Evening star., 1916-01-03
High School Association At
tacks Plan of District
Commissioners.
s'CHALLENGE THE FACTS
AND REFUTE ARGUMENTS"
Cite Control and Administration in
Forty-Eight Principal Cities of
the United States.

Citing school control and ad-
ministration in the forty-eigh1
principal cities OF the United
States, the High School Teachers
Association of Washington, D. c.,
in a report just adopted by the
council of that organization and
made public today, attacks the
proposed plan of the District
Commissioners for changing the
system OF school administration
here. The report is headed as
"a challenge of their facts and
refutation OF their arguments"
Following extensive answer to
the Commissioners arguments
for the change advocated, as set
forth in the press following an
address by one member OF the
board OF Commissioners, the re-
port asks how, if the proposed
plan goes into effect, are the peo-
pie of the District to have any
voice in school affairs, and what
is the object OF this dummy
board proposed by the Commis-
sioners.
For Concentration of Power.
The report concludes by stating: 'Tt
is now evident that the Commissioners
would be more sustained by the expe-
rience of other cities if they recon-
mended a more complete separation of
the public schools of this city from the
political branches of the municipal
government, and that they would be
more consistent with their own theory
of school administration if, instead of
increasing their own powers, they
would recommend a greater consoli-
dation of proper powers in the present
board Of education"
The statements made by the report
are based on data compiled for the
twenty-four principal commission gov
erned cities and the twentyfour prin-
cipal non-commission governed cities
in the United States, as set forth in
two charts published by the Public
of these charts have been ordered by
the High School Teachers Association
s-ScsNe to be distributed to organiza-
tions of Washington interested in them.
The answer is submitted in reply to
the following statement quoted from
one OF the Commissioners. speaking on
behalf OF his colleagues. December Is:
THE Commissioners believe that all Of
ieers, boards. or other organizations
charged with the performance of mu
nicipal duties should be subject to the
direction and control Of the executive
which is the board of Commissioners.
In this belief we are sustained by the
experience of other cities of the coun
try, and. indeed by the general prog
res5 Of governmental functions every
where
Facts About Twenty-Four Cities.
That the actual facts" for the twen-
ty-four principal commissioning governed
cities show only one clear-cut instance
where the commissioners appoint the
school board is asserted by the report.
On the other hand. it holds. there is
only one commission-governe city,
Washington, and two non-commission
governed cities, Pittsburgh and Phila-
delphia. where the judges appoint the
board of education. IN thirtythree
cities the people elect their own board
"A proper regard for the facts would
seem to prompt the Commissioners to
recommend the present method of ap-
pointing the board. compel them to
advocate an election of the school
board by the people rather than ap-
pointment by themselves" says the re-
port.
1t continues at another point:
Under the present system the SUPER
intendent Of schools and board of edu-
cation. acting under the limitations Of
the law, control the appointment Of
teachers, etc The Commissioners insist
that they are Sustained by the expert
ence OF other cities in assuming to
themselves the power to appoint teach
ers, ETC., yet the actual facts In forty-
eight cities show not a single instance
OF such practice.
Naming of Superintendent.
Again. under the present law the
superintendent of schools is appointed
by the board OF education. The Commits
sioners insist that they are Sustained
by the experience of other cities in
themselves appointing that official.
yet the actual facts in forty-eight
cities snow not one instance where the
superintendent is appointed by the
commissioners. In forty-four cities he
Is appointed by the board of educa-
Under the present system tba
pointment OF the board OF e,iucatjon bv
the judges keeps politics out Of ~
pubic schools The Commissioners in
slst that they are not seeking control of
The school for political purposes vet
IT Is difhcult TO understand why under
the circumstances they are not satis-
ned with merely appointing the school
board. instead OF assuming power, also.
over the appointment, promotion. re-
duction and removal of 22OO officials
teachers and other employees in direct
connict with the practice of other
cities. St
Inconsistencies of Plan
The Commissioners advocate IN.
consolidation in themselves of all the
departments of the municipal govern
ment. including the public school sys-
tenn, on the theory that centralized au-
thority is more efficient and RESPONSE
BILE. Not only do they boldly assume
that they ARE sustained h., IL