Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-11

part of the work in the schools under
thoroughly competent and fully equipped
superintendent and such superintendent
is by the act expressly placed In charge
Of all matters pertaining to- obstruction
in all the schools To further guarantee
the superintendent in the exercise of his
powers it is provided in the act that ap-
pointments. promotions or dismissals OF
his subordinates can be made only on
the superintendent recommendation.
The matter of determining all questions
of general policy relating to the schools
is, however, as has been said, left to the
board.
IF the foregoing provisions are not suf-
ficient to provide for the exercise by the
superintendent of the highest degree of
pedagogic skill in the direction OF the
educational work on the schools, then
the act should be. amended where fr1c-
that the superintendent is restricted
under it in exercising his functions IN
matters pertaining to instruction.; put II
is not thought wise the superintendent
should me left entirely free and without
any check or control in the matter OF
determining the general policy of the
schools, nor is it thought wise, In view
of the necessity of affording just protec-
ton to the teachers and employees OF the
schools, that the matter OF appointments
promotions and dismisSals should be left
absolutely and without any check In the
hands of the superintendent. Such abso-
lite mower would be an almost certain
cause of dissatisfaction and injustice
at is the opinion of the commlttee that
the powers vested in the board OF educa-
ton are not too large to secure that gen
eral supervision which the act intended
the board to exercise for the Denent OF
the children, teachers and the community.
The board is responsible to the community
for the wise disbursement of school funds,
for the general condition of the schools IN
so far as their fitness for school purposes
and their sanitary condition are con-
cerned. 1t is also charged with the re-
sponsibility of guaranteeing that the gen.
eral policy of the schools shall be salts
factory to the people of this District. and
further that wisdom, justice and fairness
shall prevail in the matter Of the appoint
ment, promotion and removal of teachers.
Glass of Educational Work.
at is the opinion Of the committee that
with such powers, not only can ample
scope be afforded for the exercise of the
best class of educational work in our
schools, but that the exercise of such
class Of educational work Is highly guar
anteed.
I'm conclusion, the committee is i'm
pressed with the fact that the scheme of
this law, to a very large degree, places
the control Of the schools of the Dis rct
of Columbia in the hands of the people
of this District. The board of educa-
ton, appointed as the present law re-
quires, from bonaflde residents OF the
District of Columbia, three of whom shall
be women, guarantees a thoroughly rep
resentative body for the board Of educa-
ton of the District; representative OF the
people of the District, and through whom
the wishes of the people of the District
can be expressed, and receive such just
consideration as they may be entitled to.
Having received from Congress- law
containing so many excellent features, the
people of this District should hesitate be-
fore they willingly allow it to be changed
for something that may put authority
elsewhere, and remove all. or some. of
the guarantees contained in the present
act. for the just, fair and effective admin
istration Of the school system"
Betting at Benning.
An argument was made by W. S. Hoge
against the semi-anuual betting on horse
racing at Benning. He submitted a reso-
luton aimed at the matter complained OF.
Mr. Hoge declared that tho sem!-annual
visits of the bookmakers carried more
money out of Washington than the COM
munity could afford to spare. Moreover.
| the racing ground was means Of de-
bauching the morals of the community,
and he Thought it was time for the bust
ness men of the city to take hand in
it's suppression. The resolution sets forth
| that "the gambling for two weeks which
occurs twice a year at BenninS, in the
form Of betting on race horses, is cost
| ing our city thousands Of dollars each
year, as we'll as having a verJ injurious
effect on the morals of those who engage
therein It was resolved that the cham
lber instruct it's committee on law and