Evening star., 1908-01-10
PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSIDERED
BOARD OF TRADE COMMITTEE
TO INVESTIGATE.
Work of the Ensuing Year Outlined.
Superintendent Stuart Invited
to Meet Committee.

INK oH StHools VI 'hC
Washington Board of Trade held its first
meeting last night at its headquarters in
The Star building. Subchairman Her
bert F. l.. Allen presided. In an address
to the committee calling attention 10 its
proposed work. Mr.. Alien said
II have wasted no time in calling YOU
together. believing. as | do. that our
public school situation demands the earli-
est and best attention. What this COM
mittee recomends to the Board of Trade
should be the result of care and Thought
fuIness. l have been told that the recent
action of the board of education with ref
erence TO its former superintendent has re-
stored confidence in the schools: that is,
il has created happy and tranquil state
among officers and teachers. 10 what ex-
tent this tranquility may be permanent
and for the full benefit Of the schools
seems n fit subject for our consideration.
Our aim should be the interest of the
pupls their good and their welfare. lhe
vindicaton or laudation Of any man OF
any set OF men, he it the deposed superih,
tendent or the board OF educauon' Shouio
not concern one whit
We are concerned. however IN lne du
vaucement of the children in our scnoois
in seeing that they are properly anu
comfortably housed, that they nave euu-
cationai facilities equal to any. that their
system of education is the best that can
he devised that the teachers are the best
that money can employ. and that there is
an adequate number of properly pulit
school buildings. In short. we should en-
deavor to secure for the school chlidfen OF
Washing ION the best obtainable means 10
the best obtainable education. If. to Sc
cure this. il shall become necessary 10
criticise then should we calmly and Just
ly. freely and fearlesslN condemn "hat-
ever in our Judgment, be not Tor the pest
interest of the pupils.
IF there be any doubt 10 the ade-
auacy of the law or the standard OF the
organized personnel, it would seem TO De
the duty of this committee just as fear
lessly 10 investigate the whole system, or
any part of it. For one. l hope that what
ever line of investigation is begun vii! he
thorough hut cautious. 1t is for you TO
decide what to do.
Outline of Work.
Work for the ensuing year was mapped
out several subcommittee appointed and
good beginning made toward giving di-
rection TO public opinion with reference to
the improvement of educational facilities
at the capital. About twenty-five MEM
bers of the committee responded to the
call of the vice chairman and the discus
sion of various questions regarding the
schools was full, frank. and exhaustive.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
the vice chairman to invite Supt. stuart
10 attend the next meeting of the com
mittee and make statement of the
needs of the schools. he to be assured
that his statement would be considered
strictly in confidence.
1t was explained that in the absence
from the CITY of William H. Singleton.
chairman OF the committee. il had de-
vowed upon the vice chairman Herbert r.
l.. Allen. to call the committee together
for organization. with a view to beginning
work before the January meeting of the
board. January 22.
After these statements it was decided
that the committee should resolve itself
into several subcommittee TO investigate
The school system. make reports upon sew
eral minor parts of the system. and col
late the whole into a consistent report.
To this end three subcommittee were
named with a special committee upon
Fairgrounds and school gardens.
School Administration.
The first committee appointed was upon
school administration and the amendment
of act 1J4. which is the organic art upon
which the present system is founded. The
committee named is composed of Char.es
s. Bundy. chairman William II. Bald
win. C. l.. Harding. Ernest II. Daniel, Ar
thur D. Ramsay. Mrs Ida G. Meyers, Da-
vid L. Selke b. F. Barnes John l.. Smith
and Percy s. Foster.
The second committee named was upon
repairs and sanitation. composed of VIII
liam F. GUIDE, chairman; Clarence I'll.
Rheem r. A. Phillips. Ellis Spear. John
NJ. Henderson William Tindall. Z. L. Yo-
der. Victor j. Becker and Edgar ID. Shaw.
The third committee was upon buildings
and sites for new buildings. composed
of Sidney l. Besselievre chairman: Wal
ter n. Acker, A.. Lisner. c. A. JOerissen.
Frederick A. Fenning. Henry Xander, A.
Leftwich Sinclair. John Doyle Carmody
and j. ID. Creamer.
The special committee on Fairgrounds
and school gardens is composed of Will
liam r. Guide. chairman: A. Lisner and
John NJ. Henderson