The Washington times., 1923-11-20
The Question of the Secrecy OF
School Estimates
Bv BILL PRICE.


The question of whether estimates for the public schools
public to be passed upon BY the
counsel of the District The matter submitted TO this
legal official by Of Columbia Public School Asso
citation an organization most unique the history Of the
District directly represents more than 12O citizens
associations associations trade bodies ana
other organizations intensely interested in the upbudng OF
public schools
The association claims that the Board Education is not
empowered to make Estimates Congress- but that the
board merely submits its the District Com
mssoners who do submit estimates Under tnat
ton items dealing with the public schools would be CONSIDERED
In omen session by the board the boards final recon-
mendatons made public become public as they were
upon advance Of after being submitted 70 tne
Commissioners.
The board has, of course acted upon the belief that the
law prohibits its making estimates public It also has
Trained from giving publicity act Of courtesy to the
Commissioners Congress- the latter most tenacious OF
its right be put in possession OF all Federal ana Dsrct
estimates before they public The custom that e
mates of all kinds shall be made public the day that Con-
gress meets They given publicity through large book
in which has been assembled all estimates
The Public School Association making such hard fight
for the bettement of schools that doubtless would like
TO ascertain Just where begin efforts before Con-
The association feels would better
schools that should be known to citizens Of
Washinoton who would be in position to organize public
support for the institutions close them and the welfare
of their children.
The appropriation the District will receive hurried
consideration committees and in both bodies Of the coming
Congress need of bringing school system to
high standard important that the Public School Assoca
Representing
UNITED LOCAL SENTIMENT of the Distict, would like
get work Immediately to prepare for its campaign before
Congress.
This association represents ongfelt need and desire
Congress will unquestionaby recognize the organization
spokesman all the people of the District It interested
only in the educational demands Of the coming generation
Anything which the Improvement Of the school sys
and reasonably possible Of attainment 1t stands for
anything which opposed to the progressive development
Of the children it will array itself against.
Already the association has done much to forward the
cause It has drawn public attention to the
requirements of system has gained notice the HILL
the District Building and before the Budget Bureau be-
cause learned that when speaks reflects not
of individual but the carefully worked out plan
of group representing the entire city.
the instance of the Board of Education and
perintendent schools that the school association
formed Congress had been flooded by multiplicity Of
conflicting appeals almost every Of the Dis
trict that little weight being given to any Board
quests unable show to Congress united sen
ment behind their demands.
Public School Association finally organized after
invitation all civic bodies participate and for the
first scheme evolved to eliminate the duplication
and work for harmony of appeal before the District
mittees
Among the detectives Of association the coming
year
Physical examination and nutrition of all school
playground every school, properly supervised
equipped.
Anticipated textbooks substitution Of
modern methods and texts.
4. school teachers.
Physical expansion of the school plant to eliminate
minimize congestion in the schools
Support Of Education in its requests for
Investigations suggestions improvement of the
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