Evening star., 1923-02-26
SWEEPING CHANGES
in SCHOOLS URGED

direct the schools, without interfer-
ence from any source in the details or
management, subject only to such
legislative restrictions as would be
analogous to the state legislation af-
fecting the school system Of a city
Of similar size located in one of the
states"
Board Not Administrative.
1t should be the function of the
board of education to establish
policies and to select administrative
and executive officers. Neither the
board nor any of its members should
exercise administrative functions. 1t
should not be the business of the
board of education to run the school
system. but to select officers and hold
them responsible for operating the
school system in accordance with
general policies established and de-
fined by the board of education.
In recent years much attention has
been directed toward the manner in
which the board Of education in
Washington shall be selected. While
1t is of minor Importance compared
with the authority and responsibility
which is imposed in the board of
education. A board of education
selected in the most ideal manner
cannot operate effectively unless it is
clothed with authority.
Legislation Recommended.
The committee recommends that
legislation be enacted which shall
provide for:
a. Appointment of the board of
education by the President of the
United States, subject to confirmation
by the Senate.
b. Financial independence of the
board of education from the Commits
sioners of the District.
c. Management of the schools and
thereto, by the board of education.
Administrative Plan.
The superintendent should be the
chief executive and an administrative
officer under the board Of education
All other employees should be subordi-
nate to the superintendent of schools
The administrative staff in public
schools Of the District Of Columbia to-
day Is practically the same in size that
it was in 1906, when the school system
was only about three-fourths as large
as It Is today.
The committee believes that the staff
at headquarters of the board Of educa-
ton should be increased in order to dis
patch satisfactorily the increased re-
sponsibilities imposed. upon that STAFF
as result Of extensions and develop
ments of the school system The COM
mittee recommends:
Urges Business Manager.
That a business manager who shall
rank as an assistant superintendent Of
schools should be appointed. under
whom should be co-ordinated all of the
business affairs Of the board Of educa-
tion, now distributed under several diff
ferent educational employees.
It has been the expressed feeling Of
the educators who have appeared be-
fore the committee that the most
progressive and efficient school systems
Of the country are those school systems
larger administrative and supervisory
staff than exists in the District Of CO.
lumbia.
IndOrses Legislation.
The committee indorses the follow
ing legislation. now before Congress:
/. Senate bill 3136 and House bill
10390, an act to amend the act en-
titled IAN act to fix and regulate the
salaries of teachers, school officers
and other employees of the board of
education OF the District of Co
lumbia." approved June 20, 1906. and
g. bill for readjusting the compensa-
ton of educational employees, but it
is a bill which carries important
legislation It is essential that this
Legislation be enacted into law, If the
school system is to be developed in
thought.
2. Senate bill 2o4o and House bill
70, known as the compulsory school
attendance and school census bill.
This bill provides q better attendance
law and an annual school census The
attendance and work permits. with
which department the child labor
office Is to be consolidated.
8. Senate bill 1850 and House bill
9543, providing for free text books
and educational supplies for all pupils
elementary schools in tho District OF
Columbia. Free text books and edu-
cational supplies are now furnished
elenentary school pupils in tho ap-
propriations act from year to year
This bill makes statutory provision
for FREQ text books and extends the
same privilege to the high school
pupils.
Increased Appropriations,
In tho interests OF increased edu-
catienal services the committee
recommends increased appropriations
for:
Fairgrounds.
Evening schools.
kindergarten.
Text books and educational sup
plies.
School gardens.
Manual training.
Americanization schools.
Pre.vocational education.
After personal inspection Of many
Of the school buildings In the Dis