The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-09
EDWARDS .
UREAU
IS SCORED
President Of Board OF Education
Defends His Connection With
Essay Selling Institution.

Charges that Daniel A. Edwards,
president of the Board Of Educa-
tion, was aiding school children in
cheating at their lessons have
been made by members Of the sub
committee on District Appropria-
tions, it was learned today.
Was Severely Criticized.
The committee. at a hearing recent
iy severely criticized Edwards for hir
cennsctionss with the Columbian II :.
formation Bureau, which bureau sells
TO teacffers and students essays on
sny desired subject.
Edwards, in a statement issued 10
day, declared that he would appsar
before the school board Wednesday and
give a complete explanation Of the
work the Columbian School In doing.
THE charges are outrageously
ridiculous" declared Edwards today.
II am amazed that members Of Con.
gress should see tit to direct this sort
Of criticism against me. i conduct an
honorable school and feel that IL is un-
fair that charges OF this kind be
made"
The recent announcement of the Go
lumbar Information Bureau, of which
Edwards 10 secretary, that essays will
be written for eighth grade students
precipitated an investigation by Tho
committee. The announcement says:
I'VE have recently had so many calls
for short eighth grade papers that We
have concluded to write them instead
CT returning the money. They viii be
from six to seven hundred words long,
and in keeping with the intellect Of an
eighth grade pupil.
-.
shorter than others and require less
research. we will write the original
copy for 81 and sell duplicates for 80
cents each. They will be written by
our regular staff. all of whom are col
lege graduates"
After this announcement there fol-
lows list of seven essays which have
already been prepared and which may
be obtained for 80 cents.
The committee spent a considerable
portion of a morning last week in
discussing the pamphlet Of the school.
It is understood that Edwards WIS
roundly scored. Members of the
school board who were present In
formed Edward of what took place.
Edwards, in the afternoon. visited
the committee and asked permission
to make statement. He declared
that he saw no reason why his school
should not conduct its work in the
advertised way.
1T am satisfied that there is nothing
dishonorable in the work Of our bu.
reaus," Edwards today said he told the
committee. I'VE prepare essays on re.
quest. 1t is not Of our concern what
the buyer does with the essay after he
purchases it." .
Hearings to Continue.
The first indication that the CON-
mittee had received one Of the
pamphlets came early in the morning
OF the hearing, when DIR. Frank Bal
lou, Superintendent Of Schools, was
placed on the stand. He was asked
whether 1t was proper for a stu.
dent to submit an essay In school
which had been written by some one
else. He replied mo-"
Members of the subcommittee to.
day declined to discuss what took
place in the hearings. They referred
all inquiries to the hearings, which
will be published In several weeks.
There hearings will contain what
took place last week.
There was also considerable criti.
cism of Edwards for inserting IN the
pamphlets concerning the school his
autobiography and stating that he is
a member Of the board OF education.
Edwards statement to the board,
which will be made Wednesday,
answers all Of the criticisms made
against him.
Edwards succeeded DIR. Abram
Simon as president Of the school boar
several months ago. Edwards, with
is brother, Thomas Edwards. con-
ducts the Columbian Correspon fence
school and Columbian Informatlcn
Service at 225 Pennsylvania avenue.
Delegate Dies; House Adiourns.