Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-06
The School Bill.

Following the line OF the most urgent
mood Of the local public school system,
the House District committee has evolved
a bill which deserves prompt passage by
both houses of Congress. DisregaTd1ng
the cry that radical measures of economy
were necessary IN order to provide means
for the establishment OF an automatic
promotion plan and for more liberal sal
aries for the teachers, the Morrell subcom-
mlttee proceeded TO adopt, almost without
change. the salary schedules of the original
Babcock, or Commissioner, bill, making
that the basis for a very moderate degree
of reorganization. Thus the measure Is not
now loaded down with any of the strife-pro-
vokinfZ proposals OF the various school re-
organization bills which the subcommittee
had before 1t. nor does 1t cut off the pay OF
any supervisors or special teachers in order
TO save a trife on account OF the promotion
plan. The true friends Of the public schools
find themselves in position to indorse ana
vote for the bill without feeling that they
are In any degree weakening the efficiency
OF the system or taking the bread and butter
from any school workers In order to gain
decent salary scale for the teachers.
The new composite bill carries certain
degree of reorganization. The board OF
education, still to be appointed by the Dis
trict Commissioners, is to consist of nine
instead of seven members and no salaries
are to be paid. The term Is to be three
years Instead of seven. All meetings of the
board are to be open and also those Of all
committees save IN dealing with the charac-
ter and appointment of teachers. The
changes thus effected from the present sys
TEN are OF minor consequence. 1t Is not
to be expected that the addition of two
members to the board will effect any rad
zeal change of policy.
There is no wholesale change In the sys-
tenn of supervision. The superintendent Is
given a broader authority over educational
matters and is specifically granted a seat
on the board without a vote. This latter
provision. whether wisely or unwisely, mere
ly writes into the law the existing condition
There are certain changes In the assignment
of authority over the colored schools and in
the definition of the duties of the directors
OF high schools and manual training.
OF new features there are two. the crea-
ton of the office of superintendent OF build
ings and supplies. with clerical force. and
the designation of commission to consider
the question of building consolidation and
future constructions, and to report to Con-
gress next December a comprehensive pro-
1ect. The latter proposition is tentative and
in no wise effects any economy or imposes
any additional expense at this time.
or vital consequence is the new salary
and promotion scale carried by the bill
The provisions of the Babcock bill are fol-
lowed so closely as TO make the two meas
ures almost Identical. The changes are
in the direction of greater liberallty espe-
cialiy in regard to the secondary and
special teachers The new measure carries
q more satisfactory, because more definite,
method of eifectng changes from class to
class.
Thus the urgent requirement of the school
system is met by this bill and without any
process Of pruning and changing threat
ening demoraizrg upset in the organfZa-
ton any curtailnent of its efficiency
The Star has contended that this was pos
sible. and has urged the friends of the
school teachers TO work vigorously to the
end OF presenting TO the House measure
which should present the promotion plan in
the most equitable terms without crippIing
the schools In other directions So far from
coupling the promotion scales with reorgan-
ization economies. this bill actually adds to
the cost Of administration. the department
OF building supervision absorbing more than
Is saved by cutting of the salaries of the
members of the board OF education. But
there IS no disposition on the part of the
District citizens who are aware of the
schooi needs to question the added expense
ana there should be on the part OF Congress
no disposition to block the passage of the
bill because it increases the annual educa-
tional budget. The bill should be passed
the next District day by large majority.
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