Evening star., 1922-02-11

The great interest in the problem Of
bettering public schools and providing
ample educational facilities for the
children Of the District was brought
home to the joint congressional COM
mittee on schools yesterday afternoon.
when the heads of the civic and trade
organisations. or their representa-
tives, presented recommendations re-
garding the local system at 4 hearing
in the Senate District committee.
The hearing yesterday concludes the
investigation made by the joint COM
mittee. extending over several months.
except for the further testimony OF
some OF the school officials. which ig
to be taken soon. The COMMITTEES VIII
then draft q report for submission to
Congress, and will recommend such
legfslation AZ It deems necessary to
meet the situation.
At the close Of the meeting. Senator
Capper OF Kansas, chairman OF the
Joint committee. expressed his appre-
citation Of the suggestions given by
the witnesses He said the citizens OF
the District should not hesitate to
present their views to members OF
Congress, particularly with regard to
the school problem. which he regarded
as one Of very great importanoe TO
the District.
Variance In Views ExDressed'
The views presented yesterday some
who advocated the Capitalization Of
control Of the schools in the District
building by transferring to the Dis
trict Commissioners the authority to
sppeint the board of Of tSs adaeai,oni sehoni
board should be absolutely independ.
emit Of the District building--that it
should be given full authority over
everything which has to do with the
schools. and then held responsible.
appointed a business manager for the
schools also brought forth divided
opinion. But all the witnesses were
q unit in demanding better schools
and more Of them. more school play
grounds, q new compulsory education
law and free text books for the high
school children.
Commerce Chamber Suggestions.
Following the testimony Of Presi-
dent Thomas Bradley of the Board of
Trade, urging reforms in the school
system, which was published In de-
tail yesterday, the committee heard
tho Recommendation Of the Wash.
ing Chamber Of Commerce. presented
by its secretary. A. E: Seymour. who
of the chambers committee on
schools, headed by Henry H. Classic:
In this report, which was approved
by the chamber last April. It 10
recommended that there should be q
seat in q suitable building for every
child Of school age" The report Also
tive stafr organization. 1t opposed,
however. the proposal for a business
manager, saying; I'VE think that the
Injection Of such an officer into our
system would only tend to increase
ana accentuate the existing division
t,f responsibility from which the sys-
tenn is already suffering"
The report adds that the solution
Of the problem lies in the creation Of
a headquarters stan. consisting of q
small number Of assistants. among
whom the superintendent would dis
tribute the various administrative
duties. assigning to each. as far 40
possible, functions Of q co6nate
character.
Speaks for Citisens' Federation.
snowden Ashford. formerly munic-
Grafton Of Citizens Associations. He
is chairman of the school COMMITTEES
of that organization. He was intro
duced to the committee by President
Baker of the federation.
MI. ASnIoro gave IN Qet2ll V0!io0S
recommendations which have been
fathered by his committee and the
federation, including q recommenda-
ton for the appointment Of buSi-
ness manager for the schools. ne
attacked the business methods OF tho
board of education, declaring them
to be antiquated He said III reply
to . question of Senator King OF
Utah that he would oppose the elec.
ton of, the members of the board OF
education, but that he believed they
should be appointed by the Dtstfioe
Commissioners. He charged that
much of the trouble in the schools
arises from divided authority. in the
hands of the board of education and
the District Commissioners.
The federation. he said. had IN.
dorsed the principle of free te1e
books for high school pupils AZ wen
as grade school pupils. but with Z
proyiso that the list of text books
should be revised. It was found. no
said, that some Of the text oooks
used in the manual training schools
were claaaics, which 1t was held wefe
not needed in manual training.
Urges More sehool Buildings.
Mr.. Ashford said that the fedora.
tion had recommended addftiona!
school bvil1ings, but that II believed
be$Ore aiyy gonefol addition to the