The Washington herald., 1921-12-13
XII. Washington's Schools.

E" criticism or a reflection upon the Commits
sioners past and present. 1t is not so in the
slightest degree The Herald is fan for this
Districts form OF government We do not believe
there is city whose affairs better administered.
No city government is ever free from criticism,
just and unjust. But department by department,
Washington's deserves the highest degree of
praise.
But city government is the proper
agency for the management. control regulatory
supervision Of the schools 1t is not organized for
this; it is equipped for it, city government and
education have nothing in and to place
upon the District Commissioners any part of the
responsibility for the schools, either directly in
Directly, is an unwarranted burden. We do not be-
lievc there is educator in this country who will
not agree to this fully does Superintendent
Ballou who, speaking in Baltimore only last Fri
day, said:
I believe the people are willing to paw for
good schools and would show this willingness
If there were way of giving them chance to
show it. For that and other reasons | believe
in having the schools in the hands of board
absolutely independent from the city govern
ment, with the independent power of taxation.
The best schools in the country have been de-
a veloped under independent boards with taxing
powers.
from the Commissioners, but from some of their
subordinates. who have mistaken idea that this
will reduce change the accounting division at the
District Building The system of school accounting
might have to be changed; but it would remain
just where 1t is. Every feature and factor OF ac-
counting as to taxation must and would stay put
The board of education would but determine their
own budget and this, the total of the school tax
levy This total reported to the District officials
would be worked out to show the necessary tax
rate Tor schools based upon assessed values.
" The school tax would be collected with the
District tax, turned into the Federal Treasury and
credited to the boards account subject to its order
The board itself by its treasurer or other paid
member would keep but Simple set of accounts
to Show the receipts from drafts on the Treasury
and expenditures. The District would be rid of all
responsibility but its working force would not be
reduced would its taxing powers be affected A,
to its own affairs. There would be maximum tax
rate hxed for it. So long as this was sufficient for
District purposes the Commissioners would merely
be tree from demands for the schools in conflict;
with demands for their own departments and also
from complaints and criticism of favoring their de-
Partments at the expense OF the schools
1t is vitality important that every city should
know exactly the cost OF the education of its
children as separate and distinct obligation 1t
can then make this expenditure what it NAV wish
wholly apart from the cost of the city government
This, too gives the opportunity for direct appeal
and no item can be hidden in the mass along with
city taxes and expenditures. AS for example Dr.
Baou in his annual report rightly places the inn
portance OF school Fairgrounds. We will quote
just three sentences from his admirable statement
= Mischief in the modern city child is often
b.. nothing but the expression of thwarted in
Sel-cXpreSSiOn
I" AS matter OF fact, children in modern
.f city spend twice as much time being educated
b, on the streets they spend being educated in
the schools. = And the street is most eff
Gent teacher. A child will remember what he
81 earns on the street tar longer than what he is
%, told to remember while sitting at school desk
- 1t is, then, but choice: Either Fairgrounds
r, with supervised play to educate the child in
developed initiative, in self-reliance in se1f-con6
dence, in cooperative effort and in self-conrol or
the street with its education in petty crime ncor-
rIgIbilty and rebellion to all restraint Moreover
cost OF the street process invariably proves the
greater just in dollars. 1t leads special correc-
uonal institutions, welfare projects, police costs and
-she schools for the backward. Ask any juvenile
court Judge social worker which costs the most
, II Is safe then to say that with such report
hom the superintendent OF schools to the board of
education with power to act the budget would not
have limited the charge for Fairgrounds for over
$50 schools to $4,000 This was for equipment re-
pairs, upkeep and supervision. 1t was but sort of
ghassly joke. which borders on an educational
crime. Yet this $1,000 cut in the final estimate
y lille the women of Washington are bringing NOV
ies and holding near-dime-socials to raise extra
money for absolute playground needs
= 1t is even essential that these pIav-
grounds should be open all summer than during IN.
school season. Last summer The Star had to an
peal for public subscriptions to keep few plav.
grounds open and Washington can hardly have
fahed ito feel the disgrace of this turning into a
public charity of public educational obligation.
Instead OF $1,000 the school Fairgrounds should
have APPROPRIATION Of At least Ssoooo and .hi.