New Britain herald., 1926-01-22
WHO OWNS THE SCHoOLsc

WHO OWNS THE SCHOOLS:
 The action Of the superintendent of schools in Meridcn In resgning when the board of education of that city permitted the use of a high school for q dance by pupils naturally leads to the inquiry as 10 who owns the public schools, any how, the public or the school off, cers?
 No one doubts that pr. David Gibbs, the resignlng school super intendent in Meriden, is an efIi- cient school official; in fact. he is quite distinguished in his line. But he was employed 10 be superinten- dent Of the schools, not superin- tendent of the city's school build ings. ...
 School superintendents do not own the school buildings, and the fact that they are superintendents does not vest temporary ownership in their hands. The school build ings should remain under the juris- dlctlon Of the board of education, which represents the public inter est in them. II the public, when it employs school superintendent, is to hand over its public school equipment to the superintendent, and permit him to dictate the poli- cies of the schools and how the buildings are 10 be Used outside of school hours. then it is time the public realized it no longer owned he buildings and the equipment, and that there was no necessity to have meetings of the board of edu- cation.
 The Meriden superintendent is quoted as saying that jazz music has detrimental effect upon school children. But young children do not attend high school dances in the first place. and most Of them probably hear their fill of jazz in their own homes. Tie supcrintcn- dent also is said to have heard re- ports of joy rides. betting parties and drinking In connection with high school dances elsewhere; but such things can be controlled vcr! easily, as Is done in New Britain and other cities where the boards Of education arc not flgurchcads.
 If joy rides are 10 be entirel! abolished. then abolish the auto mobile. If betting parties are to b. entirely abolished then raise tn young properly. f drinking amonl high school students is to be on tirely abolished then eXpcl thoa who arc caught at il, The facts ar that all three of thcso social i'll are not characteristic Of higl school pupils only.
 High school dances have hoc' banned in Moridcn for rhrN" years Such dances in New Britain are no barred. There is no reason to thin' that the high school pupils 0 Mcridcn have been moro upIittc than thos" in New Britain
 It is evident that. Dr. Gibbs ha had full charec" Of tho publi school system in MorfIcn and no' finds that inc board of odncatio is inclinod l0 think it has som rights relative 10 ihc public schot system. The hGard has given htr opportunity To consider his resie nation and he can withdraw it hc wishes. SO that the calm hear in some circles that tt is a case ( politics brcwcd by tho new city ad ministration does not exactly hol water. The board apparently di not want tho superintendent 10 r' sign and gave him an opportunit to reconsider his action, This do' not look ,lilie pelitits. ~Bnt tf board insists d'nul. rightly, that
 has the right 10 adopt q policy vii regard 10 the use Of public school and is of the opinion that his school dances, properly oontrollc are in demand in Mcridcn as cls' where.
 Those young people who ca dance are going 10 dance anywa and they may moi always dance
 building where conditions are under control as in the high schoc