Evening star., 1920-05-26

present. resrettabIe condition. II this
should occur il makes much more difl-
cult and costly the removal OF variety
Of undesirable conditions AMI the appli-
cation OF an effective remedy to re-
fRhilit3te the schools and make them
adequate 10 present needs. Your COM
n;ittee reports that The execution of the
plans ny the majori;r q the board
touching chs nire t't he nll;;a cement
Cd tha schools wou.; y i - the
friction now existing at.. N,t'tis af ct
thl welfare of the D;-ti,ist & ...cl s,-stan
Your committee fc"g not believe
IT can recommend FIJI f-H"d!al iaEls-
i3tiou until comple survey OF the
schools has neeu raaGs : ! competent
Authority SHOW Ing WA nav build
inGs.' grounds, physiS.;i cqG'pmentss.
ih'iEaing playground. G-e cSsenti: l.
the changes in sdu@l ion. methods,
administrative affairs nd other es-
seutial details shall lie round by such
Slrvey to serve as :. sound baSI tor
legislation. \ our committee therefore
reCommf that an iot3'N he given
20 procur,. such sIrI, !. nh5ch can be
cenpleted Il is bel.", 81. uPon tie
convenins ot Congress i. December.
1sco.
..-Your committee f'.,her reports
that il deems Il inacr.salle for The
feTegoins reasons io~ tile present
hoard of education - proceed upon
tEeir plans referred 10 in the hearings
rslatiuS to q change ~ the superln-
te-lGcnt' Of the Distric- schools. be
cause his successor, named by the
present dominant faction. will newt
ably inherit the same divided connSelS
and obstacles resulting from present
conditions. ard that il is less harmful
TO maintain the existing status or al
fairs than agGravate the present un-
fortunate situation by further fric-'
tion
Your committee believes that upon
the making Of the survey herein rec
omm ended legislation can be enacted
and a CON olete remedy had more eN-
peditioUsly aud with less expense and
delay than if the majority Of the
board ot education should carry into
effect their avowed purposes.
Would Abolish Board.
Your committee has arrived at the
unanimous conclusion that the pres
ent board Of education. created under
the act of 1906. ought TO be abolished
and a board Of education consisting
! of six members he created, The pres
lent method Of appointing the board
cf education by the Supreme Court of
he District ought to be changed. and
he power Of appointment vested in
he President of the United states.
subject TO confirmation by the Senate,
The compensation of both the
teachers the janitors and other serv-
ice ought in justice to the welfare of
the sch hools be increased. The present
rate of pay cannot reasonably be eX-
pected to attract and keep competent
persons in the service. We believe
the report of the joint reclassification
committee recently made contains
proper recommendations in this behalf.
The superintendent of schools ought
10 be given power to suspend or dis
miss. subject TO the approval of the
board of education, any person for
he Of ho
The business details incident to the
school system of the District are now
so burdenSome that. in the opinion of
the committee, new office OF busi-
ness manager should be created. and
we believe the survey herein referred
to when made will recognize the me-
cessity of such relief from the duties
now incumbent upon the superintend-
ent Such manager ought to be given
a force sufficiently large and qualified
to enable him TO dispatch business
matters adequately and rapidly. Di-
rect responsibility should be imposed
upon him for all matters committed
to his care.
approves Center Activities.
The use of school property as
community centers for entertain.
ments. meetings and educational
movements is approved. Your COM
mittee believes. however, that the use
of such property ought to be under
strict supervision. both as to the care
for the same and the character of
the entertainments or proceedings
conducted therein. Unless great care
subject to criticism are apt to find
their way into the school buildings.
This is a matter for the good judg-
ment OF the board of education. but
point out specifically the necessity
for constant vigilance. We especially
ment'~n here the fact that school
buildings and their appurtenhnces
and grounds are primarily designed
in original construction, in heating.
lighting and ventilation for aduca-
tinnal purposes. and any departure
from such intended use must lie un-
der such Limitation and wiAe re-
s<raints as not to do violence to the
spirit of the public school system.
THE committee found that many Of
the sShool buildings were being used
for csrnlmunity activities, many of
which we're highly educational and
recreatfc1al. The community center
has been the means. in many in
stances, of furnishing education. rec
rea4lQR-aAa pleasure to the adults and
ichif6ren IN these communities. but the
committee found that there has been
jnstances where dances held in those
,buiidin were not properly conducted
| ioriladequately chaperoned The COM
mittee is of the opinion that there
shPuld be the closet cooperation upon
th4 part of the community center au-
thSrities and the patrons of the va
riSds community centers ., following
their wishes as to the cNsacter of
rhA entertainment and tirat, in all in
stances. 40 very s1rictest supervision
and regulation should be observed.
III ScEgexts New Buildings.
Ycongress. in the House of Represent
atlNes, where money bills originate, is
prfiding literally in the appropriations
fonl this year for buildings and equip
meat. The increase of population in the
Dsfrict, carrying with it the natural ad-
ditipn 70 the children of school age
mikes it indispensable that new build
inEf. adequate Fairgrounds and other
physical improvements be had proper
tIonate 70 the increase The necessity
foEpiaySrounG room at the Dunbar High
ann the Park View schools and in other
loSHlities is most urgent and your com
minee recommends immediate action
hyti the board and Congress 1t is
nox anticipated any difficulty will be
found in al proper additions and i'm
prHeements in school facilities when the
fofHgoinc survey recommended shall
hatVe shown the basis upon which it and
othfr legislation can intelligently be en-
acPd"
Nees Not Pass Superintendent.
eEour committee wishes il TO be
thpfoughly understood that nothing
in'3report IS to be construed as
cortvmrinG n- commencing the su-