The Washington herald., 1907-04-09
SCORE SCHOOL HEADS
Northeast Citizens Condemn
Superintendent and Board.
LACK OF HARMONY REPORTED
Committee Report Adopted, which
Declares Chancellor Has Failed to
Get Into Personal Touch with His
Subordinates-AdvisS Council Is
Described as Clique.

Utter decentralization Of the school sys-
tenn of Washington Is declared to have re-
suited from the administration of Superin-
.tendent Chancellor IN the report Of the
school committee of the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Association. adopted BY
that body at a meeting in the Northeast
Temple last night Criticism is made also
of the members Of the board Of education,
who. it is stated. are believed to be men
.of the highest personal integrity, but
lacking in the needful experience in the
management Of schools. The school com
mittee, consisting of W D. Foster, Starr
Parsons. W. G. Lang, and A. II. F, Hol-
.sten. reports in part as follows:
We find a great lack of that sympa-
thetic cooperation between the teachers
and the management that Is 50 essential
10 good school government just at this
time the public IS being treated TO an
evidence OF the utter lack Of harmony
between the school board and the super
intendent and the evil effect Of the lat
ter's methods Of school administration.
Herein lies the chief source Of the
utter Generalization Of the schools. In
stead Of opening his ears 10 all teachers,
hearing their reports. and advising them
as 70 their work; Superintendent Chancel-
Tor hedges himself behind the protecting
shelter Of a so-cailed advisory council an
unofficial body Of teachers formed in a
most undemocrauc and friction provoking
/ ma afrgfa f4arhAg-
who early espoused the superintendent s
cause. this advisory council has spread its
limits by self-extensive processes.
Claim Clique Is Formed.
This teacher chose certain associates.
and these have In turn chosen others.
from groups nominated ostensibly by the
various grades and departments of the
school system This body is far from
/ being representative Of the teaching force
It is. on the contrary, clique. centered
around and controlled by a single teacher.
against whose viii it is impossible for
/ any other teacher 10 be elected 10 mem
! bership
Here. then. we have the type Of a
/ political machine, organized by the SUI
I perintendent for the removal from his
/ presence of the teachers of the District
and for the government Of the schools
through favorites
In an address in advocacy Of the ad0p-
! ton OF the report, Or. Starr Parsons char
acterized the condition Of the schools
as deplorable.
"A survey Of the school situation. said
he. reveals a chaos complete and irrep-
arabic at least so far as the current
( year is concerned. Since the teachers, be
/ cause of their immediate influence upon
the pupils. are next 10 the pupils. the
/ vital force of the school body. it be
comes imperative that the citizens take
/ cOgnizance Of the state Of panic and
1 terror in which these teachers are work
ing.
should Quit Visiting.
"The superintendent should be advised
20 give closer attention TO the schools.
and to abandon the habit of visiting
North, South. East. and West in order
that he may learn the lessons set for him
/ in local conditions and needs"
| The system of marking the teachers as
/ introduced by Supt Chancellor is criti-
/ cised hy Or. Parsons as foolish, badly
/ constructed, untimely, mlschievous. and
disorganizing
III those ia authority" said he had
{ 10 be measured by this not one would
I be left TO harass and handicap a corps Of
/ excellent devoted. and efficient teachers
! Vigorous opposition to the adoption of
( the report by the association was made
/ by ]. Fleming and A. J. Nash. but it was
/ carried by "a large majority. A monster
( petition. requesting Congress. at the next
/ session, 70 provide for "A cross-town street
railway In the northeast was proposed,
/ and the following committee appointed
/ for the work. A. Il. r Holster. W. S.
/ FTizzeI, 5. Sowerbutts. s Fleming. W
/ @. Lang, +. .. Foster, DIT Starr Parsons
+ 5. Linton, Or. l. ". Walter, and Evan
I II. Tucker.
Upon motion of ". +. Frizzeu, the as
! ISOLATION decided to give a banquet IN
/ celebration of the opening Of the new
/ Union Station and the abolition Of grade
/ crossings. The association adjourned 10
1 meet the second Monday I'm October.