Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-10

! fects and remedies and suggest stand =
ards TO be adopted.
"Thc public is directly interested and
| should be heard upon every. question
raised. Every interest should be given
the fullest opportunity to find express :
sion of its views. Once the work Is
undertaken il must be carried to con :
clusion. regardless of all obstacles. ]
would not be hampercd or have the
survey intcrfcrcd with in any way. Not
only the public. but the Board of Edu .
cation as well as the executive and
teaching stats. would be encouraged to
present their views.
1--WE. of coursc-and ] refer to the
department Of education--are acting
under legislative sanction. and the law
recognizes no faction or special interest.
Not alone Philadelphia. but the entire
state. would be benefited by such an
examination, 1t would enable us to
fix n standard that would be recognized
everywhere for its efficiency.
"What are your views about the
employment of an independent firm or
concern to conduct such an cxamlna =
! tom
Disfayors Plan
~ do not regard it with favor re-
piled Doctor Fincgan. The state
| nlUlUlHlIlS Un N'f"'
that is thoroughly equipped for such q
work. Ours is a business organization
not identified with politics. IL is no
clear to me why n large private tunt
should be expended when the state ha
an organization thoroughly qualified ant
is ready to foot the bill.
Have YOU had any communication
with members of the Philadelphi;
Board of Education or others inter
cstcd in this survey"
81 have not. Tho matter has beef
mentioned to mc by one or two people
but in the most casual fashion ant
then only upon the question as to tn
possibility of the State Department
\ undertaking the survey
Doctor FinCgan declined TO discus
any phase of the proposed survey be
yond that quoted above. He did init
mate that it had been his purpose. Ion
considered. to make an examination o
the Philadelphia school system. Tha
no matter what the outcome of tn
present agitation might be his depart
ment in Its lc"al uOSitiOn, would ulti
matcly undertake it.
He expressed great pride in Phila
dclphia and a desire to see it assum
the lead. not only in the state. but. il
the country, as an example of higI
Bruce Watson. secretary of the Pub
lie Education and Child Labor Associa
ton Of Pennsylvania. was cduall
pronounced in his views concerning
philadelphia educational future. Th
outstanding demand in any survey o
PEiladclphia's public school system wa
that there should be no strings attache
to it. No interests. personal or other
wise. should be considered.
Mr.. Watson pointed out that sue
survey was not new thing Thu
far 100 cities and towns in this coun
Try have had them.
There were no criticisms by him o
the finances of the Board of Education
Nor did he suggest that practical poll
tics in its broad sense was RESPONSE
Bile for the present unsatisfactory con
dition of school management. lie pai
high compliment to the teaching stai
and particularly to late DIR. G.. W
Founders. head of the board of cx
amincrs for teachers. He Coincidcd wit
tine views of Doctor FinCGan that tn
survey would be an admirable thin
for the entire educational system i
the state.