Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-02
REFORM OF SCHOOLS
EDUCATORS ENDORSE REPRE-
SENTATIVE SMITHS BILL

representative Smith Of Maryland, author
OF the new school bill which has created
so much discussion, has received two LEFT
ters from prominent educators indorsine
lne measure They were from Prof. James
II. van Sickle, superintendent of the public
schools of Baltimore, and from Prof
Ihomas NJ Ballet, dean of the School of
PEDAGOGY of New York University.
Praises the Bill.
Prof Ballet says: II am very tboroueb-
~ convinced that the present organization
Is SO detective that it will be absolutely
impossible to develop a good system of
scnools at Washington under it. NOTHING
oue d radlcal change in the organization of
lne system Will make it possible for any
supeTintendent or commissioner to maLa
liz s ashinston schools what the nation
ha T. fisne 10 demand that they should
pe' seems to me that your bill goes
TO the root of the matter. and 10 exa 11Is
Wnat the conditions in Washington de-,
sionai ,,fe nave az 81 spent most of my profess
perv1sion of city school systems and
DeheVe am familiar with the nrobien,s
tnaI confront the administrative officnrs
sop unag r. SHch a position. Your bill may
euuiiu fdulcal TO persons not familiar with
Inc Inc problems of the Washington scboois
put IL is not more radical than is necas,
na9y TO create the conditions which win
wbat poSeiuie 10 make these schools
h Mnat they should be. 1 sincerely hope vonr
Oil. Oil may pass without amendments which
Will materially change it, "'iicn
Defects of Present Law.
Prof. Van Sickle writes that ho
surprised at the outcome of the condi,,ars
created by the school law passed Iast sas
sion and the various limitations surround
ing the school board. He says that when
ne gave the situation study last summer
ne ielt that 1t was inevitable that there
Woulo De conflicts Of authority, because IN
many essential matters it was not clear
what Congress intended. The confnsion
that has ensued does not astonish him IN
the least, and with thorough knowIedea
OF the existing law and the whole history
o. ba,i Inc present situation he expressed the
oellef that 1t is practically impossible for
any superintendent to make any headway
IN improving the schools of the CITY under
the law as 1t stands.
Introduced writes Mr.. Van Sickle. will
II enacted into law, provide a satisfactory
plan for the conduct of the schools in a civ
governed as washington is governed. I'm
der the present law I am sure no one in the
position of superintendent could accom-
plish much. Under the bill proposed by
you the superintendent's power will be COM
mensurate with the responsibility devoly-
ing upon him, yet his work will at all times
United States.
" seems TO me, however. that the salary
Of the superintendent should be at least
$500, and I am inclined to think that it
would be an improvement to lengthen the
term of Office to five years. Three years is
rather a short time in which to make good
in a difficult position.
Should your bill become a law, and
should Dr. Chancellor be made the COM
missioner, as he ought to be. should have
every confidence that the schools of the
District would be put upon the plane which
they ought to occupy. The schools Of
Washington should be the model schools Of
the United States"