Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-19
CONFLICT AND CONFUSION
Declares There Are No Provisions for
Secret Meetings.
CHEF PURPOSE OF SIMS BILL
Definition of Positions of Commission
ers, Board Of Education and
the Superintendent.

the Superintendent.
Superintendent Chancellor this afternoon
discussed freely with a reporter OF The
Star the bill which was introduced In the
House yesterday by Representative Sims OF
Tennessee providing for numerous changes
| in the present school law. The Superin-
tendent admitted that he had been con-
cerned in the drafting of the measure and
| that it embodied his ideas of school ad-
| mnistration In general. In addition the
superintendent had something to say about
the half-year promotions. which are to be
made in the near future, and also about the
Cardozo case.
When asked whether the Sims bill had
been introduced at his request, DR.. Cham
cellor replied:
81 consulted with Mr.. Sims and with
| number of other members of Congress, and
the measure is the embodiment of our COM
bined opinions in the matter. will say that
It represents In general way my ideas. My
part in the conference was chiefly to pre-
vent conflict and confusion, and to define
certain things which heretofore have been
vague in local school measures
More Important Provisions.
When asked to explain some of the bills
more important provisions the superintend-
ent said e -
provided for in this bill. but hear that
some people are saying that they are.
There is a reference to committee meetings,
but 1t is merely provided that all meetings
shall be public except committee meetings
dealing with the appointment, demotiop and
dismissal of teachers. This does not mean
that the committee meetings must be Sc
cret. AS a matter of fact. 1 think. as a
y-t.la tEAxv che Of hn I
opposed to secret meetings because l think
the public has right to know what Is
going on. In my ten years as school
superintendent l have never attended
secret meeting of board Of education.
But do think that there are times when
a secret meeting should be held-for in
stance when a teacher on trial requests 1t
and believe the board should have power
to grant this sort of request Tor the
sake of the teacher concerned"
Chief Purpose Of the Bill.
"The chief purpose of the bill is to define
the positions of the Commissioners, the
board Of education and the superintendent
of schools in regard to school affairs. AS
far as I can see no added power has been
Given to the board. 1t is merely a matter Of
close definition with regard to measures in
cluded in former statutes. For instance, IN
the appropriation bill of 1900 1t was pro
yided that the superintendent snail annuaiiJ
record lists of books and courses OF study
to the board of education. This bill merely
provides for the same thing in negative
form. ..,.,,
i've in ali educational matters, and makes
| it incumbent on the board of education to
approve or veto.
"A copy of the bill was brought to me
this morning by a member of the board,
who asked me to tell whether 1t embodied
my ideas 1 said that it did in general
way. OF course 1 do not know whether the
| bill will ever come from the committee.
Introduction a Surprise.
II was learned that the introduction of the
bill was a surprise to a part, il not all, of
the members of the board of education.
One of the most important changes in 10
| cal school methods to be instituted by the
new administration-thati Is to say by DR..
Chancellor-is the system of half-year pro-
| motions. This scheme, 1T Is stated. VIII be
put into operation February Z, which is
the middle of the school year. There are
| 1872 eighth grade scholars who are candi-
dates for promotion to the high school at
| this time, number of them being re
peaters." OF this number 80 have already
been accepted, and they will go on to the
| high schools February 10. About 20 Will
enter the Business High School, Special pro-
vision will be made for these pupils in
separate classes so that there will be no
| disturbance of those classes already formed.
In connection with the matter Of half-year
promotions Superintendent Chancellor has
addressed printed letter to all officers and
| teachers Of the school system.
Dr. Chancellor said this morning that this
letter was written In response to various
| inquiries from teachers to this question
| Of half-yea promotions, which was new to
many of them. He said he aimed In the
| letter to make clear his ideas and wishes
| In the matter. Some Of the teachers with
whom he talked, he said, were about evenly
| divided on the question Of uneven classes
| referred to in the letter. He also declared
l. t., ISvf tic al,o
| to give to the teachers the ultimate author
| ity with regard to promotions and the
\ method to be followed In teaching those
pupils thus dealt with and to thus make
| the system as elastic as possible.
Cardozo Case Discussed.
| The Star reporter inquired of the super
| intendent whether there was any news in
| regard to the Cardozo care. Heretofore DR..
| Chancellor had refused to discuss it except
| in the most general terms. Today he said
| he understood that the services of three
| handw riting experts had been secured. and
| that these persons had examined the anony-
nous letter which CardOzo Is accused Of
| having written. While he could not say,
| he declared, what their opinion was he
believed that it was favorable to the board.
Several teachers, he stated. had also ex-
amined the letter. Mr.. Mcnamara. attorney
for the board, has these matters in hand,
and this morning held a conference with
the Superintendent.
The board OF education has granted Super
| intendent Chancellor permission to attend
| the meeting of the Department Superin-
tendents of National Education Association
to be held in Chicago the latter part of
February, and today President Baird in
formed the Commissioners of the District
| that the necessary expenses of travel and
subsistence is to be chargeable to the con-
| tingent fund of the public schools, and
quested that this money be forthcoming.
limo % rnSid IA iCa
| ton Mr.. Chanceilor's proposed trip is to be
| one of inspection which will be of value to
him, aside from the discussions at the
| meeting.
This contingent fund of the public schools
amounts to nearly $4,000 and Commissioner
| West to whom the communication was
| ferred. has approved it. The request will
now have to be passed upon by Commits
| sioners Macfarland and Riddle before the