Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-01

plying to an attack directed against MS
office TO the effect that obstacles are
placed in the way of the payment OF
teachers salaries by the raising Of teen
nical and unnecessary questions.
"Perplexing' and Ambiguous are the
adiectfves which best describe the school
law, in the opinion of Mr. Tweedaie
There is a lack Of Conference. he declares,
between Its provisions and the provisions
of the annual appropriation acts and an
absence of sufficient clearness in Its
language to enable a determination OF
the true intent of Congress in its enact
ment.
No Other Law So Vexing.
"No more perplexing or vexed subject
has ever occupied the attention OF this
Office than the present school Law.
states the communication of the auditor.
ITO seek its true intent, to harmonic
It's provisions with the appropriation acts
and to construe II with due regard to the
interests of the teacher and the interests
of the District has been labor or no
mean task. resting equally heavy upon
the board of education. the controller OF
the Treasury and this Office
Denying the charge that the auditors
office has attempted to place obstacles
in the way of the payment of teachers
salaries. Mr.. Tweedale declares that the
board of education has raised the ma
jority of the questions which had to
be submitted to the controller for de-
cision.
"Since the enactment Of the organic
law of the public schools, in 1906" de-
clares the auditor. lit has been neces-
sary to request of the controller de-
cisions to many questions arising in
the practical operation and applica-
tion of it's provisions and the pro-
visions of amendments thereto. in con-
junction with annual appropriation acts
providing means for their enforcement
Suits Follow Decisions.
I'm several cases where the con-
troller's decisions were adverse to the
interests of the teachers. suits have
been filed by the teachers in the Su-
preme Court of the District
"A number Of opinions have been sub
mitted by this ONCE to the board Of edu-
cation, where, in my opinion, the matter
presented could be answered free of
doubt. and where the board and this Office
were in accord in the conclusion reached.
This agreement. In a matter between the
board and this ONCE, as q rule. rendered
the submission of the question to the con-
trolier unnecessary, unless a subject was
a large number of teachers with the con-
seauent expenditure Of large sums of
public moneys. as to Justify such a course
being taken
Auditor Tweedale quotes from deci-
non or the controller to bear out his
statement that the whole trouble has been
over the ambiguity of the school law
In decision dated October IL, 1903, the
controller made the following reference
% the law, according TO the auditor:
The organic act and the appropriation
act made to provide means for it's en-
forcement for the fiscal year 1907 are
to put 1t mildly, not models Of clearness
or definite thought"
This Sfatar1anf iOh he a. g..
practically each fiscal year since 1907,
Auditor Tweedale declares
Status Of Two Principals.
Outside of its criticism of the school
law, the question raised by the Tweedale
report with respect to the status Of two
principals OF grade manual training
schools promises TO come in for consider
able study. These positions are new
ones and have not. prior to the current
fiscal year. II is said. been authorized by
AY in the local school system
che question of the status of the teach
ers was put ~ to the auditors ONCE by
the board OF education. After reviewing
the appropriation act, which provided for
the positions, and certain decisions Of the
controller of the Treasury which have
bIaring on the problem. the questions
propounded by the board of education
are answered in the auditors commune
cation 10 the Commissioners.
IL is recommended. however. that, in
asmuch as the opinions of the audi
tors Office are not binding. and the
matter presented by the board involves
an original construction Of a statute,
the question be submitted to the con-
troller for a final decision.
One OF the principal questions asked
by the board was whether a teacher,
employed in group A, class six re-
ceiving salary of $500 200 basic
pay and $500 longevity pay may be
2nsxf0 tn nnn ~ b. -
principals of grade manual training
schools and receive like salary.
This query is answered In the mega
tive by Auditor Tweedale In his report
to the Commissioners.
Similar Decision in Second Case.
similar reply was given to the
question of the board as to whether a
teacher of manual training. now en-
ployed I'm class Ave. and receiving a
salary OF $1,000 $3.50 basic pay and
$3.50 longevity pay) may be promoted
To- one of the positions of principals
of grade manual training schools and
receive salary in group A. class six.
next above his present salary, namely.
s1.loO $4,000 basic pay and 500
longevity pay).
Other questions propounded were: Would
teacher promoted. or new teacher APP
pointed TO the position of principal of q
graded manual training school be required
to present the qualifications OF having
passed the required examination. or pos
sessing degree from accredited col
lege. and whether the principals Of grade
manual training schools are entitled to
the annual increases provided for in
group a, class six?
The first of these questions Is answered
partly in the Affirmative and partly in the
negative. The act of June 30 1905 pro-
vides that no person shall be appointed
to any position in the graded or high
schools until the same has passed a re-
CURED examination prescribed by the
board of examiners. 1t is held that this
would not apply to an authorized promo
ton within the service except in cases
involving the teaching Of academic and
scientific subjects.
Qualifications Prescribed.
The same act provides that no person
without a degree from an accredited COL
iege or a graduation certificate from an
accredited normal school with at least
Ave years of teaching experience in a
high school shall be appointed to teach
any academic or scientific subjects In the
normal, high or manual training schools
This. IL Is held. does not apply to 'prin-
cipals of grade manual training schools
teaching elementary subjects.
The fourth question Is answered In the
affirmative by the auditor.
Congress" II is stated, apparently In
tended in placing principals Of grade
manual training schools in group A.
class 8. to allow them as the commence
ment OF salary the minimum salary OF
that class and group with the annual In
crease provided for length Of service"