The Washington times., 1906-10-10
GOOD WORK FOR
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Writer in Forum Thinks Re-
organization Promises
Improvement.

The current number of The Forum
includes an article on THE Educational
outlook" by Ossian H. Lang which
consists largely Of comment on the
situation OF the public schools Of this
city
IL effect AIr- Lang takes the position
that the recent reorganization OF the
District school system ala not 20 far
enough. thar the election Of DR.. Chan
cellor as superintendent promises un-
qualified good 10 the Capital, and that
the outlook for the system Is a rapid
and substantial growth In usefulness
and stability
The references to Washington are in
part as follows.
''The city Of Washington. D. C.. like
wise has a new superintendent OF
schools. lie is 1T. William Z. Chan
cellOr, whose record at the head Of
the schools Of bloomfield and Paterson.
y. J., has marked him as a leader Of
unusual courage and effectiveness. He
Is scholarly, brilliant and tactful. and
stands for everything that is best ln
modern pedagogy
Chancellor a Great Worker.
Ills capacity for work is phenomenal.
Last year, although he bad as diff
cult a situation as that Of Paterson TO
handle. he held a IectureshiD on school
administration IN the New York Uni
Versity School OF Pedagogy. ana added
10 his already long list OF literary con-
iributions. He IS the author Of a con-
siderable number OF school textbooks
on history. and of pedagogical and So
Geological treaties. His book on school
administration Is especially good.
He has also taken an active part in
the advancement Of the interests Of
teachers, notably the better remuHera-
tlon OF the latter. His arguments ara
fOrcIble irTItants which usually gain
their ends. lie 10 stil a young man,
being less than forty years old, and
much is expected Of him.
Washington Situation Promising.
The situation at Washington is un-
usually promising. Congress just before
adjournment passed a bill which changes
the school system Of the city in sew
eral important particulars Gne radical
departure is the abolition of the old
board and the creation Of a new one
through appointment by the judges Of
the Supreme Court Of the District OF
Columbia The members now serve
without compensation, while heretofore
they were paid 500 a year
THE salaries Of the teachers have
been advanced, but they are stiu much
below the point OF reasouableuess. Be
fore this the pay. OF the washington
teachers was nOtOriOusIy poor. At nFes-
eut the minimum per year - 500. Il
ought 10 be at least $3.50 which is only
$3.50 q week
Schools Should Be Models.
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IN that the Federal Government shares
with the District IN equal proportions
the financial support Of the schools.
The expectation is therefore justified
that here is an opportunity for develop
ing a model system Of American COM
mon schools. II the citizens Of the
schools they have. theoretically at
least a right 20 derive some tangible
braS.-cs t=@m them The fact Is, how
ever, that Jle city. instead or using
the money of the nation TO double the
efficiency of her schools. merely saves
money by paying only one-half OF
very ordinary appropriation, and 4as
practically less funds available for edu-
Cational purposes than lar less prosper
Gus American communities"
Hunting in Congress.
Mr.. Lang here quotes from the Con-
gressional Record Representative Clarks
comment that Congress IS utterly in
competent" TO govern the District and
cites the course Of the school reorgani-
zation bill in support Of that proposition
The problem" he says, was plain and
simple" but the question was handled
as If its chief intent were the creation
and fortihcation of 'J0bs.
THE principle or protection Tor nome
industries" he goes on, was so rigldly
applied under The new law lt IS next 70
impossible 10 get good teacneIs INTO
the sCOhOls from outside or the clty.
Newcomers are required TO begin with
the lowest salary no matter what their
previous experience may have been. BY
this device the aCcursed system OF an
breeding IS continued, under WHlgH
Washington schools have suffered Tor
many years.
Petticoat Intrigues Eliminated.
Nevertheless. let us be trulv thankful
for the gains that have been made The
old Board OF Education has been legis-
lated out OF existence The new board.
with Rear Admiral Baird as president,
and Professor Everman as vice presi-
dent takes an exalted view OF its re-
sponsibilities BY electng Dr. Chan
celIor as superintendent il has declared
emphatically in favor Of progressive
policy ,-.-z
Educational considerations are placed
upnermost PettifoRging politics ana pet
fic6at intrigues. which have in the past
iuferferad too much with school affairs,
are radically eliminated Ut. ChaAceI-
Tor is himself a growing man. ana
stands committed to the continuous I'M
movement Of teachers IN professional
af3rIencv The chaotic conditions exist
ing especially IN the high school or
gantzation. viii soon be reduced 10
'sThe hygienic supervision Of the
scbooIs viii have his hearty cO-opera-
non Tbe school gardens and the play
eTofind movement viii have his prao-
fJcaI encouragement Moral and civic
raining the study of current events
tbe manual arts. and industrial instrue-
zion have in him an ardent champion.
His broad Interpretation Of the common
school idea viii advance at the Federal
Capital the extension of the schools into
social centers. In all this he will have
the unqualified backing OF the board
and the loyal support OF the best
''The outlook for the schools OF Wash
inpton Is brighter than 1t has been for
MANY wears. The limitations set to i'm
by act of Congress can only
retard but will not hold up. the ex-
ceIleuc{es the schools might possess
CHURCH zoo YEARS OLD.
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