The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-12-28

Following q. ruling OF the Board Of
Education, which apparently sanctions
such q plan, the Commissioners. acting
upon the recommendation OF Auditor
AIonzo Tweedale. today asked the Comp
troller OF the Treasury for an opinion
as TO the right Of a teacher IN the pub
lie schools TO employ a substitute Tor an
indefinite period
An adverse ruling on the part Of
Comptroller Traceweu may upset q sys-
TEN which has been IN vogue for nearly
thirty years in the public schools o.
Washington. Il has not been questioned
BY the Board Of Education that q teach
er has the right 10 employ a substitute
in case Of temporary disability When
the board issued an order, however,
authorizing substitution fOr an tndeh-
nite period. Auditor Tweedale raised the
issue
Rule That Raises Question
The following is the rule Of the Board
Of Education which has caused the
Commissioners 10 ask for an opinion
from tie Treasury Department
Ordered That beginning on and
after December i. 1910. Katherine
Reed be required TO employ Louise
KINGSLEY as q substitute and 70 pay
the said Louise Kingsley at the rate
oa-d1 QlEItls 6tlaQ pay IlEElE 70
cover not only school days but Sat
uTdays, Sundays, and holidays. and
that the employment OF the said
Louise Kingsley shall continue until
the said Katherine Reed Is in a con
OitiOn to resume her duties, unless
otherwise ordered BY the Board OF
Education
Auditor Tweedsie cites q similar ruI-
ing in the case Of Florence jenkins,
who is required 70 employ Ruth Z Con
zeuoach as a substitute for an fndehu-
tie :Jeriod-
The Auditor observes that Miss Reed
receives an annual salary Of S2,3)G q
year, whereas the rules OF the Board o.
Education provide that substitutes shaI.
be employed at the rate OF $50 per
school day for the first thirty school
days and for the next thirty school days
at the rate Of S393 per day
Substitute Would Get Half.
Under such a plan. declares the Audi
tor for the District, Miss Reeds substi-
tute would receive only about .S1,O0o OF
the $3.50 salary allotted 10 the regular
teacher Practically the same ratio Is
said 10 apply TO the second case cited
Il has been the practice heretofore 10
employ substitute teachers for only
sixty days, deduCting the amount for
such service from the salary OF the
regular teacher. After the sixry-day
limit the salary Of the regular teacher
ceased and the substitute became what
Is known as "A temporary teacher hts
COR being fixed by the Board
Of Education
-odaIe, in presenting the
matter 30 tEe Commissioners, who in
turn have put the question up to the
Comptroller OF the Treasury. SAYS.
The salary of every teacher in the
public schools Of the District OF Coluuu-
bia other than those known as sub
stitutes (Which are not recognized either
in the organic act or IN the apHroprfa-
ton act) IS definitely fixed BY the pro
visions Of the organic act approved
June %. 1895 (S4 Stat, 800, and the terms
OF the appropriation act for the fiscal
year, 50 that Congress has retained to
itself the control Of the payment Of the
salaries Of the regular teachers OF the
public schools OF the Distrfc tof Colum-
bia-
Intent Of Congress
The question now arises, in view OF
cation, whethe~ Il was the fntsIStion OF
Congress in placing the control OF the
public schools OF the District OF Colunl-
bia IN the hands OF the Board OF Edu-
cation and giving them the right TO de-
teTmfne ali questions Of general policy
relating ID the schools. to authorize the
Board Of Education to TX from time 10
time the salaries OF substitute teachers
and 10 change the salaries 50 dxed as
the circumstances seem 70 require
'I have the honor TO suggest, as Con
gress is now assembled and can provide
Continued on sixtA Pazs)