Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-07
No Gutter Wanted Here.

Six weeks from yesterday the schools of
this District will open for the year. There
is today no formal school organization.
There is no superintendent and. legally
speaking, there are no teachers. A COM
mittee of the new school board is now en-
gagged in seeking a man from outside of
Washington willing to come here to take
charge Of the system. The latest reports
Indicate no closer approach to a decision
or a discovery than a month ago. Mean
while there is available right here at the
capital excellent locaf material for the SUI
perintendency.
Time has now become a vitality impor-
tant element in the case. Should the COM
mittee find and the board appoint man
from outside OF Washington to take this
place such a man in coming here would
necessarily leave the city of his former en-
ployment seriously embarrassed, on the
very eve of-school opening. That city, be
II Indianapolis. or Denver, or Ypsilanti. or
Omaha. would have even more difficulty in
securing from the outside field man meas
urlng up to its needs than the District COM
mittee is having to persuade first-class
educator TO come here for the salary
available.
Washington does not want a school SUI
reasons, would consent to throw his en-
ployers into a predicament. Such a man
would not measure up to the Districts
Ideals of honor and high character, what
ever might be his educational qualifications.
Even waving this question OF ethics, such
q man. proving himself satisfactory school
superintendent here would oe just as likely
without warning to leave Washington IN
the lurch some fine day In order to HE
himself elsewhere and take another assign
ment.
II this is done and one of the cities on
which the committee is casting envious eyes
Is raided for q school superintendent 1t Is
virtually certain that the community thus
mulcted will not attempt to find super
lntendent elsewhere. but will adopt the
sensible course of promoting the man next
in line or some other local availability.
Such a course will ensure a continuation
Of the established policies and methods and
guarantee against a sudden change. 1t will
encourage the ambitions of the local teach
ers II will reduce TO a minimum the
chances OF mistake In selection.
That is precisely what Washington should
have done promptly upon ehe resignation
OF the former superintendent In July. There
was an abundance of local talent and a
strong public sentiment In favor OF its
utilization. Instead of making use of this
opportunity. the committee has gone hither
and yOn in its search for a man willing to
throw over his employers at the beck OF
Washington and precipitate elsewhere an
even more difficult situation than that
which has here developed.
Washington does not want to acquire a
reputation as a school raider. 1t prefers
to hold fast TO its own. to develop good
material and to make the best use of the
men and women who have grown up with
the local system, and apply them IN the
development OF ideal school establish
ment. 1t has suffered severely In the past
through the departure of some of it's best
teachers for other fields, and now 1t has
Put itself on such a salary basis that there
Will be no excuse for these men and women
to depart. Let the home r1le principle be
firmly established at the outset of the new
regime and the school organization will
take on new life and speedily win its way
to the front for efficiency and progress
sIveness.