Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-10
'unselfish Probe, Without Po-
litical Interference" Desire
OF Educational Chief
PUBLIC SHOULD BE HEARD
ON EVERY QUESTION RAISED"
Quiz Under Direction Of Com
monwealth Favored-Proved
Success in New York
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

Now that Philadelphia is to have n
school survey. the question is who shall
do the work:
Experts engaged and paid by civic or
ganizations or experts under the dircc =
ton of DIR. Thomas r. Fiucgan. state
superintendent of public instruction?
Doctor Finegan is cmphatically in
favor Of the survey. He is equally as
emphatic in his belief that the work
should be undertaken by the state. II
has the men, the means and the ma
chincry.
In the brief time. less than year
that Doctor Fincgan has been at the
head of the educational interests OF
Pennsylvania he has accomplished note
worthy things. He accomplished note =
worthy things before he came here. when
he was deputy commissioner of cduca =
tion for the state Of New York.
One Of his most conspicuous achieve
mcnts was survey of the school system
of the city Of Buffalo. It was dif
fcult and rather complicated job. II
required five months TO do the work
Every member of the staff of the in
spection division, in addition TO othel
members of the department staff mt Al.
bany, was engaged in it. The task wa,
accomplished In the face Of vigorous po
litical opposition headed by one of thu
most powerful political leaders in tha
state.
In the end, based on Doctor Finegan''
findings and recommendations, Buffalo
was equipped with an up to date schoo
system. 1t took the place of an anti
quated organization run by the Buffal,
city Council and functioning as po
litical power in the hands Of few men
1t is n foregonc conclusion. | think
I hat the state authorities will perform
the task of examining our school sys
TEN. There are very substantial as
sumptions for this belief. Doctor Fine
gan has n certain clearly defined policy
II is statewide in its application. Their
must be co ordination and unity of ac
tion in every part of the commonwealth
and in every one of its cities.
Not to accept the offer of the hea,
of the educational interests OF tn
commonwealth would imply lack o
confidence in the departmcnt-and it
head. The findings of outside investi
gators, who have no permanent intercs
in the outcome, and whose connection
with the School system would end witt
their examination, might run contrar,
to the established plans of the Stat,
Educational Department.
Serve No Selfish Interests
The civil organizations interested il
the survey serve no special or selfisf
interests. They are actuated by the de
sire to have the work done in the mos
effective manner possible. 1t is in tn,
pubic's interest and they desire tha
the public in some fashion have rccog
milton in the general cleanup.
Doctor Finegan appreciates thi
fact. At the same time he has very
clear ideas as to how results should b,
achieved. Philadelphia is the metropo
lis of Pennsylvania and the third largcs
city in the country; it must set tn,
pace for the rest of the state.
In offering to undertake surve!
of the public schools of Philadelphia
! have not been actuatcd by any sclisl
motives" said Doctor Fincgan. :"
have no special interests to serve.
feel that the state could render no bette
service to the cause of public education
than to make thorough examination
of the school system of the chief cit,
of the commonwealth, point out its de