The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-29

that every member of the committee
had signed IL. with the exception of
Allen J.. Albert, Jr., who had been out
Of the city for a number Of weeks
The following resolutions were adopted
with the report and will be forwarded to
The Two District Committees OF Con-
gress:
Resolved. by the washington Cham
Der Of Commerce, That in its opinion,
after careful, impartial, and thorough
inquiry into the conditions now existing
In the public schools OF the District or
Columbia. the provisions OF the present
school law, and the effect OF its opera
ton upon the schools, IL is highly de-
slrable that no change be made at the
present time in the system Of admin
lstrauOn OF the public schools or in the
law under which they are conducted.
Resolved That whatever changes may
be made at any time hereafter, the
best interests of the pupils and Of the
pubic require the permanent pTeSerFa-
ton OF the feature Of local representa-
IOu IN the administration OF school
government IN the District of Columbia,
and that We commend the provisions OF
the present law prescribing the CharaC-
ter OF, and vestiuE the power of ap-
pOlntmeut of, the Board OF Education in
the Judges Of the Supreme Court OF the
District of Columbia, as being well cal
culdted 10 result in the creation Of a
thoroughly representative board, free
from all special influence"
All Questions Carefully Considered.
The report Of the committee continues:
The attendance at the meetings OF
the committee has been large, ranging
from seven 10 ten Of the thirteen mem
bers at each meeting. and all matters
relating 20 the schools ana referred TO
IN this report have been carefully dis
cussed and considered from the stand
point of U.e best interest OF the pupil
and then from the standpoint OF the
welfare Of the teacher sud the system
as a whole.
'Thc committee deems il proper to
point out the frequency with which our
public school system has been reorcan-
lied within the very Few years just
passed and the unu suaI attention de-
voted to the framing of our present
school Law by members Of bo,h houses
OF Congress. It is evident that when
we have good school law the commu-
nifty viii have to make strong efforts 10
retain it end 10 protect IL from the Pc
Culiar danger that il is subject TO
through appeals for change made an
nually at each session of Congress
often by small fraction OF those who are
Interested in school nat teTs whom 5y
reason of their activity. may UuwiseIy
aEItate the public school system with
only harmful results
The scheme Of public school admin
IstratiOn proposed in the two bills row
pending in Congress and known as the
BurlesOn and Deliver bills would take
away all local control of our schools
Unless men 10 be put at the head Of
the school administration under such
laws We're ideal in every respect. the
result Of having such an administration
OF public schools would in the opinion
of the committee, demo alize the whole
public school system.
Quiet az Expense of Justice.
If the scheme of the proposed bills
should not result in the decentralization
of our public school syse-n, quiet would
only be obtained IN the schools, in all
likelihood, ut the expense Of justice to
the community at large and the great
body of teachers, while those charged
with the direction Of the system would
be too prone TO be suDservient to power
ful influence. Such a system of school
control is out OF all harmony with that
generally prevailing in this country.
"'The nature of the present organiza-
ton of he District of Columbia as q
municipality IL .kes it doubly necessary
to preserve such representative rights
IS can be given 10 the people OF this
silence appear TO sanction the taking
away OF such rights.
I'm view Of the duty resting upon the