Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-23

proved themselves quite UNIT to select
board members: whereas the Supreme
Court OF the District. removed from tne
play of party politics. has been most
tudicious in selecting representative
men and women.
II believe that the proportionate rep
Presentation of our colored population
upon the board of education will be
sacrificed the moment the Commission
from the Just and high-minded judges
OF our Supreme Court.
Thinks Advisory Board Shabby.
II believe that the advisory board of
Education proposed by the Commission
ers is most shabby. whether considered
as sally of wit or a piece Of political
strategy.
Il believe that to emasculate the pro-
| fessional head Of our schools would be
n grievous wrong to the children and
youth Of this community now and here.
after, and a horrible example for all
the cities of this nation.
Il believe that if our schools be view
ed as a business. the facts are all
against Commissioner Newman's inter-
men and women of Washington. tho
board of directors is the board of edu-
cation and the general manager Is the
superintendent of schools.
bills would throttle our school system
for civil service principles are Its
breath of life.
IT believe that the worst conceivable
would be for the Commi ssioners to sue
coed in making them the sport of
horde of politicians.
Il believe that the Acknowledgement
of the people of Washington is con-
trary to the whole spirit Of our insti-
tutions and that Congress would add
gross insult to grave injury by wrest-
ing from our people all semblance OF
control over the very schools of our
children.
II believe that the schools of the
capital of the American democracy
should be a model of sound modern
practice to all the cities Of this land
not an anathema to educators every
National Aspect Of Problem.
President Blair declared that the
most vital thing in the public affairs
of the American people is the public
schools, and that. in considering the
changes proposed by the Commission
ers. Washingtonians are not dealing
with a municipal problem, but one
which, in Its broader sense, deals with
the safety and security of the nation.
free from interference by extraneous
and outside sources. it is the public
school system he said.
He discussed the relative qualities
OF the District Supreme Court and the
board of Commissioners as the appoint
i've source of the school board. refer
ring to the fact that there mad been but
three changes in the personnel of the
court in six years. whereas there have
been eight changes in the membership
of the board OF Commissioners in three
years This. In the opinion of the
speaker, proved the court to be the
one more closely allied to the interests
of the people. and, therefore, the best
qualified to appoint the school board
members.
Aidicules Commissioners.
Mr.. Blair ridiculed the Commissioners
statement that their recommendation
represents a observation-disclosures study
of the school situation. He said that
Commissioner Newman had been in Of
fee at the time tho recommendation
was made, but two years and four
months; Commissioner Brownlow but
ten months and Commissioner Kutz but
one year.
The president Of the board of educa-
ton went into the details of the sys-
tenn by which finances and accounts are
handled between the school board and
Commissioners. pointing out that the
elaborate arrangement of vouchers and
checks makes 1t practically impossible
for a mistake to be made and that the
commissioners are under no greater re-
sponsibility for expenditures than If
they had entire control Of the school
system.
President Blair said he believed 1t
would be impossible to get system
that will work out any better than the
present one II the board Of education
and the Commissioners will endeavor to
cooperate unselnshly in serving one
of the children OF the
District.