The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-11-10

splendid corps Of teachers ] doubt II
amy other city is so well favored in this
respect. The superintendent Is a force
ful educational leader, of exalted ideas,
coupled with practical resOurcefulness.
The board appears to be not only will
ing. but eager TO beneht the schools. II
has held as many as three and four
meetings a week to dispose Of problems
ConfTl ting the schools. The devotion
and loyalty OF the members are no long
eT open 10 question. Whatever honest
doubts may have been raised because
Of the questionable wisdom OF several
radical steps have been entirely remoy-
ed. A rare courage and high civic spirit
has been revealed under very trying cir
cuinstances.
The newspaper talk about the hand
ling OF the teachers in the colored
schools was wholly misleading. The
situation brought to light BY inYestisa-
tons was such that explanations could
not have benefited any one, and they
would surelU have worked mischief.
The board shouldered accusations and
misunderstandings, convinced that II
had done what right and decency de
nIanded. however its motives were mis-
represented.
Board Deserves Confidence and Power.
What the board needs most OF all
just now is the confidence OF all friends
Of the schools. And that it is entitled
10. The School Journal gives this in
dorsement the more heartily because it
has carefully and gully satisfied itself
that the board has been actuated in its
work by the best motives.
THE chief difficulty the board has 10
deal with is the constant handicap re-
sulting from extreme Limitation OF its
authority. No school board OF any city
In this country has so little real power.
For example. the Washington board has
no control even over the orders for
, school supplies II makes ana passes
and pays no bills The selection OF sites
and the construction OF school buildings
are beyond its authority. Many OF the
buildings are Ia Il wretchcd condition.
yet the board can do nothing directly 20
effect needed improvements. IL would
seem TO be reasonable that the board
ought TO have powers similar 10 those
accorded to the boards Of New York
city. Of Chicago. St Louis, Philadelphia,
Boston. and other American Giles.
Then, and not till then. can IL be held
responsible for conditions.
Will the President Take a Hand?
1t may be that President Roosevelt
will come TO the rescue once more. The
appointment Of a special commissioner
to investigate AID acquaint him with
the educational needs OF the Washing
ton schools crtalnly showed that he is
deeply interested. The corps OF teachers
under the leadership Of the new superin-
/ tendent can be trusted to take care
of the purely educational part Of the
! problem. The serious problem is an ad-
I ministrational one. Dr. Brown could
/ furnish the President with data from
! the records OF the Bureau OF Education,
/ which would reveal the real handicaps
| 10 progress.
! Let the Washington organization be
compared with that OF St. Louis, which
! may well be regarded as a model. or
/ with Boston and Philadelphia, which IN
! their recent congratulations have adopt
{ ed many OF the best features OF success
4 full American school systems. Rule by
/ rules. bureaus has proved too serious a
| hindrance to growth 10 be permitted To
I continue In the school administration
! OF the Dis riot. The people of Washing
] ton ought to have a fuller share in the
| responsibility for the schools than they
now have. The situation wants the con-
| stTuctiVe thought OF d really great man
VIII Mr.. Roosevelt take a hand?"