Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-06
Proposed to Standardize
Washington Private Schools.
LEGISLATION is DESIRED
Examination by Bureau Of Educa-
ton Suggested.
IS NOT TO BE COMPULSORY
Plan Will Be Recommended to
Board Of Trade-Chamber OF
Commerce Directors Favorable.

A movement to standardize the private
schools of the District of Columbia by
having them examined and vouched for
by the United States bureau of education
Is on foot This movement had its IN
ception in the private schools themselves
The campaign to push the matter TO a
successful completion was begun by the
committee on private schools of the Board
Of Trade, headed by Thomas w. Sidwell.
principal of the Friends School This
committee will recommend to the Board
OF Trade at its annual meeting November
IA that 1t indorse the proposition to
standardize the private schools. The
Chamber of Commerce directorate has
already provided for the appointment of
a committee TO work in harmony with
the committee of the other trade body
to bring about the desired result.
There are between fifty and seventy
five private schools in the District, at
tended by several thousand pupils. 1t
has beer estimated that these private
schools bring to Washington from other
cities about sl.Jo0.Coo each year
Legislation Desired.
Legislation by Congress is desired, MAX
ing it the duty of the commissioner OF
education to examine into the private
schools and to report upon them. But
the fathers of the plan make 1t plain
that no attempt will be made to compel
the private schools to submit to this ex-
animation by the commissioner of educa-
ton Ii will be entirely optional with
them.
President Taft, it is understood. has
expressed himself favorably In regard
to the plan for the Standardization OF the
private schools 1t is believed that he
will make a recommendation to Congress
in his message next month that legfsla-
ton be enacted providing for the exam
nation of the schools by the bureau Of
education.
Elmer E. Brown United States COM
missioner of educ 1tion, has also spoken
heartily in favor of the plan. and he be-
lievCs that much good will come OF II If
put into effect.
now the Plan Would Work.
Should the plan go into effect. all those
private schools which desire the o. X.
of the bureau of education would signify
their intention of being exam ned. 1t
would he the duty of the commissioner of
education TO compile a list of schools
which meet the standard requirements
and this list would be made public. Cit =
zenS OF Washington, as well as of other
American and foreign cities. would thus
be able TO 9 I line on the private schools
II is planned. too. to have the commits
sioner of educat on classify the institu-
tons. showing which are coll 2ges which
preparatory schools, which semiraries
and which are schools in the ordinary
sense Of the t2rm.
In England there is already system
for the standard za.ion OF private schools
very similar to the plan suggested for
Washington. Franc. too. has come to
such an arrangement since the abolition
OF the church schools. In Germany. also,
the government keeps a keen eye on the
work of the private schools
Effect of Innovation.
There will be a general tendency to
keep the educational tone of the private
schools in gh and to improve that of the
schools in which there Is room for i'm
provenent If this plan goes into effect
The benefit to the children attending
re schools will necessarily be great.
The private schools take thousands of
pupils away from the public schools and
In 20 doing tighten the burden of the tax
payers, who must supper: the public
school system. 1t is felt, therefore, that
the private schools have a just claim
upon the government and the public for
aid in their standardization.
Washington is becoming each year more
and more TIE big private school center
OF America. Its educational advantages
surpass those % any city in the country,
and thousands of girls are sent here
from all parts of the country to finish
their education. Many come from Can
ada and South America and Mexico, and
not few from Europe II is the wish
OF many of the private school proprietors
tia. standard be set by which their
them.