The Washington times., 1906-10-14
SUNDAY. OCTOBER Il. 1906.
Upbuilding the Schools.


With the appointment of the
ninth member of the Board of Edu-
cation and the recent decisions of
the Comptroller of the Treasury,
the adjustment of the public school
system to the new school laws may
be regarded as fairly accomplished.
Halliday sessions have been discon-
tinued, compulsory education is in
force, the new officials created by
the reorganization act have been APP
pointed, and the Board of Educa-
tion-by an extremely fortunate Sc
lection for the office of superintend-
ent-has made possible the elimina-
tion of the special interests and pet
ticoat politics which have crippled
the schools for ten years past.
Such labOrs were certain to rouse
antagonism. No teacher, however
incompetent, is without friends, and
friends are reluctant t, admit the
justice of removals for cause. In
the cases of teachers who have been
kept in office through the interven-
tion of persons of influence, that
very fact is a guaranty of de-
termined and continued opposi-
tion when the teachers are re-
duced TO positions corresponding
10 their merit 1t was perhaps too
much to expect, further, that the
imposition OF a strong control over
the colored schools should not be
somewhat misunderstood by the col
ored people.
But in spite of all such adverse
criticism it is clear the whole body
of District citizens finds satisfaction
in the present situation of the
schools. They are in the hands of
a Board Of Education which knows
its own mind and, in the light of
the Comptroller's decisions, has
made no serious mistakes in the
large work il has already done
They IRE being administered solely
for the good Of the children for
whom they were organized. They
have at their head a distinguished
administrator, who is already prov
ing an educational inspiration to
the teaching corps. They can be
expected to retain the services of
the competent teachers, now that
the teachers have been granted
reasonable pay Though it is not yet
high enough TO keep the best in
structors) with regular annual ad-
vances. They are freed of the fes-
tering sores of scandal and dissen-
sion which have made the District
of Columbia an educational taboo
for years past.
The work which is yet to do is
not spectacular. 1t is the patient,
exacting, difficult task of upbuilding
the system solidly. For five years
it went on chiefly upon educational
impetus carried over from a former
administration. The quality Of the
teaching in that period everywhere
let down. Cooperation ceased in
more than one division and became
less than complete in all divisions.
Inbreeding went on, until the edu-
cational ideas behind the system
grew less and less with every new
term, like a nest OF boxes.
For the doing of this upbuilding
nothing is required of the Board
of Education but a practical admin
istration of the business affairs Of
the schools. 1t must join with the
professional administration in the
fight for adequate accommodations,
but it must be careful as the school
year grows and the Old-time pres
sure for the appointment of teach
ers is renewed not to forget that
the division Of authority created by
the reorganization act is clear be-
yond any misunderstanding. The
greater burden now rests upon the
new superintendent and his fellow
teachers, and there is abundant rea-
son to believe they are fully COM
petent to carry it.