The Washington herald., 1922-10-15

operate. It is declared, there In evil
dence of a desire on the part Of
a busy Congress to have the last
word In deciding upon expenditures
for innumerable- little necessities
for the schools.
The existence of such conditions
in the Nations Capital. It is
pointed out in the report, has CEN
tered upon Washington the con-
cern OF leading educators through
out the United States. Their
anxiety. II Is said. Is not alone for
the 10000 children Immediately af-
fected. Their interest is said to
be Increased because of the COM
paratively poor example which
Washington affords other sections
of the United States in an educa-
tional way.
amply supported by other educa-
Ballou quotes the following extract
from the Encyclopedia on Educa-
tion:
The term Board Of Education Gin
the District of Columbia) Is a mis-
nomer, for the board is without
power. and is little more than a
board of school visitors. Courts
and Commissioners review its de-
cisions; Treasury officials may re-
duce its estimates; and the board
has no authority to make a single
purchase. The board has no treas
urer. auditor. business manager. ar
chitect, funds. or property. Its one
non-educational officer Is a secre-
tary. who is also a member of the
District Supply Commission and
acts as intermediary between the
board and the District Commission
ers,
Confusion Hardly Credible.
The confusion existing is hardly
credible. Authority and RESPONSE
bility are hopelessly tied up with
red tape. The bureau methods in
use are entirely inadequate to the
task. An attempt is made TO man.
age a large city school system with
small town methods, and the result
tions in the City OF Washington,
from an administrative point of
view. are among the worst to be
found In any city in the Union"
Superintendent Ballou's report al
so quotes a statement made by John
]. Tigert, United States Commission
er of Education: II find that no
man as superintendent here has ever
been able to stem the tide. Prehaps
all of them have been able to i'm
prove the schools to some extent,
but they have not relatively been
able to keep pace with other men OF
equal ability in other parts OF the
country. My idea is that II
you worked out your school system
and got good buildings and good
teachers and everything else In
satisfactory shape, 1t would stay
that way as long as you have the
machinery such as you have now,
that fetters the superintendent so
he really has no power to carry out
= program. l think the whole thing
should be reorganized so that the
superintendent will be clothed with
the power to carry out bis program"
Signal Advance Noted.
A signal advance in one branch
OF the Washington educational sys-
TEN was noted yesterday with the
beginning of a professional course
on the psychology and treatment
seveuty-five kindergarten and pri-
mary grade teachers have attended
the first meeting of the class at
Thomson School yesterday morning.
where Professor Jessie Da Sale, of
Columbia University, gave her first
lecture.
The subject matter of the course
will deal with the practical train
ing to be given school children who
show unusual aptitude in learning,
as well as those who are mentally
slow. Heretofore. 1t Is explained.
such children have been subjected
to the same training accorded the
average child. The result, It is
pointed out. Is that many young
minds have been ham2ered. while
others have given up in discourage
ment.
1t is believed that this course
will be the means Of affording to
abnormal school children the most
sympathetic and intelligent treat
ment in the history OF the public
school system.