The Washington herald., 1908-02-29
PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Chairman of Board of Trade Com
mfttee Answers Criticism.

Chairman of Board of Trade Com
mfttee Answers Criticism.
Editor The Washington Herald.
II is dangerous thing 70 undertake 70
argue with a newspaper in its own
columns. II has the ''underhold." How
ever. please permit something regarding
the position OF The Washington Herald
upon the petition OF the Washington
Board Of Trade against R1y action by
Congress relative 10 our pubic schools.
The petition gives four reasons why the
bill should not pass. andZ5hey may be
suceinctly stated as follows
/ The present law has not had sufficient time for
rs proper test.
Abolition q the board Of education and sundry
officials and IN their stead an autocrafic director
Federal appointing power entirely removed from
the municipal system.
The situation Is nov peaceful and satisfac-
tory in our present system
First-A year and a half Is not a sufi-
cient test for any law Whatever dis
! sension that may have arisen during this
time is not attributable 70 the law. but
10 the misconception OF its due and proper
administration. Had there been a tactful
superintendent recognizing his correct
position in the system and realizing that
in his own sphere he was lust as much a
subordinate 10 the board Of education as
was any one else. even a janitor. and had
there been q superintendent who had not
substituted his personal Interpretation OF
the law and had been governed BY both
/ It's clear intent and the Interpretation
I placed thereon by his Superiors. there
would not have been any OF the con
/ fusion. contention. strife. turmoil and
scandal referred 10 by your paper.
/ Second-A board Of education Ike
I jury. represents the entire body OF the
/ people. In a system OF education its
functions is supervisory. 10 see that the
! educational experts do their duty under
I the law. Such a body has been a we'll
known governing factor in ali of our
( American systems OF education. and its
( abolition would bring about as stated
in the petition. "an undesirable fnnova-
! ton and one not IN harmony with the
/ principles OF school administration that
/ have proved sound by the experience Of
/ American cities Even assuming that
/ the action Of any hoard OF education is
( obnoxious 70 criticism. which is but trite
/ Yet that system must be attacked for
/ evils inherent in the system and not to
/ the administration Of or the personnel Of
+ its administrators. is equally trite. More
I over, a concentrated authority ln school
Z direction and management as recon-
I mended by your paper. would unQuestion-
/ ably produce an autocracy Of the most
4 deleteri0us form Unfortunately, ex-
perienee shows that under the best edu-
Gated persons. when unrestricted au-
! thority is given there is not very likely
to be administered anything literally or
I judicioUsly.
Third-On this point. a least. The
/ Washington Herald is IN consonance
with the petition. We ali agree that we
! prefer 10 keep our school system as a
! component Of our municipality.
Fourth-Whether or not the present
I system in our public schools is salts
/ factory 10 all may be conceded. as the
I agitation before Congress shows that
! somebody is dissatisfied. but what the
I petition states and means is that the
situation in the schools themselves is
! now peaceful and satisfactory" More
I over. the utterances Of the Board Of
! Trade, Chamber Of Commerce. and all OF
Z the various citizens associations. with
/ the exception of two. and other organiza-
tons in the District have beer unanimous
I in their request to Congress that the
present conditions in our schools should
not be changed.
1t is exceedingly 70 be regretted that.
I at this junctrre. The Washington Herald
should take a position adverse 10 that
( taken by these various organizations.
! Washington Feb E " H. SINCI FT0N