The Washington times., 1906-10-21
NEED OF HARMONY
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
DR.. Montgomery Discusses
Conditions Among CoIored
Officers and Teachers.
CESSPOOL OF DlSSENSION
Says Holders of Executive Positions
Should Work With One
Accord.

DR.. Winfield Scott Montgomery, su-
perintendent of the coiored schools of
the District. is OF the opinion that there
must be among the cOlOred teachers and
officers the fullest understanding in or
der to harmOnize conditions In the school
system.
In speaking OF the situation, DR..
Montgomery said; 1t has always been
my policy 10 refrain from speaking on
subjects pertaining 70 school matters.
have endeaYored in the past 70 attend
strictly to my duties and If there was
10 be any talking done IL was always
my desire that il should come from
those above me.
And l wish IL 10 be emphatically un-
derstOod that 1 am not speaking for
the purpose OF criticising, but merely
expressing what 1 believe 10 be the
truth.
Needs of Colored Schools.
1.-THE colored schools OF this city. as
well as the white ones. have long been
IN a state OF inctpient insurrectiOn. Ihis
IS no secret-everybody interested in
school matters knows IT. What the col
oTed schools need is a corps OF workers
that will work in harmony with those
holding executive positions. The prin-
cipais. supervising principals, and other
officials should not manifest the least
antagonism toward their superiors. They
should put their shoulders 10 the wheel,
and strive 10 push matters along in or
der that the system might be benefited.
instead OF making il a veTitabie cess
pool OF dissension
Superintendent Chancellor has start
ed out In straightforward manner and
has done excellent work since his con-
nectiOn with the system. That is what
the schools need. They want some one
behind them-some one that will lend his
energy. his time, his brains. to their
betterment. This Is what the new
superintendent is doing
AS to CardozO Affair.
In regard 10 Cardozo I wish TO say
that 1 have never received a letter from
him. II is true that / have been at
tackled In letters. but none was ever
directed to me personally. One letter
was sent 10 4 local paper, which l be-
heve mentioned my name. There have
been times when I have been compelled
10 diner with Cardozo, but never has
there arisen an occasion when I have
been compelled to offer any direct OBJ
JectiOn 10 what the col0red supervising
principal proposed.
Unless We have discipline in the sys-
TEN there Will never exist a uniformity
of views. which Is absolutely essential
10 the maintenance OF a properly con-
Quoted administration.
Man Of Force Needed.
SO far as l know. nothing has been
done toward selecting a successor TO hu
the vacancy created by Cardozo's dis
missaL This matter win be entirely In
the hands OF the superintendent and
whoever he selects will be entirely sat
isfactoTy 10 me. What we want IS a
man OF broad Views. a scholar and a
tactful person, TO fill the vacancy. II
he can be recruited from the local
schools ne should be given a fair trial.
II the local schools don't possess a man
OF this quality then we must look else
where for him
1T is essential that a man-not only
in name, but In force Of character
should be gotten for the position"