Evening star., 1923-02-26

The text of the report of the joint
committee follows.
Text OF Report.
During the past year this committee
has made q thorough investigation
of the school system of ztha-sDistric let
OF Columbia The members of this
committee have made a personal in
spection of a large number OF schooi
plants for the purpose of obtaining
first-hand knowledge Of the educa-
tional facilities afforded the $1,000
children enrolled In the schools OF the
District. Several public hearings have
been held. The committee inVited
number OF leading school admins
traitors of the country to attend these
hearings and advise with it In rela-
tion to the procedure and practlces
which should be followed in the OF
ganization and administration OF the
schools OF Washington.
The principal features OF the school
system upon which the committee
presents its report are as follows:
Principal Features of System.
I. The legal basis upon which the
organization and administration Oh
the school system should be founded
.. The courses OF study in generai
which the schools of the city should
afford the children of washington.
2. The school building situation and
the needs of an immediate building
program.
A. The teaching force.
The organic act which provides LOT
the existing organization OF Ihe
school system in the District or CO.
lumbia was enacted in 1908. The pc
Rod which has followed that GATE
has witnessed throughout the naIloh
n remarkable educational develop
ment. An increase in the interest OF
our people in the problems OF educa-
1ion has brought about an enrlcnmeH. !.
of the curriculum and an ad1ustHen. .
Of the activities Of the school to meet
the need for a better preparation 30 VI
our youth for the demands OF our
modern life. Many new lines or edu,
cational work have been INTRODUCED
into every progressive educational
system. Among these may be men
TONED summer or vacation Schools,
iunjor high schools, platoon schools,
co-operative part-time schools, Amer
jcanization schools, open-air classes.
special classes for the conservation Oh
eyesight, for correction of speech de-
fects. for incorrigible pupils, for
backward pupils and for the particu-
larly capable pupils. The value OF In
dustr'ial education has been more
fully realized by our people and the
educational systems nave pioaaeu
the scope of the activities of the
school to include vocational instruc-
ton.
supplementary Agencies.
In addition, various supplementary
agencies have come to play an i'm
portant part IN public education, such
as dental and medical inspection,
home and school gardening and
school banks.
These extensions and developments
of the school system have required a
corresponding extension and develop
ment of the administrative and super
yisory staff in charge of public educa-
ton These various activities have
been introduced in varying degrees in
the public school system of the District
of Columbia. We find here system
of schools established and limited by a
law enacted at the very beginning OF this
period of development. Many exten-
sions of education now accepted through
out this country as essential to a good
system of public schools were not even
contemplated at that time.
The educational system of the Dis
trict of Columbia has met the demand
for the extension Of school activities
with great difficulty under a law which
severely limits the power Of the board
of education and under a financial
policy tending to discourage the proper
development of an organization best
fitted to meet the needs of the child
and the community.
System Falls Far Short.
During the period Of the war 1t was
felt to be impossible to finance educa-
ton as completely as the needs Of the
schools demanded. The school system
of the District of Columbia. like many
other city school systems. has fallen far
short of being able adequately to pro-
vide for the increased demands made
upon 1t by an increase in school popu-
lation and by the necessity Of the de-