The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-09
TX. Washington Schools.

wait upon Congress. 1t is American to rather
exaggerate the need and value OF the voting
franchise. But the fact is that so long as WASH
ington waits on Congress to its own local af-
fairs, it will get mighty thin service. This will
not be the fault OF Congress, but OF mistaken
assessment of responsibilities. The affairs OF WASH
ington are both Federal and local and these are
quite distinct
Congress of its own initiative and volition can
be expected to care for the Federal activities and
needs Interested officials departments and bureaus
will always form personally interested body to
urge action Washington, too, should be active and
interested in all these Federal projects, they are
of local benefit. But on purely local matters, such
schools, it is useless to expect Congress to take
the initiative to act voluntarily mere request
or suggestion. What is local must be put through
and secured by local effort it will not be gotten
Nor is this different than in cities whose people
have the vote and elect their own officials. There,
the issues framed by the voters, the work of
winning public opinion is done by the voters, the
Investigations plans and programs are the product
of the voters and elective campaigns less for
persons than local policies. Washington has
simpler job than that, it is but to prepare the
issues and submit them to Congress, but that much
it do to get anything of purely local character
which it really wants
In this matter of better schools, how many who
earnestly would like to help know the names
OF the joint subcommittee on education OF the
District Committee? The members are Senator Cap
per, of Kansas, chairman of the Senate and the
joint subcommittee, and Senators King of Utah.
Jones, of Washington; Cameron, of New Mexico
and Stanley, of Kentucky; Representative Walters
OF Pennsylvania chairman of the House subcom-
mittee and Representatives Keller, of Minnesota
Woods, of Virginia; Hammer of North Carolina
Il
and Blanton, of Texas. Each one of these Senators
has from three four other committee assign
ments. Their also familiar as of those
prominent in debate and national legislation. Each
OF the House members has two or three other COM
mittee assignments besides that OF the District OF
Columbia. They all active, Woodworking Rep
resentatives, with more than demand for each
hour OF their time.
Could Washington reasonably expect these
twelve men to give the time and do the "leg-work'
to investigate local school conditions formulate the
needs, outline plan and make a program to give
Washington what they all concede this city should
have-the best school system in this country? The
Herald knew they would not, simply because they
could not; they had the will, and this of itself
proves their great interest but they could not find
the time. We. therefore, provided trained educa-
tional Investigator who spent nearly month in
visiting only between thirty or forty selected
schools. The exact conditions were described as
they were found, in language of the parent not of
the technician. There far worse spots than
were visited; there much better physical condi-
tons, and no high school was included
Based upon this phase of Investigations
upon a study OF school reports, of the present
school law and organization, and upon consultation
with many citizens, and educators here and else
where, we have suggested a program. 1t forms
concrete suggestion; it is, it WERE motion be-
fore the joint committee for amendment approval
or rejection The Herald's sole object has been to
have something tangible to offer the committee on
behalf OF Washington and to have this something
not new, not novel, theoretical but an adapta-
ton for Washington of what has brought the best
public school results elsewhere and is upheld in
detail by the experience of other cities
We have but one desire-that of helping the
people of Washington get for themselves the great
est need of any city-good schools. We have the
indispensable publicity agency. The citizens assoca-
tions, the parent-eachers associations and women's
clubs must provide the motive power The twelve
members of Congress we have named will sit as
bench of judges. We know them to be sympathetic
and ready fully believe, to do whatever is
asked that conforms to their trained Judgment
London reports Lloyd George so happy