Evening star., 1923-02-15
A School Prescription.

vania has completed his survey Of the
District school system with a report
that has just been filed with the
Joint select committee Of Congress
and published for public information.
In it he points out deficiencies in the
schools of the capital, i'll respect to
organization and equipment. deficien-
recognized by the capital community
and have been doubtless realized by
the CAPITALS legislature, Congress.
There is. Ndeed. nothing surprising
ar new in this finding. The Districts
schools are in need of more buildings,
more systematic course of provision
for present and future needs and a
broader basis of development.
II respect to the school administra-
lion. however, the Pennsylvania edu-
Gator, whose vision Of the local sys-
TEN respecting its equipment needs Is
Keen, falls into an error that is not
unusual on the part of those who
undertake to prescribe for District con-
ditions, without full understanding Of
the peculiar conditions that prevail
here. He recommends control Of the
schools by Il board of education to be
ramed by the President. completely
separated from the municipal and
political affairs of the city,
Discussion Of the methods of naming
The beard of education has been active
fO, t,a
tees were named by the Commission
"rs. Then the power was changed
over 10 the justices Of the District
Supreme Court. where it now rests
As result Of this enforcement Of the
appointing power there has arisen a
sharp difference of opinion respecting
the responsibility Of the Commission
ers over the. schools, especially in the
matter of appropriation estimates, and
handicapping disputes have frequently
arisen
Such a separation Of authority as
DR.. Finegan proposes would not. COR
rect any present faults in the rela-
lion between the schools and Congress.
The District .budget must be framed
by the Commissioners. transmitted to
the budget bureau. and there, accord
ing to the now prevalent practice, re-
shaped to accord to the general lay
cut Of appropriations. Presumably
an autonomous school board would
carry its estimates to the budget
bureau without consultation with the
Commissioners, THUS there would be
two competitive District budgets be-
fore the director and, so far as they
were approved and transmitted. before
Congress. --.-
1t is natural that the school board
should seek the largest possible ap-
expansion. 1T is natural that the
commissioners. in shaping their
budget estimates, should desire for the
schools. as for other branches OF the
District government. the largest pos
sible allowances. Is the adjustment
. between these competitive acquisitions
10 be made by the budget director,
with presumably less knowledge Of
local needs and conditions than that
possessed now by the Commissioners?
Or is the. whole matter to be thrown
up to Congress. with the rivals for
appropriations appearing before the
committee in the unnatural attitude
OF each seeking to- lessen the others
allowances in order to get the more?
The Commissioners now sit as court
of first instance in the adjustment OF
the competitive requests for funds.
An anton ornous. school board, named
by the President and responsible to
no one in local authority. empowered
10 draft budget and to press it in
dependeptly. would not. necessarily,
set more for the schools than is OBJ
tanned at. present. AS for school ad-
ministration, nothing is to be gained
by a complete separation OF. the edu-
cational system from the District gov
eminent. That process once started
there IS no end to the disintegration
Of the capital municipality.