Evening star., 1908-01-29
OPPOSED TO A CHANGE
Chamber of Commerce Acts on
School Situation.
DIRECTORS ADOPT REPORT
Not in Favor of Provisions Of the
Dolliver Bill.
TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION
Criticism of an Alleged Tendency to
Place Municipal Affairs Under
National Control.
DIRECTORS ADOPT REPORT
TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION

The board of directors of the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce is on RECORD
as opposed to any changes In the present
school law. This action was taken at a
special meeting of the board yesterday
afternoon at o'clock after the report
of the committee on schools had reported
as to it's special investigation of the con-
ditions in the local school system. Inc
Doliver and Burleson bills now before
Congress were discussed at length py
several of the members. and strong op-
lection made to each because of the 1act
that they remove the local representa-
ton i'm the administration of the schooi
government The fact that the sub
committee of the Senate has agreed 10
report the Dolliver bill at once aroused
the members to action, and 1t was agreed
to call the matter to the attention OF
Congress in an effort to prevent the
passage of the bill.
President Harper presided. He lntro-
duced Percival NJ Brown, chairman OF
the school committee. who presented the
report. In short preliminary address
Mr.. Brown said: I'VE have been very
careful to arrive at the truth. and every!
thing to be reported has had the pest
attention of the members of the COM
are Identical For your information
might say they embody the idea 10 put
the control of the schools under one man
"a director of education He can ap-
point seven assistants and remove .nel
at pleasure He is appointed by the
United States commissioner of educatlon'
a bureau officer.
MIR. Brown added that every supervis-
ing principal testified before the commit
tee and attributed the causes of the chaos
in the system to former superintendent
William f. Chancellor.
"When they went to his Office, MIR.
Brown explained. "they testified he SAID
he did not have time to talk to them
about the schools" Prior to his coming
here they held many meetings with the
superintendent. But DIR. Chancellor said
he did not intend to conduct kinder
garten class. These principals condemn
this Dolliver bill. and some say 1t would
be criminal TO have it enacted. The ques-
ton is what are we going to do. am
informed today that the subcommittee
of the Senate has determined to recon-
mend the passage of this bill"
Provisions of Report.
Mr.. Brown then read the report. 1t is
set forth that after careful impartial and
thorough inquiry into the conditions now
existing In the public schools of the DIS
trict of Columbia, the provisions of the
present school law and the effect of Its
operation upon the schools. it is highly
desirable that no change be made at the
present time in the system of administra-
ton of the public schools or In the law
under which they are conducted.
THAT whatever changes may be made
at any time hereafter, the best interests
Of the pupils and of the public require the
permanent preservation of the feature OF
local representation in the administration
of school government in the District OF
Columbia and that we commend the pro-
visions of the present law prescribing the
character of, and vestng the power of
appointment of, the board of education
in the judges of the Supreme Court Of
the District of Columbia. as being we'll
calculated to result in the creation of a
thoroughly representative board, free
from all special influences
The committee public schools of the
chamber met promptly after its creation,
it is explained. and took up the work of
informing itself regarding the conditions
existing in the public schools. the effect
of the application to them of the present
law. and the question Of possible amend
ments thereto. as we'll as the question Of
the need of any change, radical or other
WISE in the present system of admins
tration.
Growing Unrest in the Schools.
The committee invited before 1t the
superintendent. the two assistant super
intendents. all the supervising principals,
representative teachers in the graded
schools all the principals of the white
high schools. the principals of the manual
training schools. some of the heads of
departments and teachers in the high
schools. and the late superintendent, DR..
Chancellor. With the exception of DIR.
Chancellor and a few others all who
We're invited accepted the invitation and
attended meetings of the committee. They
testified freely and fully in response to
the questions of the committee. Pass
ing over the testimony showing that there
had been great and growing unrest in
he schools, 1t is sufficient to say that the
only occasion for such unrest was at
tributed to causes which no longer exist.
The committee does not now desire to
enter into a discussion of these causes"
it was added ut is but fair to affirm,
however, that an examination of the tes-
timony taken by the committee will ac-
quit all the officers and teachers in the
chool system of any suspicion of dis
loyalty or of opposition to the late super
intendent, of any lack of readiness
on their part to cooperate with him in
creating and aintaining the best class Of
educational work i'll our schools.
Agree on Certain Points.
Those who appeared before the COM
mittee were practically unanimous on the
following points:
There was a general feeling of re-
lief among the teachers following imme-
diately upon the recent change of super
intendents.
There had been a general desire on
the part of all subordinates of the super
intendent to perform their duties to the
| best of their ability, in accordance with
| what was desired by him.
The general belief among the school
| officers and teachers is that the present
| law is an efficient and satisfactory one