Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-19
Amending the School Law.

In naming a special committee to frame
suggested amendments to the existing stat
ute governing public school organization
the board of education has moved wisely in
the direction in which the experience of the
past few months clearly points. The act of
Congress approved in June last, while in
the main as regards the readustment of
teachers salaries entirely commendable.
left much to be desired in the matter of
establishing a consistent, practicable ad
ministratire system. Immediately upon its
application difficulties began to arise. partly
through the lack of sufficient definition of
duties and powers. but in part as we'll be
cause of disposition that existed in Ger
tain quarters to go counter to the spirit
of the law in cases where its letter was not
absolutely plain.
When Congress opened bills proposing
amendments to the school law began to APP
pear from various sources Some of these
were inspired by those who had suffered In
the execution Of the new statute. others by
those who had been disappointed in the dis
trihution of It's benefits. Others still were
suggested if not drafted, by members of
the school administration 1t was obviously
impossible at the short session to frame a
satisfactory amrndatory law, and in view
Of the shortcomings of the act of last June
II was altogether undesirable that the sup
Elementary legislation should be hastily
proposed and considered. Thus the session
closed without action, and in view of all the
circumstances II is probably better for the
schools that this was the case.
The committee named by the board to
take this matter in hand is well constituted
and 1t should be able intelligently and
thoroughly to canvass the field of possible
amendments looking to e strengthening
Of the law. 1t is highly desirable that the
matter be considered by Congress next Ses-
sion In the light OF the boards full expe-
rienCe, ard there will be no better evidence
OF that body's view of its needs than the
report of the special committee. There
will be time enough for comprehensive
and detailed examination of the school sys-
TENS needs. The committee win perhaps
see Its way clear to hold series of public
hearings. at which citizens interested in
the schools may suggest ways and means
of improving the organization. If this
course is adopted and the board makes the
committees findings its own and lays them
before Congress as the well-considered rec
ommenda tons of virtually the entire COM
munity ;he chances of getting satisfactory
organic school law will be materially in
creased.
The chief danger 10 the schools from the
legislative end is the tendency of Congress
in such matters to seek to engraft upon the
District ideas that do not suit this particu
lar community and cannot thrive here.
Whenever local affairs under consdera-
ton on the hill this disposition is mani
tested in marked degree, and 1t is only
by the hardest work that the District avoids
when it does avoid-being made an expert
ment ground for trying out strange doc
trines and processes. We have had enough
of novelty In our school s.'stem. What the
public educational system today chiefly re-
quires is period of conservatism both in
legislation and In administration.