Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-26
Present Board of Education.

Mr.. mcfarland said It had been fntimat-
ed that one purpose of the proposed re-
organization was to legislate the present
board of education out of Office. He said
that If the board of education had done
anything worthy of such action 1t could be
removed collectively or individually by the
Commissioners. but that no charges what
ever against the board had been brought to
the Commissioners. Doubtless the board
had made mistakes, as everybody else does.
because II was made up of fallfble men and
women. But If so they were not sufficient
ly serious to have stirred the community
to ask the removal of the board or any
member of it.
the Commissioners nor anybody else would
be able to get people of better character
ability or standing, and briefly described
each member of the board as a representa-
tive citizen, speaking specially of President
Needham as successful educational adj
ministrator. as shown by his great work in
reorganizing the George Washington Uni
versity. He said that no candidates had
been appointed, but that in every case he
had asked the members to serve as pub
lie duty, and often had to urge them to
accept. A few individuals. for various rea-
sons. would doubtless like to see the board
abolished, but there was no community
feeling of that kind
Mr.. mcfarland said that upon inquiring
as to the model for the reorganization
schemes divorcing the public school system
from the rest of the District government
he was informed that 1t was action taken
In Philadelphia and elsewhere on the alle-
cations of citizens (the truth OF which he
knew nothing about that their municipal
governments were not fit to administer
their public school systems. limitations OF
blackmail of teachers and graft I'm con-
tracts for supplies. and for buildings were
used by such citizens in support of such
legislation elsewhere. But one here
brought any such intimation as reason
and the proposed legislation was not APP
plicable to the conditions here Moreover
1t was said where such legislation had been
secured elsewhere that the schools were not
getting their fair share Of public funds
and therefore must have separate provision
made for them. But here there was no
such reason. and all estimates and expendi-
lures ought to be controlled by the Com
missioners. with relation to all the other
estimates and to the finances, in order to
SEIZURE proper proportion and responsibility
The District government ought not to be
disraemDered, or turned into bureaus OF the
national government.
As to changes In administration the
board OF education would doubtless make
any for which necessity was shown It
had been suggested In some OF the bills
that the superintendent of schools should
sit and act with the board. This was. and
had always been DONE There was no need
OF uprooting the public school system for
such reasons.
Plea for the Commissioners Bill.
Mr.. Macfarland then made an earnest
plea for the enactment of the Commission
ers' bill upon which everybody agreed.
and to prevent its being hampered with
propositions generally dfsapproved
He submitted tables taken from the pub
locations of the census bureau and the
bureau OF labor. showing that the salaries
here were lower. especially in the higher
places, than In cities elsewhere. He spoke
OF the steady loss Of good teachers. OF the
discouragang effect upon those tontempiat-
ing the normal school training. and 81 the
c:vto patriotism and seafsenerilre of the
the conandtttes 70 -