences af-
feet the several grades of teachers. But all
Of the measures coincide IN the proposition
that there should be a system OF automatic
promotion which will guarantee the teacher,
OF whatever grade, chance TO attain a Nv
ing salary I'm the course of faithful service.
There is no urgent demand for general
reorganization OF the schools at this time,
Such difficulties as have arisen in the past
are susceptible of adjustment. Public SEN
timeut IS almost uniformly agreed that
closer relationship between the parents aud
the schools is secured through board OF
education appointed by the District Com
misSioners Whether this shall be seven or
nine members. and whether they shall be
paid salaries or not. are secondary and vir-
tudlly immaterial considerations The man
ner Of their appointment, however, reaches
to the root OF their representative charac-
ter. and II il to be believed that appoint
meut by the Commissioners Is better cal
Culated to provide a board which stands
for the actual sentiment of the community
than one chosen by the President.
This question is itself subordinate to the
far more important issue OF assuring the
teaching force OF fair and liberal treatment
OF late years the local schools have been
losing seriously in point OF the valuable
services OF both men and women of expe-
Iience Discouraged by the sIowness of
promotion and the Ineagerness OF present
salaries, they have departed for other fields,
where broader ideas as to the value of this
service obtain. There is apparently dispo-
sltlon In Congress to recognize this fact.
and therefore the hopV runs high that out
Of the District committee and eventually
out OF both houses viii at this session come
bill which will once and for all time es-
tablish the principle OF longevity promo
lions for the teachers and assure them
proper treatment during their service. Be
side this question an other matters fade
into iHsignifcance