Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-25
The school Superintendent.

It is vitality important that the new SUI
perintendent of the District public schools
should be a man immune from class and
factional influence man of high char
acter. ability. experience and independence.
He should come into his office free from
"entanglng alliances and free also from
the suspicion OF being the partisan of
special section of the community or the op-
ponent of any section. 1t has been urged
ON behalf of the candidate for the position
whose name has been most conspicuously
mentioned of those considered from out
side of the District that he Is opposed by
the colored members of the board of edu-
cation. the reasons for their opposition
being In truth to his credit. This very claim
would seem to eliminate him from serious
consideration as the ideal. man for the post.
Washington does not want now to be
saddled with a school superintendent
whose presence will be distasteful to any
distinct class of the people or to one of the
races. It certainly does not want the choice
TO be so made as to compact the colored
membership OF the board into unit working
in opposition to other units. thus accentu-
atlng the race problems which have in the
past been solved to the general satisfaction
Of the community. 1t does not want any
combination of circumstances that will de-
yelop school board politics, possibly giving
the balance of power to a single compact
group.
What Washington does want is a school
superintendent who. by his familiarity with
the local conditions. is capable of assuming
charge at once without loss of time or
waste of energy. who can be strong con-
meeting link between the old school system
and the new board. who can harmonic dlf-
ferences between the teachers. and who is
at once capable as an educator and an ad-
ministrator. 1t is believed that such man
can be found here in Washington. Certain
~ It is believed that, other things, being
equal a generally competent local man viii
be far better qualified to adjust the local
conditions to the new basis by reason of
his intimate knowledge OF the conditions.
The statement which has been made that
only a minority here favor local man for
superintendent is absurd. The great ma
jorlty of officials and teachers or the schools
are earnestly hoping that local man Will
be chosen and are almost unanimous In be-
lieving that certain man is best
equipped for the task. The work of some
Jew people inside the schools in urging an
outside man. any outside man. is mani
fest muddylng of the water for personal
citizens of the community, without profess
ing TO have expert knowledge of the case.
are heartily hoping that the board of edu-
cation will not announce that the local pub
lie schools. almost ready TO celebrate their
Tooth anniversary have not been able to
develop a man competent to I'LL the office of
superintendent. 1t is not believed that the
board of education thinks that this is true
or that the board will take the very grave
responsibility OF acting as II 1t thought so.
The committee appointed by the president
of the board to consider names and to make
a nomination has now been at work nearly
three weeks ana has thus far been unable to
arrive at a conclusion This fact is in no
sense or degree a reflection upon the MEM
bers of the committee. They are all working
for the good of the schools according to
their lights and they cannot agree upon
single man. In these circumstances 1t would
seem to be proper to suggest that the COM
mIttee report the progress achieved and the
names considered and most favored,
knowledge the imposslbility of agreement
and ask to be discharged from further con-
sideration. thus passing up 10 the full board
the responsibility OF a final selection--a re-
sponsIbillty which must rest with the eight
members rather than the three when the
choice is finally effected.