Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-24
OPP OSE The BILL
Commissioners UnfavorabIe to
GalIinger Measure.
TO REORGANIZE SCHOOLS
Puts System Under the National
Government.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHERS
District Authorities Glass Require
ments in Proposed Law as Unex-
ampled--Synopsis Of Provisions.

Another bin for the proposed reorganiza-
ton Of the public school system of the Dis
trict of Columbia has been marked with
the stamp of disapproval by the Commits
soners Their report on the drafted meas
ure, Senate bill No. 24T5, was forwarded
20 Senator Gallinger, chairman OF the SEN
ate District OF Columbia committee. this
morning and from the language of the
opening paragraph 1t would seem that the
municipal authorities found few. if any,
good points in the projected statute
The Commissioners OF the District of
Columbia have the honor TO report that
they cannot recommend the enactment of
this BILL, they declare because 1t
proposes to uproot the present public school
system Of the District of Columbia. transfer
1t to the national executive government,
and deprive the people of the District of
Columbia of their voice In the management
of the public schools, which were founded
one hundred years ago by the District tax
payers, have always been under local con-
troll, and ought not to be separated from
the District government, and because It
/ proposes radical Changes in the public
school system The Commissioners see
no reason for the transfer of the system
or for the proposed changes in it, and be-
Neve that they would not improve free
public education in the District of Co.
lumbia."
Provisions of Bill
1t seems that the proposed bill provides
for a board of education made ND exactly
like the present board of seven members,
including two women and two members
OF the colored race, all to serve without
remuneration. The Commissioners state
that there is no objection 10 this latter
provision, because members of the pres
ent board or persons who would be con-
sidered eligible for appointment would not
be affected by the question of compensa-
tiOn. but the provision that the members
OF the board shall be chosen by the Presi-
dent OF the United States the Commits
sioners characterize as against the ten
dency TO centralize instead of scatter the
I appointing power and other authority so as
10 concentrate the responsibility"
What the local authorities singled out as
the principal original feature of the meas
urea provision for return to the dual sys-
TEN of schools for white and schools for
colored pupiis-comes in for the following
criticism; This dual system was dtscon-
tinued by Congress in 1900 in order to'unify
the public school organizat ton. Congress
then determined that there should no
/ longer be practically two public school sys-
tens, condition obtaining in no other
place, and nothing has occurred since to
impeach the wisdom of Congress in this
action. but rather the five years passed
have shown that a unified system works
better than the divided system. If a sepa-
rate and independent administration of col
ored schools is to be desired, logically there
should be a separate board of education In
charge of colored schools, which has not
been the case since August, 1874
Unexampled Qualifications
1T is believed that it would be impossible
TO secure superintendent of colored
schools with the unexampled qualifications
required by section 4. namely, at least five
years experience as a superintendent of
/ schools and "a doctor of philosophy degree
in pedagogy from an accredited college.
Moreover, the requirement would shut out
from consideration for appointment as
either superintendent of white schools or
superintendent of colored schools all per-
sons resident in the District of Column
bia. 1t would limit the choice TO very
few persons outside of the District of CO.
lumbia. According to the last year book
of the National Educational Association
S5T superintendent of schools are enrolled
in It's active membership. and only forty
eight of them hold the degree OF doctor of
philosophy, whether in pedagogy or in any
other branch of knowledge
The Commissioners Invite particular at
tention to another provision of the bill
which they say. specifies the unusual re-
Ouirement that the principals and directors
shall retain their present positions only after
passing satisfactory examinations. Such
sections as this, II Is said. have aroused
among all the teachers considerable appre-
hension to their tenure of office, and If
adopted, the report AYERS. this provision
WoUlu ulIttNlN dItCl hbOul l.fp VI lHt IlOSI
experienced and successful teachers who
have reached their present positions solely
on merit by successfully meeting every men
tai test. Implied permanency in their tenure
of Office has kept them in our public school
system In spite of inadequate compensation
and temptations to go elsewhere and there
is an apparent injustice In requiring them TO
undergo a reorganization.
Remain Under Commissioners.
The report closes with the statement; AT
tention must once more be invited TO the
proposed separation of the public school
system from the other municipal services,
with particular regard to the finances and to
the purchase of sites and the construction
of new buildings All OF this work should
remain under the District government. The
estimates for the public schools like all the
other estimates for municipal expenditures,
ought 10 be considered by the Commission
ers In connection with all the other ~esti-
mates and in consideration of all the needs
of the District OF Columbia and of its rev.
enues."
The bill in question was introduced In the
Senate on January by Mr.. Gallinger.