Evening star., 1919-09-26
king D. c. SCHOOL
PLAN IS OPPOSED
R. C. CIaAin Writes Repre-.
sentative, Disappearing
Main Features of Bill.


the bill for the Reorganization Of the
school system of the District of CO.
lumbia introduced in the House sew
eral days ago by Representative Ed
ward ]. King Of Illinois is expressed
In a letter sent to Mr.. King by Roy
C. Claflin, chairman of the school COM
mittee of the Board of Trade.
Your bill. II enacted into law,
would prove most unsatisfactory to
the citizens of Washington and dis
letter says.
Gives Views as to Needs.
1--WE want changes that will render
our school system more responsive to
the needs of the hour and more effi-
cient in performing it's functions. We
want our school administration more
representative of the people of WASH
ington. SO 1t can be more responsive.
But you propose that it shall be still
less representative than it is now"
Mr.. Claf1in says that the proposition
to have the superintendent of the Dis
trict schools appointed by the Presi-
dent of the United States and to do
away with the board Of education is
particularly obnoxious.
Inns CHdHSe' ne says together
with giving absolute control Of our
schools to three appointed heads of
department, as provided in your bill,
would create the worst educational
autocracy imaginable. and the citi-
gems OF Washington would certainly
be loath to have such system thrust
upon them.'
"Much That Can BE Done
There is much that can be done by
Congress to strengthen our present
system which would be more produc-
tive of practical good than consider
ing legislation to uproot the entire
system, including its good points.
For instance, the building program
OF new schools Is years behind, and
the present accommodations in this
respect are hopelessiy inadequate.
Congress should make very generous
appropriations at once for meeting
the need Of dozens of additional
school buildings. In not doing so Con-
gress Ia imposing an inexcusable in-
justice on the District OF Columbia
crippled the efficiency of the schools,
is the need for sufficient salaries to
maintain a proper teaching corps.
The janitors and other school en-
ployes should also be paid larger
salaries, as indicated by the fact that
"Lack Buildings and Teachers
{ 'The necessity of such . larre pro-
portion OF our schools runnfHg only
half-time sessfons, thus deprivinx the
children OF their rfEhtfu1 privileges,
is occasfUned by the lack Of a sam
cient number OF school hufldinku and
the shortage 0f teachers. The ro.
sponsibility for this condition is up.
to Congress, and perhaps your inter-
est in the school affairs Of the Dis
trict win prompt you to use your in
nuence in relieving the situation.
You may not be aware OF the fact
that shfrty-two Of the most prom
inent organizations of the District Of
Columbia. representing approximately
0,000 local citizens, are WORKING for
the enactment by Congress Of a law
providing for the election Of the
members of the board Of education by
the people IN place Of appointment by
the court. The effect Of such q change
WIN be - make the administration of
the schoeis more responsfve TO spubiie
sentiment. as should be the ease. Your
Dill would have the opposite effect,
which would be most unfortunate for
the washington public schools.
No phase OF our civic life Is more
distinctly our affair than the admin
istfatfon OF our public schools. The
District people would be the most d.
rectiy affected by any legislation
changing our school system, and
therefore. In all fairness, we ought to
nave the most to say about It."