Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-20
South Washington Citizens
Association Is Satisfied With
Present Arrangements.
DELEGATE is APPOINTED
TO APPEAR AT HEARING
Extract From Report of Superin-
tendent of Schools Shows Work
of Supervising Principals.

1t required practically no debate last
night for the South Washington Citi-
zens' Association, DR.. l.. II. johnson,
president, and Hedge o. H. Murray, sec
rotary. to reach the conclusion that the
association was heartily in favor of con-
tinu1ng the present method of govern
ing the public schools. There was a
large attendance at the meeting, which
was held in the room of the principal
enthusiasm was shown.
The resolution opposing the change was
presented by r. Harrison Johnson. 1t
reads:
That the South Washington Citizens
Association opposes the recommendation
transferring the public school govern
ment from the board of education to the
bia and strongly urges that careful and
thorough consideration be given the mat
ter, as it is believed that the administra-
ton of the public schools under the
board of educat ton, with it's limited au-
thority. has been wise. intelligent and
satisfactory to all concerned, and that a
change looking to the abolition of the
board of education, or restricting it's al
ready limited authority, would be detri-
mental to and against the best interest
of the public school system in the Dis
trict of Columbia"
Numerous seconds to the resolution
were heard. and it was passed by a
unanimous vote.
ton, DIR. j. Rozier Biggs, chairman of
the school committee, advanced numer-
Gus reasons why the present system of
governing the board of education, as now
appointed. should be maintained.
President Johnson, DIR. c. n. Chapman
and others spoke in favor of the resolu-
ton, and on motion of DIR. Chapman the
association designated Charles N Thomp-
son. principal of Jefferson School, to ap-
pear before the subcommittee of the
House that is hearing arguments on the
school bill of the Commissioners and tell
the views of the association
Principals Fail to Supervise.
DR.. Willard F. Thompson read an ex-
tract from the report of the superin-
tendent of schools in reference to the
establishment of group principals in
the schools to show that the supervis-
ing principals cover so much ground
that they really fail to supervise. He
referred to this as weak spot in the
system. He read, in, part,
from the report:
Good teaching goes hand in hand
with close. continuous and constructive
supervision. Without such supervision
the full efficiency of system is lost.
The supervisor who is closest to the
teacher must be himself an excellent
teacher. with capa city for leadership,
with power to supervise upward and to
help his teachers to develop themselves.
believe this supervision a the source
may be secured gradually and without
any present eighth-grade
teacher in her position by reaujust-
ment when vacancies occur and by the
of group principals in
charge of three small or two large
schools.
Personally. l believe that this adj
justment can be made under our pres
ent law and with practically no addi-
tional expense. The buildings grouped
should be those located close together
which naturally interchange pupils.
The three or. more eighth grades in
these buildings should, preferably, be
grouped in one building. One eighth
grade teacher should be selected as
group principal and should teach one
subject, on the departmental plan. in
all the eighth grades. The balance of
her time she should devote to the bust
ness administration of the three schools
and to close personal supervision of
the classroom teaching.
This is the regular work of a grade
elsewhere. and for this work
the principal should receive all the SEES
sion room pay in addition to her
grade salary. By establishing
the departmental plan of teaching the
balance of the basic work of the three
eighth grades may be done by the
other two eighth-grade teachers, who
are absolutely relieved of any business
The work in music
and drawing may well be taught reg
ularly by the special teachers of these
subjects as manual training and do
nestle science are now taught.
THE whole plan means better bust
ness administration, closer supervision,
better and uninterrupted teaching in
the eighth grades. 1t also means the
of department teaching.
which means better teaching. 1t means
an informal preparation of the child
for the high school method of instruc-
ton and will make easier the transit
ton from grade to high school. 1t
means also an easily possible primary
in one building and gram
organization in another.
thus separating the little children from
the older ores. l hope that it may be