Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-30
DRASTIC SCHOOL
CHANGES ADVISED
C. of c. Wants Full Power,
Given Board and Special
Tax Levied.

s-s A proposal calling for radical de-
parture in the method of financing and
managing the public school system OF
I washington, proposing that the han
ding Of the school estimates be taken
: from the District Commissioners, plac-
ing fun mower with the Board OF Edu-
cation and suggesting that special
tax be assessed to cover school needs, IS
made by Charles w Darr, president OF
the washington Chamber OF Com
z irnerce.
In a statement made public today
President Darr calls attention to the
{ fact that the Chamber of Commerce in
the past has urged the placing of COM
& plete responsibility" with the Board OF
Fducatio nand requests that the cham
ber's committee on public schools make
a new study of the matter and report
its findings to the membership of the
. trade body for action Charles H.
lie Fevre is chairman. of the schools
committee.
Under a special assessment plan for
schools. President Darr points out, the
citizens of Washington. rather than any
other body, would determine what part
of their taxes should go for the support
. CT the public schools.
Final Handling in Controversy.
The matter of the final handling Of
the school estimates before they arc
submitted to the Bureau of the Budget
and to Congress has been a subject OF
controversy during the past year. Re-
Gently DR.. Charles F. Carusi, president
of the Board of Education, deplored the
failure of the present five-year school
/ building program and cuts made III the
school estimates last year by the DIS
trict Commissioners. He urged that
one-third of the total District revenues
be allotted to the schools.
During the past Winter a question:
I 'naire was sent out by the school Off
Gals asking public opinion on the ques-
ton Of permitting the estimates, as
formed by the Board of Education, to
be forwarded intact to the Bureau of
the Budget without cuts by the Gem
lYnissioners and containing only their
recommendations.
In a public statement today Presi-
dent Darr declared that members OF
the trade body have expressed their
views regarding the need for additional
District school facilities in no uncertain
terms.
Taking as their slogan the demand
for "a seat for every school child in a
well built and well taught public school,
these business men and women" he
said "have urged the appropriation of
additional funds to complete the still
unfinished school building program so
that the school system of the National
Capital may be equal or superior-as 1t
should be-to that of any other city in
the United States.
Difficulties in Way.
1.-THE difficulties in the way of real
fling this aim appear to come from the
present division of authority among
those responsible for the development of
the public school system. This is an
unfortunate situation and one which, in
my estimation can only be improved by
vesting complete responsibility for the
iconstruction, upkeep and management
of our public schools in the Board of
Education of the District of Columbia.
THE Washington Chamber of Com
merce in the. past has expressed itself
eS decidedly in favor of completely
responsible Board Of Education, with
powers. under Congress, to plan and de-
velop for the National Capital a system
of public education fitted to its needs
and second to that of no other American
city. l feel strongly that this proposal
was soundly and wisely conceived and
that its acceptance would solve once and
fAOA dlA l1AC iSAOUlCuiS Vi 9dib-btHlt III
Struction and the continued use of i'm
proper or temporary school buildings.
Matter of Financing.
'fOf equal Importance is the question
of financing. I am convinced that the
best way to solve the present differences
of opinion as to the proportion of the
budget to be allocated to public edu-
cation would be to take the school
estimates out of the District government
budget and out of the tax rate and
then to assess a separate and distinct
tax for the maintenance of the public
schools Of the District of Columbia.
Under this plan the responsibility
for management and financing would
be placed squarely upon the Board of
Education, and our citizens themselves,
rather than any other body, would de-
eide what part Of their taxes should go
for the support Of our schools. There
is no reason why this plan should in
crease the tax rate. On the contrary.
by eliminating duplication of work, it
should make possible still greater econ
onies in the administration of the pub
lie school system and thus pave the