Evening star., 1920-05-26
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The School Report.

in the report of the Senate select com
mittee on District schools which has
just been presented after an inquiry
covering several weeks. The commit
tee finds a condition prevailing in the
schools which requires complete re-
organization of the board of educa-
tion, and recommends a change of law
which reduces the board from nine to
six members and places the power of
appointment in the President, with
confirmation by the Senate. 1t
furthermore recommends that the ad-
main unchanged Thus the committee
finds against the board of education
and for the superintendent, whose dis
placement by refusal of re election the
board has recently sought.
It was evident from the testimony
given at the hearing, which was ex-
haustive, that the schools were in dan
ger of utter generalization in conse
quence of the breakdown in relations
between the board and the superin-
tendent and the administrative staff
The committee reports that in its judg-
ment the cure for this condition lies
in change of the board rather than a
change of the administrative organi-
zation. 1t finds, in effect, that the
method of board appointment estab-
ished by the law of 1906 is ineffective
and conducive to friction and to loss
Of contact between the board and the
public. Two possible remedies are
available-to restore the appointing
power to the Commissioners, who held
it before 1906, or to place it in the
hands of the President, in whom it
has never before been vested. The
committees selection Of the latter
method is plainly dictated by a belief
that appointment by the Commission
ers, without confirmation, might result
in a perpetuation Of the conditions
which have brought the schools to the
present crisis, whereas appointment by
the President with senatorial con.
frmation would prevent such a result.
1t is recognized by the select COM
mittee that the school equipment is
inadequate and that material changes
are essential. To the end of ascertain
ing just what the schools need to place
them in the van of American city
school systems, where they should be,
the committee recommends a survey
under the auspices of Congress to be
reported in season for constructive
legislation at the next session. Mean
while a business manager is recon-
mended to relieve the superintendent
Of the many and burdensome details
Of executive care which, not of an edu-
tienal character, now hamper him in
his school administration.
This matter is to be approached
without regard to personalities The
committees report is gratifyingly free
Of references to individuals. It is a
temperate, helpful, satisfactory find
ing, and if adopted by the Senate as
the'ibasis of new legislation will have
justified fully the time taken in in
vestigation.
Washington wants its school system
maintained on the highest possible
plane of efficiency. 1t deplores the
wrangling of school officials. It re-
CARDS the quarrels between board and
superintendent as inimical to the school
welfare. In the present controversy
manifestations have been abundantly
given, through many expressions of
sentiment, of stronger popular sup
pert of the superintendent than of
the board. The Senate committees
repeSt is in line, therefore, with the
Hsvaaing feeling in this city, and
imupdiate legislation in conformity
with its recommendations will be well
comedr as means of putting the
schools back into wholesome state,
viii the welfare of the children pri-
marily,the object of all school work.