The Washington herald., 1921-12-12
XII. Washington Schools.


operation in the movement for better schools OF
The Joint subcommittee on education OF the District
committee the committee 5 record now proves
we were correct In fact the movement really
originated in the committee with Senator King 5
motion which met with an instant and sincere re-
Spouse.
1t is wise in its initial action to get the expert
counsel OF independent educators, OF those who
have watched the development OF public education
in city systems and who know what are the in
strumentalities which bring the best and surest
results: who know where authority and response
bility should be placed and how completely. This
counsel should from outside OF Washington
meeting whatever NAV be the expressed desires
which are developed here. The decision should be
free from local prejudice and from those local inhu
cnces not altogether purged OF personal or political
influences.
The committee in any event will find plenty Of
local Inducements. These Nmay not reach them
directly but rather through indirection, playing
tom" against Paul" and seeking to prevent
rather than to effect There has seeped into The
Herald a line Of opposition the appointment Of
the board OF education by the President, which
IS characteristic OF political methods everywhere
and familiar to be shopworn. 1t is said
for instance, to those inclined to favor such ap
pointment, that this would at and inevitably
make the board only a creature of the Fedora
Bureau of Education which bureau it seems, is moi
altogether popular in Washington.
So far as The Herald is concerned our only
criticism OF the bureau is that it has been here
Tor years; has seen these schools go from bad tC
worse; has seen injustice piled injustice tc
teachers and pupils yet has done nothing. 1t ha.
Shown the slightest interest in the schools ant
the law of its being does not give it the least
thority them yyhy citizens of Washing
ton should prove more subservient to this bureau
: because named by the President. than when named
by court, is puzzle.
. Named by the President they would be on an
official level with the bureau Named under Law
. giving them complete authority and making them
wholly responsible. they would be poor flock oil
chickens TO be shooed by Federal bureau OF which
they entirely independent. Nor would the
bureau be apt to change its tactics. Such objec-
tions gathered from the atmosphere to serve
= personal but unexpressed purpose
= Another objection to Presidential appointment
Is that it would remove the board further from the
, people OF Washington and that it would be better
TO leave things they until the city is granted
the local franchise. This is like a motion to ad
journ without day. When Washington gets the
local franchise will be when its people want it in
lar greater numbers than today. Nor is it easy tc
President is any the plain folks than one by
the President direct. Appointment by the Pres.
. dent carries responsibility to the President Ap.
Gointment by a Presidential appointee carries nc
responsibility to anyone Moreover, why not hav,
the District Commissioners appointed by the cour
and bring them nearer the plain people?
But there is yet third objection. that if named
by the President this would bring the board as :
pawn into local politics, as the local politician.
would tell the President whom to and so would
control the board and the schools. We wonder i
this is another slam at the District Commissioners
Or is it that innocence which passes around fo-
politicians what the politicians cannot well circuat,
themselves Presidents are not all innocents The,
know somewhat OF the ways OF politics and the on,
, place they, do all honest men, call an absout,
halt on politics, is at the schools
But what would the rest OF the people of Wash
, ington be doing while the politicians were BAN
boozlng the President What would the mother,
OF Washington be doing; what the fathers. with
children in the schools Ii there are women ON tn,
board will the parent-teachers and mothers sssocia
= tons and women's clubs let the men nam. them;
But there is another influence to be reckoned with
of, men quite close to the President Their. ar,
. scores OF Senators and Representatives who hav,
children in these schools. There would be score,
more who would send their children, if the school,
= were all they should be- Will these men Il, N.
: selfish politicians OF Washington name an rns,
board of educatono
- VIII the joint subcommittee on education aft.,
al the preliminary work. after going to school r.
b. educators, after making a study OF public scLoo
systems and passing the necessary laws to civ,
. Washington the best schools in the Union. will
they see their labor lost by the appointment of an
/, unfit board
In the light OF day, OF horse sense such obec.
lions all found foolish. And as for The Herald, we
would be mighty glad to have the Bureau of Edu
Z oaiion take an active interest in the schools Of
Washington and would not have the slightest
fear OF the socalled local politicians selecting un