Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-18
Iember Of the Associated Press
SCHOOL BOARDS DEFECTS

HNHE report of the survey of the public
i schools Of the city made under the dirsc-
ton Of the State Department of Public In
struction fills four volumes containing Il
total Of about 1900 pages. II covers So much
ground and is so vouminous that mich
time will he needed TO digest It's recominen-
dations
Much OF the survey is devoted {" technical
matters in which the public at large has
little interest because il IL not qualified to
form an intelligent Judgment on the matter.
The public, however. is Interested in the
recommendations covering the constitution
Of the Board Of Public Education and the
superintendent of schools. The members Of
the board are at present appointed by the
Judges Of the Common Pleas Court. They
are administrative as we'll as legislative
officers. and the superintendent OF schools
has less power than is enjoyed by similar
efhcials In other first -class cities.
The report says that rs a matter of prin-
eiple every public body with the taxing
power should be elected by the people and
be held responsible to them. and It declares
that a. the Philadelphia Board Of Public
Education has the taxing power it should
logically be elected by popular vote. This
IL perfectly sound theoretical syllogism.
Opinion differs. however. as to itS practical
application 10 conditions in this city. where
the possibility Of allowing the schools to
fal into the hands Of spo!ls grabbing poll
ticians has always cast doubt upon the
Wisdom of the elective system.
But the report points ont that great i'm
provemen's can be effected in the present
system without any change in th" laws. The
committee system. survival from the an
eient past. ran be- abolished The superin-
tenden. Of schools can be made the chief
executive officer OF the board with full
power over both the business and educa.
f,onal phases Of its work. Such an arrange
ment would free the members of the board
from much Of the detail which now occupies
its time. and IL would pnabl. the s,iper.n-
tenuent 70 increase not only his own eff
cheney. but the efficiency Of the whole pdu-
eauonal staff. The board could d"cd" upon
. policy and leave TO the superintendent the
working out Of that policy.
This recommendation is in line with the
best educational practice in other cities. It
would involve almost revolution in local
practice. because. in spite of the modern laws
Old customs have prevailed here that grew
up in the years when there was no super
1ntendent Of schools. II was not until 1889
that any attempt was made TO have a direct.
ing head for the educational work of the
ooard. and even then the directing heads
powers were confined within narrow limits.
Inc rorce or inertia is so great that We have
not yet been able TO bring ourselves TO give
adequate power to the superintendent. And
when the board elects superintendent il
guarantees to him tenure of Office for only
one year. plan which would make il i'm
possible for the most brilliant and efficient
educational expert in the United States 10
carry out any radical and effective improve.
nent In the outdated methods that prevail.
II 10 very clear from the report that re.
sponsioi!ity for the relative backwardness
81 the educational system Of the city rests
upon the shoulders OF the members OF the
Board OF Public Education. and tha. unless
the Legislature is to be asked TO interfere
We must depend upon the conversion Of the
board members to better way il there is
70 be any great improvement.