Evening star., 1915-12-22
Congress of Mothers Acts on
Recommendations of Dis
trict Commissioners.
COMMITTEE Is NAMED
TO FIGHT PROPOSED BILL
A. Leftwich Sinclair Discusses Pres
ent System of Educational Control
and Contemplated Alterations.

the District Commissioners to change
the present school law is to be made
by the Congress of Mothers, which yes
terday afternoon adopted resolutions
setting forth that it is "unalterably
opposed to the changes in our present
school law" The resolutions further
set forth that Mrs. Giles CATER, the
presiding officer, appoint a committee
to oppose the recommendation of the
Commissioners and do all in their power
to prevent their enactment into law.
The present school law and the rec
concentrations of the Commissioners to
Congress proposing new law were
described by A. Leftwich Sinclair to
the members of the congress at a
meeting in the Raleigh Hotel.
The speaker compared the present
and proposed law. Under the present
law he said, the control of the public
schools is vested in a board of educa-
ton, consisting of nine members. all
of whom shall have been for five years
Immediately preceding their appoint
ment bona fide residents of the Dis
be wSmen. He said this board of edu-
cation is appointed by the six judges
of the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia
How Present Law Works.
"The board of education determines
all questions of general policy relat-
ing to the schools, and appoints su-
perintendent of schools; the said su
perintendent, however, by the present
law. is given the direction of and
supervision in all matters pertaining
to instruction in all the schools.
school funds are expended under
the direction of the board of educa-
ton; such expenditures, however, be-
ing made and accounted for as provid-
ed by law under the direction and con-
troll of the Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
THE board of education annually
makes estimates of the amount of
money required for the public schools,
which are transmitted to Congress
through the District Commissioners.
The secretary of the board of edu
cation is head of the clerical force.
and has charge of the keeping of the
records relating to school matters. He
is under the control and supervision
of the board of education.
,"Ar teachers, heads of departments,
principals and supervising principals
and other employees are appointed by
the board of education on the recon-
mendation of the superintendent"
The Proposed Changes.
Taking up the recommendation of
the Commissioners the speaker pointed
out that they desire
That the position of superintendent
of schools be abolished and that the
Commissioners be given the power to
appoint director of education for all
the public schools. who shall. under the
Commissioners, have the direction and
supervision Of all matters pertaining
to instruction in the public schools and
who shall perform such other duties as
the Commissioners may require Of him.
THAT the Commissioners be given
the power to appoint a board of educa-
ton to consist of Ave members. who
shall be residents Of the District, and
that such board of education shall
have such powers and perform such
duties as the Commissioners may pre-
scribe.
That the Commissioners be given
the power to make all appointments.
promotions and removals of officers,
teachers and other employees of the
public schools.
Position of the Secretary.
That the position of secretary of the
board of education be hereafter known
as secretary to the director of educa-
ton"
He said that while it may appear
logically to unity and centralize all
tho municipal activities under a single
control. 1t is fact that in most Amer
ican cities the control of the public
schools is Independent of the central
municipal government This almost in
variable practice is the result of long
and costly experience with plans un-,
der which the control of the schools
was involved in the petty politics al
ernment. Even in American cities gov
erned by the commission plan the con-
troll of the public schools is in nearly
all cases kept separate and independent
of the municipal government.
Regulation in Other Cities.
In answer to the question 'In what
relation to the municipal government
does the management of the public
schools stand?" Mr.. Sinclair quoted
statements of responsible officials in a
few of the best known commission
governed cities. as follows:
Burlington, Iowa-"Absolute separa-
ton
Des Moines, Iowa-"No relation what
ever"
Galveston, Tex.-"Entirely separate.
Houston, Tex.-"Nominally the mayor
has the power to veto in financial mat
been used. The city commission boasts
of the fact that it has absolutely moth
! ing to do with the schools except to
furnish them money. We have no politics