The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-11-10
School journal UDholdS
Our Board Of Education
Declares 1t Has Earned Public Confidence and
Should Be Given Full Control of School Funds.
New Buildings Needed

vigorous analysis Of school affairs
! in the District Of Columbia is presented
as the leading editorial In the current
issue Of the School Journal The argu-
ment is:
That the control OF the school funds
by the District Commissioners seriously
hampers a right administration OF the
! local system; that the devotion and
loyalty" OF the present school board
are no longer open to question:" that
what the board needs most of ali is the
confidence OF all friends OF the schools,
and that il is entitled to-" and that
the board ought to have powers similar
90 those accorded to the boards OF New
York city and other large educational
cSnters.
The School Journal is published in
New York as a weekly, Is edited by Os-
sian Lang, and Is one OF the first educa-
tiOnal periodicals IN the country. Its
estimate OF Washington school condi-
tons follows:
Schools of the Nation.
THE situation at Washington is a
most difficult one 10 handle with abso-
Idte justice 10 everyone. But it is well
worth while TO make the effort TO an
alyze conditions as they are. The
Washington schools are. by reason OF
their peculiar constitution, made part
OF the responsibility Of every citizen OF
the United States. They are our schools
as much as the schools of the District
of Columbia. This division OF response
! bility may or may not he TO the best
interests Of the schools. but there 1t Is
and such as ii is we have 10 deal with
il.
Mr.. Clark, OF Missouri. was right
when he said last spring that Congress
has proved Itself worse than unfit 10
administer the local affairs or the Dis
trict. Washington represents in its orga-
uization the least American municipal
~ Ia the United States. Practically all
power is resident either IN the District
| Commissioners, or In such officers as
| the Comptroller OF the Treasury, OF IN
the subcommittee OF the Congress. me
control or the educational affairs Is cor
resPondingly complicated.
Commissioners Hamper the Schools.
Going on the well-warranted assump-
ton that he who controls the finances
holds chief control In the system. we
shall find that ae Board OF Education
Is extremely limited In tie scope OF its
powers. No moneys are allowed for any
purpose except those which are specf-
| ned in the acts. The District Commits
| stoneTs control the money. The legal
adviser of the board. too. Is controlled
| by the Commissioners. Thus far three
/ different advisers have been assigned 10
| the board. each with different opinion
| 10 give Those who have followed close
/ iy the development OF affairs feel that
/ the attitude Of these Commissioners has
not been a helpful one.
/ However even il the Commissioners
should wish 10 give their fullest aid to
/ the board, there would stiil be other
difficulties TO be met. The COmissiOn-
1 ers are fenced in by acts of Congress
/ with provisions so definite that they
I have almost no discretionary power one
/ bureau IS dependent upon another bu-
! reau. Prerogatives are sensitively
/ guarded There is really no city of
! Washington. And the District OF Co
/ lumbia, Someone has called il "A sat
/ Tapy OF Congress and that expresses
| about what II really is.
! These considerations should be kept
/ I'm mind in weighing the actions OF the
/ present educational administration
Splendid Teachers" and Courageous
| Board"
! "a careful study Of the situation war
rants several definite statements. First,
as to conditions Washington has a