Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-31
DO[L|VER SCHOOL BILL
CONTINUED from First Page.)

tendent or against him. Such an investi-
cation would require much time and In
the end could result in no great good and
would only be promotive OF acrimony and
scandal. Your committee believes that
its duty Is not so much to determine who
has been right and who has been wrong
In the past. as to devise a plan that will
improve the condition in the future. We
are convinced beyond doubt that the pres
ent system Of management Is not sue
cess.
I'm the District Of Columbia. as in most
other places, perhaps, there are factions
among the people, and the fury OF these
factions here seems to be spent in the
public school system. Charges have been
made that teachers have been hired and
discharged, as one side or the other OF
these factions has been in control OF the
| board. The recent hearings in the trial
of the superintendent and the events sur
rounding the circulation Of a petition in
support of the board and school oncers
have disclosed a lack OF harmony and
| lack of, loyalty between the school man
| a9ement Ind the teachers. TEACHERS have
| protested to your committee against what
they. deemed an improper attempt on tho
| part Of the board to draw them into GER
| cain entanglements between the board and
superintendent. They maintain that
moral coercion has been used to line them
up in matters outside of their province
and beyond the prophecies OF their posi-
! ton. II is certain that the teachers
| ton, and present in a very ag1tafed condi-
| tion, and many have the opinion tpat
their security OF position depends upon
| their allegiance to the board OF education,
rather than qualification and success as
| teachers. We are not prepared to say
| that. there is sufficient basis tor TINS
| nervousness among teachers. nevertne.
less it exists. This condition does not
pertain to the present school board alone
but has pertained. as your committee IS
best informed. for. a great NUMBER OF
years During the last ten wears mere
have been three school boards In the DIS
trict OF Columbia during that time forly-
two different individuals have served as
members Of the board. and throughout al
that time there has been constant turmoil
in the schools. !.
Hope for the Act Of June, 1905.
"At the time Of the enactment Of the
law under which the schools are. now
operating. being an act to FIX and regu-
late the salaries Of school officers and
other employees Of the board Of education
of the District Of Columbia. approved
June 20, 1906. it was hoped that by putting
the appointment Of the board In the hands
of the judges OF the Supreme court vi
the District Of Columbia rather tnan IN
the hands Of the District Commissioners,
as 1t was before. that very possibly
board might be obtained. outside OF ano
above any of the local factions. How
ever, It seems that the hope was not to
be realized, and the career OF the new
board appointed by the judges has been
as turbulent as that of It's predecessors
THE functions OF the board OF educa.
ton in the District of Columbia are 80
limited and of such a nature that there
is very little, il any. necessity for It's
existence The financial AFFAIRS OF the
schools. the expenditure Of money. the
purchase Of supplies. the erection OF
buildings and all matters OF fiscal ma
ture are all in the hands OF the Com
missioners of the District, and are regu-
lated in amount from time to time by APP
propriation bills. and there Is really MOTH
ing left for the board OF education to 90
except to act as sort Of harmonizer or
balance wheel upon the superintendent Of
schools in matters Of real educational
work. Having no other functions to per
form they have devoted themselves with
much energy to the educational phases OF
the school system. and very naturally
where so many have had jurisdiction
there has been conflict. What books
should be used, what subjects should be
taught. what system Of teaching should
be employed, what teachers are worthy
Of promotion have been subjects OF con-
troversy in the board.
D>.-oo.;H;likv IN Sin1le PersoH.