Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-27
SIMMONS CHARGES
EXTRAVAGANCE IN
DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Urges Popular Election or
Abolition of Board of
Education.
SUGGESTS DEPARTMENT
UNDER SUPERVISORS
Representative, Defending Fiscal
Relations, Scores Faulty Admin
istration" in Assignments.

Charging public school authorities
with "wanton extravaganza" in the
expenditure of school funds, Chairman
Simmons of the House subcommittee
on appropriations advocated on the floor
of the House today that the Board of
Education either be elected by the people
of the District or abolished and the
schools operated as department of
the city government with the superin-
tendent and school employees answer
able to the Commissioners.
Simmons attack was a climax to the
reading of the 1881 District appropriation
bill. He defended the present policy
of fiscal relations between the Federal
and District Governments, insisting
that the annual lump-sum contribu-
ton of 100000 is fair and generous
and pointed out that the proposed in
crease in water rates would allow the
proper expansion of the water system
on 'pay-as-you-go policy"
Charges Faulty Administration.
In his criticism of school authorities
Simmons declared that school buildings
are constructed on cost basis, "far
more elaborate. ornate and luxurious"
than any heretofore built, and that the
schools are oversupplied with teachers
due to faulty administration and as
Signment." The school board, he said
has attempted to nislead the people of
Washington in connection with Its
failure until recently to put Jere Crane
In full and personal charge of supply
purchases for the schools
For a number of years there has
been demand In Washington for a
change in the method of selection of
the Board of Education" said Mr.. Sim
mons. The present board-and ac-
cordingly, the employees of the board
from the superintendent down-are
neither selected by the people Of Wash
1ngton nor by the administrative off,
cials of the District government and
are not answerable for their steward
ship either to the people or the District
government. Either legislation should
be had providing for the election Of the
Board of Education by the people of
washington, or the Board of Education
should be abolished and the schools
operated as q department Of the city
government, with the superintendent
and other employees answerable TO the
city Commissioners.
Scores Present System.
AT present the Board Of Education
and school officials recommend ex-
penditure of school funds, while the
actual expenditure of school funds is
made by District officials. Neither
school officials nor city officials are
responsible for the entire transaction.
The whole set up is wrong, and leads
TO buck passing between the two or.
QaniZatfOnS. and axfrav00anra fncf7Gs
cheney and lack of responsibility follows.
The whole matter should be studied by
the District legislative committee and
comprehensive legislation had; In the
meantime it Is thought that the limita-
ton proposed In this bill viii present
IN large measure recurrence Of the
situation which I have described"
Mr.. Simmons charged that expanding
officials of the District have not kept
faith by building schools in accordance
with the plans of approved buildings
already constructed. Instead of at
tempting to build permanent buildings
adequately equipped to meet all reason
able and education needs in an effort
to provide modern buildings for the
present effort Seems to be to spend
the largest amount possible per unit Of
school accommoda being built"
In support Of the charge that the
schools are oversupplied and that the
apparent shortage In some branches Is
due to faulty administration and as
signment," Mr.. Simmons referred to
table which he said showed that Wash
1ngton has more teachers per pupil load
in every branch of the schools than the
average Of the country.
Taxpayer and Children Ignored"
Elaborate and extravagant equipment
has been requisitioned for the new
Junior and senior high schools, Mr..
Simmons said, comparable with the
show rooms Of a city store"
1.-The rights of the taxpayer and the
rights of the child in the schools have
alike been ignored" he declared, while
educational Injuries and needless ac-
cessories have been purchased for the
use Of favored few and to please the
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