The Washington times., 1906-07-04
The New School Board.


The selection for the new Board
of Education announced Monday by
the District Supreme Court encOur-
age the hope that public instruc-
tion in the District may soon be put
upon a sound business basis. Most
of the names are well known and
respected for the courage, direct
ness ald good judgment of their
wearers.
How difficult and far reaching in
its possibilities is the work spread
before this board everyone viii know
who has followed the course of our
schools these past five years. 1t
must restore order, subordination,
and harmony to a corps of teachers
many Of whom have regularly cir
cumvented their superiors until the
organization was in grave danger of
disintegrating. 1t must confirm the
credit of the high school diploma. II
must choose a superintendent
worthy of the great trust imposed
upon that officer by the new bill.
In the making of that choice the
present incumbent has first claim
in their consideration. But it viii
not do for them 10 consider no one
else. If the present superintendent
Is continued in Office, it must be only
because the board believes him the
best man available.
Then, hardest of all, perhaps, the
board must let the superintendent
alone as the professional head of
the system. Finally, it must cooper
ate with him to make effective all
the reforms proposed by the new
lava clear division Of authority;
the establishment of a system of
longevity promotions dependent up
on the retention of only such teach
ers as are worthy of regular promo
ton; the preparation Of a plan for
substituting new and large buildings
for groups of the present small,
inadequate, ccoped-uP structures.
Only one thing can prove the fit
ness of these selections: Results
which fulfill the purpose Of the law
and maintain order in the system.
Nothing else will count. To produce
such results the board must main
tain a course Of clear OPen-minded-
ness, OF complete independence of
petitions, and of resolute exercise
OF its own best Judgment for the
benefit, not of particular teachers or
certain officers. but for the children
who are taught in the schools and
OF whom the hoard undertakes TO
make good citizens.
Such a course will not be easy to
follow after the period of wavering
and concessions which is now,
fortunately. closed. Teachers and
parents alike have become accus-
toned to controlling the board
through show of influence, have
come to think that persistence on
their part viii supersede the fudg-
ment of those who have assumed the
responsibility of the system. They
should learn at once, and from the
board itself, thet the day of such
things is done. The new board
should take steps at its first meet
ing to inform teachers they must
make all representations in the
future through their superior Off
GERS and all parents they must sub
NIT their contentious in writing. By
so doing they viii not only save
themselves a deal of trouble, but set
back certain of their subordinates
into their proper stations.
Finally, the new board has a
righr to count upon the good will
and disposition to cooperate of
every officer and teacher of the
system. and every citizen interested
in the public schools Of the District.
It will be closely watched. But it
begins with general good wishes.
Assuming that its members will
reach their convictions with a pur-
pose honestly to serve the children
in the schools, and then have the
courage of their convictions, they
need not fear public criticism. They
are performing a great public serv-
ice in accepting the burden Of re-
uniting the schools and the com
munity appreciates that fact. If
they prove equal to that service, as
The Times thinks they may reason
ably be expected 10 Go, the whole
District Of Columbia Will be in their
debt.