Evening star., 1925-07-05
Emphasis Given General De-
mand for Change at AS
sociation Meeting.
CONFIDENCE IN BAL.-0U
IN PROFESSION EVIDENT
Restrictions on Superintendent Are
Recognized as Defeating
Improvement.
BY JAMES f. CHINN.
staff Correspondent OF The STAR


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July At
educators were legislators Washington
would have a truly modern public
school system. At least that is the
impression one gets from the com
ments of hundreds of educators and
teachers of the Nation attending the
sixty-third annual meeting of the
National Education Association.
There's probably not one delegate
at the indianapolis convention, which
closed today, who is not in favor Of
seeing the Districts school system
stand as a monument to public educa-
tion in America, typifying the best in
educational equipment, administration
and organization. All apparently
seem to recognize the national i'm
portance of the Washington schools
and are anxious that Congress put
at the disposal of Supt. Frank w.
Ballou the financial resources and the
legislation necessary to carry out his
constructive educational policies.
Familiar With Situation.
These educators, who came here
from every section of the United
States and it's island possessions, seem
familiar with the present school Sttua-
ton in Washington. Distance has not
their interest in the pecul-
lar problems involving the schools of
the Nations Capital, nor the fervent
hope that they may soon become an
educational blue print for schoolhouse
designers, administrators and teachers
throughout the country.
Those who know Supt. Ballou-and
there are few educators here who do
not, for his name appears to be syn
onymous with education-haye the ut
most confidence in his ability to make
the Washington school system
model for the country II the present
method of school admin
istration is revolutioniZed- All agree
that DIR. Ballou has made rapid prog
ress toward this goal during his ad-
ministration, but fear that little more
can be done until the plan of organic
ing, operating and maintaining the
school system of Washington con-
forms to fundamental principles of
efficient administration.
Post Most Difficult.
Superintendents of schools in other
cities regard the Washington super
intendency as the most difficult in
the country because of the present
method of operation and control of
the school system. Several frankly
admitted, not for publication, how
ever. that they would not consider
the position, despite it's honor and
prestige, for two or even three times
the salary paid DIR. Ballou.
The educators pointed out that in
most cities the Board of Education is
elected by the people, and the superin
tendent is allowed practically to run
the schools. In other words, the super
intendent is made the administrative
head and he is held responsible. If he
goes away he is promptly removed
But the superintendent in Washington
is so fettered with overhead organiza
tions that he is virtually impotent, as
they see It.
Restrictions Numerous.
These educators also hold the opin-
ion that if Washington got good build
ings. highly trained teachers and
everything else in satisfactory shape,
the system would not remain that way
long because the superintendent really
has no power to carry out a program.
E. u. Graft, superintendent of schools
of Indianapolis, who took an active
part in the convention, was most Wig
orous in his denunciation of the sys-
tenn of operation and control Of the
Districts public schools. With such
an "unweildly" method, he said it was
indeed remarkable that the schools of
the Nations Capital have progressed
very far.
"Washington's schools have a ma
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