The Washington times., 1919-06-12
D. C.TEACHERS
BEGIN SCHOOL
LAW REVISION
Local PedagogueS Establish
Precedent BY Organizing
Committee to ReWrite Rules.

Establishing a precedent for all
cities Of the country where the
present system of governing the pub
lie schools is unsatisfactory, teachers
representing the high schools OF
Washington met yesterday afternoon
at Mckinley Manual Training school
and organized a committee to rewrite
the school laws of the District.
Miss Genevieve Marsh, Of Nc
Kinley Manual Training School, was
elected chairman of the committee on
reorganization. OF public education.
and Miss Cornelia Whitney, Of Wilson
Normal school was chosen secretary
Other members Of the committee are
Miss Mabel Halves. OF Central High
school, Miss Roberta Wallace. Of
Western High school; Mrs. Lola E.
Hutchins, Of Central High school: and
Miss Mary Bradshaw, Of Business
High school.
Miss Alice Deal. Mrs. Mary Bren-
nan Inkster, and Miss Maude Gun
Their, president, vice president and
secretary, respectively, Of the High
School Teachers Union, were named
ex-officio members Of the committee.
Pick Delegates Mt Large.
Harry English. head of the mathe-
mates department Of the Washington
schools, and Frank Daniel. principal
Of Mckinley Manual Training school
were elected by the committee as dele
gates at large.
All the members Of the committee,
except the union officials and the
delegates at large, were named by
-
elections held recently.
The teachers attribute the wide
spread demands for a revision OF the
school laws to the controversies be-
tween the Board Of Education on one
side and the teachers and thousands
Of parents on the other side, which
have been raging for months.
Wood Case Started Course.
After continued efforts to obtain a
hearing for Miss Wood. and after the
case had been forced into the courts,
the teachers decided to take action.
Their decision resulted in the for
nation Of the committee to rewrite
the school laws. The substitute set
of laws will be presented to Congress
this fall.
The teachers believe the continued
welfare Of the children in the public
schools. as we'll as the instructors, Is
being detrimentally affected by the
present system" of governing the
schools" said Miss Deal today.
"EIImInate Controversies"
Under the proposed new organic
act governing the schools, which we
are confident will be acceptable to
Congress, the teachers hope to help
establish a system OF education which
will eliminate the necessity of contin-
uous and recurring controversies
Provided the teachers succeed in
putting through their reorganization
Of public education program, il is
said that only three members OF the
present Board of Education will sur
vive the storm.
Members Who Back Teachers-
These members are DR.. John Van
Setback, jr. who has been a consist
ent champion of the teachers and
their campaign for betterment OF the
system of public education in Wash
inEton: Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, who
believed that Miss Wood should be
allowed TO defend herself before be-
ing condemned: and Fountain Pey-
ton. Colored member OF the board,
who has gained considerable influ-
ence among the COlored people of
Washington by declaring himself in
favor of hearing to settle the case
Of Roscoe {. Bruce, assistant super
intcndent or schools.
The reorganization of public edu-
cation committee will meet again to-
morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock in the
Mckinley Manual Training School.
While the grade school teachers are
in sympathy with the movement OF
the high school teachers they have
not vet voted to take an active part
in the changing of the school laws.
Such a vote is expected within a few
days.