Evening star., 1923-02-26

Continued from First Page)
continued growth of the school sys-
provide for the needs of the school
system which have resulted from tn e
absence of such a policy in the past.
Proposed Policy Outlined:
1t IS the purpose Of this report to
| outline the details of what the COM
| mittee believes such a policy should
be.
The committee has invited to Wash
ington some OF the leading educators
of the United States. including the
commissioner of education. A full
and frank discussion has been given
by these men in regard to the needs
| of modern education. They have
spoken freely and with the authority
of experience and thoughtful consid-
Grafton in their recommendations to
the committee.
This testimony of educators regard
| ing organization and functions of the
board of education indicates that the
| board Of education should have au-
thority over the school system, its
organization and administration, COM
mensurate with the responsibilities
| imposed upon the board for the
quate system Of public education.
DR.. Finegan Is Quoted.
From the testimony Of DR.. Thomas 5
E. Finegan, superintendent Of public
instruction for Pennsylvania
The following quotations from DR..
Finegans testimony indicate his po-
sition regarding the board OF educa-
tion and it's powers:
II should say that the first essen
tial feature is to provide a sound
plan Of administration. For this
there must be. in my judgment. a
board of control that Is charged
with the responsibility of administer
ing the school system, and that board
must be given sufficient authority and
adequate means to accomplish re-
suits"
DR.. Finegan said further:
In the state which have the honor
to represent the directors o. school
affairs have been absolutely inde-
pendent. In every way. from munic-
ipal control since 1911"
the members Of the committee as to
whether he believed in separate
board. DR.. Finegan said:
Believes In Separate Board.
II believe absolutely in a separate
board. I think the experience of the
whole country shows that in those
cities whose boards of education have
been given independence and power
there have been better school systems
than in those whose boards have
been dependent upon other bodies.
1 think, too, you will find that boards
possessing such independence have
been as economical in administering
the schools and as coneiderate or the
interests and rights of taxpayers as
boards have been in such matters
who did not have such Independence.
1 think you will find that to be the
judgment of students OF education
throughout the country"
From testimony Of DIR. Randall J.
Condor, superintendent OF scnools,
After stating to DR.. Condor that the
Washington school budget is now a
part of the business ofthe District
Commissioners. Senator Capper asked
DR.. Condor tho following quest IN
and the testimony quoted herewith
followed:
DR.. Condon's Testimony.
Senator Capper: Would you think
under tho conditions existing here,
where we cannot have an election
under the present law, We would get
any better result If the board Of edu-
cation had entire control OF the
financing Of tho schools?"
Mr.. Condor: IT believe you would.
OF course. I can't say how good re-
suits you haya been getting"
Mr.. Hammer: DO you think there
are any places where they nave entire
Mr.. Condor: "Yes; in many cities"
Senator King: with some restric-
Mr.. Hammer: Certainly. there must
be some restrictions as to tho levyins
of taxes"
Mr. Condon.-Congressw would be the
viewing body Of the board OF edu-
cation, but I think the board itself
should make up it's budget, independ-
ent Of other city activities, because 1t
education. They should put up their
budget to whatever committee passes
upon it without reference to other
city functions.
From tho testimony Of DR.. John J.
Tigert, United States commissioner Of
education.
Dr.. Tigert TestiAes.
Tho following quotations are from
DR.. Tgert's testimony:
Tho hope Of an adequate and per-
| manent solution OF the difficulty lies
in conferring responsibility for the
| control and management Of the
| schools upon a non-paid lay board OF
| education, responsible directly to the
people Of the District, fdr the educa-
tion of whose children the schools are
maintained"
1.-THE system Of control recommend
ed for the public schools Of tho Dis
| trict Of Columbia should embody the
| following feature:
Fiscal independence.-The board OF
| education should be given authority
and responsibility to maintain and