Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-15
| circumstances with which the board of edu-

circumstances with which the board of edu-
cation has had to contend.
The mode of separation of the white from
the colored schools amounts virtually to
partiaf dfsintegration of the system. That
1t will tend to difference of standard be-
tween the white and the colored schools
cannot be doubted. That such a. tendency is
unfortunate and undesirable, every inteih-
gent citizen will probably agree basing the
opinion upon the past educational history
Of the District.
BY far the greatest difficulty arose from
the fact that no one yet knows positively
by judicial opinion whether the great BODY
of teachers were or were not continued IN
office For myself. believe that they were
continued by mere virtue of the legislation.
1 hold this opinion mainly because the leg
isiation does not state the contrary, put
there are phrases and clauses In the law
which make this opinion questionable. Could
we have had a definite legal opinion TWO
weeks ago, 1t would have been Of great as
sistance.
The consolidation of the two Offices OF
assistant superintendent and OF director OF
high schools made 1t Impossible 10 appoint
the two entirely competent persons VINO
had held those positions. and 1t became
unfortuna tely necessary for the superm-
tendent of schools to make a choice pc
tween them and to make the choice Wlthln
a few hours of his acceptance or his once.
II one or the other of these two Officers
had been incompetent such choice would
have been easy and would have been ac-
however, was not the case.
The new legislation. with respect to COM
pulsory education. added another body OF
items to consume the time of any super1n-
tendent, whether he came from WttHih VI
without the city.
Masses of documents reporting seVeraI
investigations conducted by the previous
board were Immediately filed with the new
SUPERINTENDENT. and literally hundreds OF
persons insisted on interviews OF greater or
less length bearing on these cases. 1t Is true
that it is the custom IN all otner schooi
systems for persons who are rendering un
satisfactory service to their legal superiors,
or whose services for any other reason are
considered undesirable. are accustomed IN
mediately upon notification OF sucn Iacts 10
resign The experience of month mere
has convinced the new superintendent as
to the general value of Investigations ii'o
such cases. lit,
There is a peculiar quality of the puplic
opinion of the District of Columbia DUE II
would seem. to the fact that public ques-
lions cannot be submitted to the test Of a
vote In saying this l must not De taken
as advocating self-government Tor the DIS
trict of Columbia. though l have sus-
picion that under certain limitations OF the
suffrage such government would remedy the
general situation. No doubt to degree
organs of public opinion, take the place Of
elections: but newspapers themselves
change their policies and persist in policies
with and without the support of majority
of the citizens.
Taken all together, the District of Column
bia undoubtedly presents now the most in
teresting school situation to be found In
America. There exists here two almost in
dependent school systems, a fact that in
itself makes the situation interesting and
significant. Considering the magnitude of
the system, with its nearly 1900 employees
and 6O.OO0 pupils, the dependence of the
board of education for its buildings upon a
separate governing body. and still other
facts that will Immediately occur to all per-
sons conversant with the school system, one
easily understands the exceeding public in
terest in the present conditions.
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM e. CHANCELLOR.