Evening star., 1917-11-09
SUGGESTS CHOICE
IN DEMOCRATIC WAY
Committee Proposes Change
in Method Of Selecting
Board of Education.

A more democratic way of choosing
members Of the board of education than
that now employed is advocated by the
committee on schools of the Washing
ton Board of Trade In its annual report,
completed at a meeting late yesterday
afternoon in the rooms of the organiza-
ton. Members of the board of educa-
tion are at present chosen by the Su-
preme Court of the District Of Colum-
bia.
General salary increases are recon-
mended by the committee. 1t is eS-
planned that the committee has made
comprehensive survey, during the last
year. of the entire local school system,
and has made a frst-hand study of spe
cific conditions, assisted materially by
the ready cooperation of various school
officials
In our opinion the educational sys-
tenn of the District of Columbia is of
most excellent grade and is being con-
Quoted admirably. perhaps the best pos
sble under existing conditions. states
the report. There are, however. some
fundamental changes needed we be-
liere, that will add greatly to the eff
cheney of the organization. The time
is not ripe at present to discuss all
these items but they are now unde
consideration by your committee.
List cf tions.
Recommendations which Chairman
Roy c. CIaflin VIII present to the Board
of Trade on behalf of his committee are
as follows:
A liberal appropriation ~ Congress
for the extension and development o.
vocational training work.
An increased appropriation for next
year for the night schools.
The establishment of teachers re-
tirement system.
A more democratic method of select
Ing the members of our board Of educa-
tion.
Higher pay for teachers. principals
and other officials. on the par with sala-
ries in other cities of the first class.
| Higher pay for clerks librarians and
| laboreIs.
| Increase OF the clerical forces Of high
| schools to relieve the teachers of rou-
! tine clerical work. which now inter
| feres with their classroom duties.
! Creation Of the position of assistant /
principal for the larger high schools.
TO nable the principals to give more
consistent attention to the work intend
ed for them.
| Adequate gymnasium facilities and a
new auditorium for Mckinley Manua!
Training School and for Western High
School.
Change in Method of Appointments.
Change in the method Of appointing
new teachers in the high schools. CIV
= ing the principals a wider range OF
discretion. for instance. allowing them
to choose the best suited teacher from
the three highest on the list, as is done
under the civil service.
Revision of the qualifications REQUIRED
OF applicants for positions as teachers
and professional training and general
adapt2bllltE. and less emphasis or
purely theoretical and book learning.
| Provision for the Interchange oil
teachers between this and other cities
Early erection Of the proposed voca-
tiona! school near the navy yard anG
the purchase of the ba1ance of square
1tiS. adjoining the present site. for
playground and garden work and for
ia future possible extension of the
building.
Extension Of free text book privileges
to students Of the high schools.
Accomplishment of repairs to schoo
buildings early enough in the summer
so not to interfere with the opening
OF the schools.
Sixteer-room school building for the
locality encircling the Spring road
neighborhood. in the third division. tc
relieve the congestion OF the schools iE
that section.
L Steps by the board OF education look
ing toward the establishment in the
District of Columbia OF Junior higi
schools.