Evening star., 1922-04-10
MEMBER Of BOARD
ANSWERS BALL0U
Mrs. Hodgkins Surprised by
School Heads Bitter Com
mittee Opposition.

Strong opposition by DR.. Frank w
Ballou. superintendent of schools, to
the proposed re-establishment OF
standing committees of the board of
education is based on speculation and
study of school boards in other
cities, and not by actual experience
with them on the Washington board.
it was said today by Mrs. Howard L.
Hodgkins. acting president of the
body.
ut is a surprise to me that DR.. Bal
lou would SO bitterly OPPOSE stand
ing committees of the board, when all
that he knows about them is specu-
lative," declared Mrs. Hodgkins. "Dr.
Ballou has never had any experience
with standing committees on the local
board and l consider his opposition
little unusual"
Mrs. Hodgkins said that she is con-
fident the board members are desirous
of cooperating with the superinten-
dent in every way and are not in favor
of handicapping him or making matters
uncongenial for him.
Thinks Committees Helpful.
However. Mrs. Hodgkiss pointed out
that the rules and bylaws of the board
provide for standing committees and
they never have been amended SO as
to eliminate them, and it is the opinion
of a majority Of the members of that
body that such committees are advanta-
in clubs and organizations" she said,
"I have always found that committees
are helpful"
II never have been a member of
any organization" continued Mrs
Hodgkins, 'in which the members
and discuss matters of common in
terest."
bers of the board who favor stand
ing committees do not approve of
them as specifically provided for In
emphasized that they do not approve
of as many committees as called for
in the rules and bylaws and of the
same titles as provided.
|, "I not only believe that standing
committees are an advantage" added
Mrs Hodgkins, "but every member
of the board who was on that body
when standing committees existed
feels that they were an advantage.
Puts blame ON DIR. Ballon.
Mrs. Hodgkins also answered DR..
Ballou's criticism of the protracted
executive conferences Of the board
by declaring that II he "fs opposed
to the conferences, why does he bring
the matters before us which keep us
behind closed doors?" She pointed
out that oftentimes the only matters
discussed in the star chamber ses-
sions are those brought up by DR..
Rallou in an effort to get the opinion
of the board before taking action.
Belief that DR.. Ballou in opposing
the proposed re-establishment OF
standing committees of the board "is
working in harmony with the educa-
tional trend of the country" was ex-
pressed today by j. w. Crabtree, Sec
retary of the National Education AS
sociation. II have no doubt" he said,
that DR.. Ballou is following the
right lead"
Mr.. Crabtree pointed out that the
away from standing committees of
school boards. Ten or. fifteen years
ago, he declared, much Of the inn
portant work of school boards was
done by standing committees. but 1t
was soon discovered by the people
that it was hard to deal with such
committees"
Policy Called Progressive.
The progressive educational ten
dency, said Mr.. Crabtree, is the grant
ing Of. more authority to the city
superintendents of the schools.
School officials also indicated today
that they are in hearty accord with
DR.. BaIlou's policy Of opposing the
re-establfshment of standing commit
tees of the board.