Evening star., 1923-02-15

10 releVe conSestion SnoulQ center
on new junior high school building
and on remodeling existing elemen-
tary and senior high school build
ings to meet present conditions.
Elementary schools that can be re-
modelled to advantage relieving con-
should be the first taken care OF. New
junior high schools should be con-
structed on city-wide plan and in
accordance with the best standards
for such buildings. The present sen
Tor high schools can be made to fit in
with city plan for high schools
in which all work in the manual arts
may be done"
The report declares that there are
too few gymnasiums and Fairgrounds
attached to the public schools here;
that in this regard the schools here
are far below the standards OF the
present day. OF 140 elementary
schools here only seventy-eight have
playground apparatus. OF these
| twenty-three have inadequate space.
Discussing the school system here
with regard to management, the re-
| port says:
There should be an absolute di-
! vorcement of all school affairs from
| the municipal and political affairs of
| the city. To accomplish this end
| there should be a board of education
| consisting Of nine members. who shall
L
of Columbia for at least five years.
! The members Of such board shall be
! appointed by the President of the
| United States and confirmed by the
| Senate.
The board of education should be
| made the supreme local authority in
4 the government and administration
! OF the school system. The power and
] authority Of the board of education
; should be made as general as possi-
I ri he eyip
! the power to supplement the statutes
| through the adoption of regulations
| for the administration and govern
ment of the schools.
| THE board Of education should be
given power and authority to create
and establish such professional and
business organization as may be nee
essary to manage, operate. supervise
and maintain the school system OF q
city of the size and Importance OF
Washington, and to modify such or
ganization from time to time as
changing conditions show 10 be wise
and necessary.
Control Over Funds.
1.-The board OF education should have
power to select school sites. to ap-
prove plans and specifications for
school buildings. to repair and con-
struct school buildings. and to utilize
the school organization and machin-
cry for meeting any intellectual needs
or requirements Of the citizens OF the
"The superintendent of schools
| should be the professional or tech
nical adviser aQd the chief executive
off1cer of the board of education.
"The board Of education should pre-
to the congressional budget commit :
tee The funds should be appropri-
ated direct to the board. and that
body should have full power and con-
troll in determining how such funds
shall be used.
washington" says Mr.. Finegan.
"is generally regarded throughout
1.-THE country as being an unprogressiVe
city in educational affairs. 1t is not
only regarded as unprogressive in
garded as one of the most difficult
| cities in the country In which to ad-
| minister a public school system. The
general policies which the educa-
| uonal authorities of the city have
| adopted for the operation and admin
| istration of public education are re-
i garded as modern, progressive and
| conforming to the best practice of the
! country. The superintendent Of
| schools and his professional STAFF are
1 sive and rank among the most effec :
| tive public school administrators OF
| the country.
| Hnndicaps OF Schools.
| The backwardness of Washington
| in public education, the slewness with
which reforms are inaugurated in the
school system, the inadequate school
facilities provided for the childRn o.
the city. the failure to develop 81
more advanced junior high school
policy, the lack of proper provision
for the education OF the mentally and
physically handicapped children. the
unsatisfactory conditions due to re-
tardation, and the other limitations
in the courses of study and the fail
ure to euual!ze educational opportu :
lnity are traceable to the fundamental
ldefects in the legal provisions for
the administration Of the school sys-
tenn"
The report gives general approval
to the work Of the teaching staff In
the District schools. though sus-
eesting some changes in the method
Of selecting teachers. It also ap-
proves generally the courses of study
in the schools. In conclusion, 1t says:
Because of its relation to the ma
ton. the country looks to Washing
ton to set q standard OF excellence in
it's schools-which means that the
country looks to Congress to estab-
Ash that standard. This can be
brought to pass only by complete
abandonment of the indifference and
lack Of intelligent consideration that
has heretofore characterized the
treatment accorded by Congress to
the needs Of the schools of Washing
ton. With such a radical change in
Its attitude toward these school needs