The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-08
SCHOOL BILL REVISED
MOrrell PerfectS His Plan for
District Education.
SYSTEM OF MINOR BOARDS
Their Duties and Responsibilities
Carefully Set Forth in Proposed
DEMONSTRATION for COns0Iida-
ton of Eight-FOOm buildings Into
Central Grammar Schools.

The bin prepared by Representative
MorreI, from Pennsylvania, and mem
Der Of the House District Committee, to
settle the embroglio that involves the
schools Of Washington was finally
printed yesterday, a week and half after
it was originally introduced.
Representative Morrell withdrew the
measure in order to perfect e. To do 50
he has consulted the school legislation Of
New York, Philadelphia, and other cities.
General Morrell said last night, in dis
cussing the bill:
The present general board as 10 MEM
bership and appointment is retained in
the bill, except that future appointments
are 70 be made, one member from each
of the nine local school districts created
by the bill.
Board of superintendent.
zone superintendent of schools and four
assistant superintendent are provided
for. who act as a board OF superinten-
dents. The general power of the supcrin-
tendent is not affected, but certain duties
of superintendent, best performed by the
united action and authority OF superin-
tendcnt and assistant superintendent.
are cast upon this board. This is in ac-
cord with the practice at New York, Bo5-
ton, Philadelphia, and other large cities
and is said 10 be an advance in educa-
tional thought
"AIl supervising principals are abolished,
and the supervising power placed in the
hands OF the assistant superintendents
and the principals Of the schools.
Provision is made for the consolidation
of the present eight-rOOm buildings into
central grammar schools. with these
buildings remaining for the first four
grades Of primary instruction, and as
feeders 10 the central grammar school
By this method other cities have de-
veIoped their central grammar schools.
and experience has proven that il is the
best way out Of our dilemma
THE bill defines the duties in DETAIL
Of every teacher or supervising Official,
together with those of every board. The
laws governing the Washington schools
have been loosely drawn and are very
loose in their application. Everybody
seems 10 be in authority. The petty con-
fiicts growing out Of the construction Of
the law of last winter demand a more
certain rule Of law. The aim Of this bill
has been TO simplify the whole matter by
defining clearly IN detail the duties and
Responsibilities OF every one Ebllttttl
with the system. The bill explains itself
/ IN every particular
Salaries Unchanged.
The salaries as prescribed by Congress
! last winter have not been changed. nor
/ has the method of reaching the annual
/ increase been changed, except that where
the law used the words, II his work is
satisfactory the present bill substitutes
the words, If certified by the board OF
superintendents. The substituted words
/ leave no room for discussion
THE management OF al disputes is
given 90 the local school boards, where d
! trial is provided for, and a right Of appea
given 10 the central school board. by
/ this method every dispute VIII be settled
/ in the neighbOrhOod where il originated
and the principle that every man shall
/ have a trial in his own ba!liwick is en-
I phauealiy sustained.
/ My determination was 10 cover every
detail demanded boy good school law
and in order 70 make that determination
effective ! have consulted the writer
/ opinions OF the leading superintendent OF
schools throughout the country, and hav,
made a wide study Of the charters Of the
+ greater schools"