The Washington times., 1920-07-14
BENT
0NFREE HAND
will Stand No Interference, New
School Head Tells
City Club.

Assured that ne would nave full
sway as superintendent Of schools OF
the District without interference by
[ the Board OF Education as a whole, or
by individual members. and seeing
great possibilities for making the
J local system the best In America. Dr.
Frank w. Ballou accepted the POSI-
! tion.
This is what DIR. Ballou told mem
bers OF the City Club today when he
: addressed them at their weekly tor
um luncheon. He was very open in
! asserting he would tolerate no inter
F, ference with the duties imposed upon
him by law.
II want to state very frankly" said
DIR. Ballou. shat my administration CT
the schools OF Washington will be
| strictly in accordance with the law
and that in the discharge of my duties
and responsibilities, I shall be guided
by It's provisions governing my official
position"
DIR. Ballou declared he was making
sacrince by coming to Washington.
He stated his pay is the same here as
In Boston; that he will be deprived
of the opportunity OF lecturing in
Harvard and other prominent colleges,
and Will lose the chance OF doing
many other things that he desires.
SEES WONDERFUL FUTURE HERE.
But believe in the schools of
Washington" said DR.. Ballou. II zee
chance to do a real piece of educa-
tional work. see a wonderful future
for the Local school system. I come
here with my duties and authority
clearly defined by law and with the
chance to make this system the best
in America
to
Washington the best school system
possible. 1t is to that end I am work.
ing. There are no restrictions placed
upon me. I am determined to act ac-
cording to my best judgment and l
will not be interfered with in conduct-
ing my administration"
DR.. Ballou stated that he has had
little chance to learn the strength and
weaknesses Of the public school sys-
tenn here, and therefore scarcely could
be expected to tell the people of
Washington what he thinks OF the
conditions in the schools.
The new superintendent, now be-
coming famous in Washington for his
slogans, adds a new one to his list.
Quoting from Abraham Lincoln. he
says he will undertake to discharge
the functions imposed upon him by
law with malice toward none and
Justice IOr all
SPEECH AT CITY CLUB.
Among other things, DR.. Ballou
said today:
"This Is not the appropriate time to
deliver a lecture on the general prin-
ciples of school administration for
which / stand. / have just finished
that sort Of work in my two weeks
of lecturing at the University OF
Pittsburgh. On the other hand, you
will scarcely expect me to be prepared
to indicate the strength and weak
nesses Of the public school system Of
Washington after SO short an ac-
quaintance with 1T. Rather, 1 have
assumed that you desire to become
acquainted with the new superintend-
ent of schools. have accepted your
Invitation with real pleasure, because
I desire also to become acquainted as
rapidly as possible with the citizens
OF Washington.
81 have thought perhaps I would
tell you why I accepted the position
OF superintendent of schools of Wash
ington. In further consideration Of
this / reached the conclusion that
that would be an inappropriate topic
to discuss because l suppose that
those who live in Washington wonder
why people are content to live any
where else. 1 do desire to point out
two important professional considera-
tions which prompted me to accept
the post to which have been elected.
REFERS TO STATUTES.
"The law defining the functions of
the superintendent of schools and of
the Board Of Education Is very clear.
I know no city in the country where
the functions of the superintendent
are better defined than they are in the
statute of 1906. That statute clearly
makes the superintendent of schools
the executive officer of the Board Of
Education and gives him for the most
part powers commensurate with the
large responsibilities which he is ex-
pected by the public to assume. Be
cause the duties and responsibilities
Of the superintendent are so clearly
defined in the law, the position of su-
perintendent of schools in Washing
ton presents to any we'll qualified man