The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-11-24
What the School, Hearing Really Is.

In the present situation of the
local schools, The Times has thought
it best that all friends of the
schools should contribute as little
as possible to the prevailing eonfu-
sion. II has seemed best, also, that
all friends of the schools should
withhold their judgment as to the
merits OF the disagreement which
has arisen between the Board of
Education and its superintendent.
But the calm and disinterested let
ter which was published on this
page of yesterdays issue from one
of the city's foremost clergymen
makes it plain that comment is
needed upon at least one phase of
the trouble, and that the public
good may be served by the making
of it.
Our correspondent thipks it ques-
tionable that the Board of Educa-
ton should be at the same time
Judge, jury, and prosecuting wit
ness" in hearing charges which it
has itself preferred. Presumably
this is the view of many. If so, it
is important it should be corrected.
The pending proceedings against
the Superintendent of Schools do
not in their very nature constitute
a trial in the accustomed sense.
They are and can be only near
ing hearing to which certain en-
ployers look as a means of settling
all possible doubt in their own
minds as to the value or lack of
value of a subordinate
By law, these particular employers
are invested with responsibility for
the whole school system of the Dis
trict. In the effort to fulfill that re-
sponsibility they are empowered
and expected to employ a superin-
tendent But the employment Of
that superintendent as a subordi-
nate to them does not tighten their
responsibility. They are, on the
contrary, Enthusiastically charged
with deciding whether keeping this
particular man is or is not the best
means of performing their duty to
the children in the schools.
If they vote no, after the hearing
provided by law, then the superin-
tendent has no rights which tran
scend the Judgment of the board.
He accepted the position subject to
their continued approval If, at
the very outset, even before the
hearing, the members Of the board
have clearly come to the conclusion
that it is best not to continue this,
their own appointee, in office, why
that is so much the more unfortun-
ate for him; but it still does not re-
Heve the board of its duty to Gust
him if these same members believe
that is the best way to serve the
children
In other words, the law commits
sions the Board of Education with
a definite responsibility, a feature
of which is to provide the schools
with a superintendent who shall
meet their requirements. If
they believe that an incumbent has
failed in this, it is not only their
right to dismiss him, and the clear
purpose of the law that they shall
do so, but it has been the opinion
of the present superintendent
plainly expressed in his own writ
ings on school administration, that
an official in such a situation ought
to resign and not wait for hearing
The board may err. If it does so, and
its errors are sufficiently serious
the recourse of the public is to get
a new board. But there can be nc
order in the system, no discipline
indeed, no system at all. if any
Judgment save that of the board
itself is to determine who shall be
its subordinates.
The Times has counseled with
holding judgment as to the merits
of this disagreement. 1t will do so
and it looks to the substantial mer
and women of the District to dc
likewise. In the event that evidence
warrantinP the dismissal of the