The Washington herald., 1922-05-28
Committee Members in
Both Houses Favor
Reorganization.
SEPARATION SAID
TO BE ESSENTIAL
Joint Committee Will Act
On Measure Late
This Week.

Members of the District commit
tees in both Houses of Congress
predicted yesterday that the school
reorganization bill. separating pub.
lie schools from the District govern
ment. will be reported favorably.
and declared they will work for its
enactment during this session of
Congress
A meeting of the joint commit
tee on reorganization of District
schools will be called the latter part
6f this week to act on the proposed
measure. Senator Capper announced
yesterday. Committee members in
dicated that acceptance of the bill
will be merely'a a formality. as the
measure in its present form has re-
ceived practically unanimous in
dOrsement by the committee.
senator King May Oppose.
The only member from whom op-
position may develop is Senator
King. who is now absent on ac-
count OF illness. In Difference to
him the chairman, Senator Capper
has postponed the meeting. Sena-
tor King Is said to oppose school
reorganization in the District, al
though he indorses a similar system
in his own State. Utah is consid-
cred by many educators to have the
leading educational system in the
United States.
The general opinion among men,
bers Of Congress interviewed yes
terday was that the present bill
embodies the best educational
thought Of the day and that the
measure should be passed sub
stantially in its present form. .
Opportunity will be given the Dis
trict commissioners and school Of
hcials to express an opinion on the
bill when it reached the commit
tees in each House. it was indi-
Gated. While the Commissioners
have not expressed themselves pub
IicIy. u is thought the proposal to
take final control of school matters
from them and vest it in the Board
Of Education may meet with oppo-
sitiOn.
Works Well Elsewhere.
Senator Capper stated yesterday
that when other cities have adopted
the plan proposed for Washington
there has been opposition from ad-
ministrative heads of the city in
most instances. Once adopted, how
ever. the improvement in school
conditions has been so marked that
the people refuse to change back.
he maintained.
while 1t is natural that city off,
cials should want TO keep power IN
their hands, IT must be evident that
they are too busy with their own
duties to know school needs" Sena-
tor Capper said. Il can't help but
feel that II they knew the universal
opinion among school men regard
ing the proposed plan they would
gladly give II their support"
That the separation of schools
from city government. with scho ol
control in the hands of school men,
Is prerequisite TO an efficient sys-
tenn. is accepted among educators
everywhere. Senator Capper stated.
One thing that stood out in the
testimony of every educator before
our committee" he replied. was
the advice to make the schools In
dependent These organizations
were voluntary on the part of the
experts Although they came from
all parts of the country they seemed
agreed on the cause of bad condi-
tions here"
Tarin May Delay Bill.
The faults in the existing system
pointed out by educators are the
same noted by committee members
investigating school control. 1t Is
stated. and coincide with indepen-
dent investigation by various or
ganizations interested in school i'm
provement.
With reference to the suggestions
that the Board of Education be
composed of a body of paid experts
Senator Cspper pointed out that
schools are administered now by
experts. The purpose of having a
non-paid Board of Education is to
establish contact with the people
he said. Unless the Board of Edu-
cation is composed of representative
citizens the people have no voice
in school control Separation of the
schoI board from the people. Sena-
tor Capper declares. is contrary to
the democratic ideals on which thee
public school system is based.
Senator Capper stated yesterday
that the only thing which may de-
lay consideration of the school bill
Is the tariff. II Congress disposes
of tariff legislation before the end
of the present Session It Is believed
the bill will be adopted In time to
reorEanize schools before the re-