The Washington times., 1931-05-04
Public School Methods Here
Worst in Country


Public school administration in Washington the
pcaed the United States and the surprise that out Of its
ufarious red tape methods the results partially
satisfactory.
There local problem that closer public atten
ton than this intimately touching the progress that
every citizen wants the public education of the cys
children
The phase of the situation that is ourageousy dsadvan
geour that affecting the construction of school build
ngs which, instead of going promptly to meet pressing re-
quirements delayed beyond all reason and decency
The weaknesses of the system be corrected only by Con-
ress and the combined civic thought Washington should
yet to work bring about the necessary changes to eliminate
existing complications and red tape,
The Board of Education is sending District Coms
oners required by their estimates of monies needed for
the public schools in the fiscal beginning one year from
next Jnly IA months away
These estimates will include buildings to help solve the
serious problem of congestion and part time classes bad draw
backs to the proper education Of Washington children
These construction estimates will be considered by the
Commissioners relation to expenditures for other munlca
functions and prospective revenues.
The school estimates are quite likely to be cut That
customary No matter how vay necessary may be the est
mates submitted by the Board OF Eouca!on ne s
their auhrty to submit their own estimates 1or
school purposes -
Government. Further changes may be made there
Then December these estimates after changes 60 to
Congress- which approprates for the District
Congress may not alter the estimates wn1cn VIII
then becoming law provide for certain school buildings
and sites The District appropriation bill will certainly
contain provisions for buildings and Sites
When that bill passed it is taken up by the District
Government Engineer Commissioner proceeds to negot
ate for he buy sites within the
made the municipal architect District official begins to
prepare plans for the buildings additions whatever 1t
Before the plans submitted to contractors for bids they
passed upon by the Fine Arts Commission Federal
body.
Finally the course of months sometimes years. the con-
tracts for the buildings additions buildings asked for
by the Board of Education let to contractors.
The bids often higher than the appropriations and new
plans must be made Often too sites are not obtanaDe at
figures that suit the views the laws of Congress- The mat
ter may have to go back to Congress
The public which foots the bills has voice in the
proceedings from beginning to end except in SO far as clt
associations make requests to sites for schools to
be erected in their neighborhoods
Is there public school system in the United States or
in the world that must go through anything like half this
wearisome red tape?
There is but Of authority that
will the many separate transactions necessary for the
location and final construction of school buildings There
be elimination of of the various agencies named
BY participate this nightmare of delays and shifting
Of responsibilities for delays.
The plan that American cities finds satisfactory
the placing in the hands of the Board of Education Of full
to control and administer public schools Under that
system the Board of Education would submit its estimates
directly to Congress necessary to the Budget Bureau
When appropriations made for buildings additions
repairs the Board of Education would handle everything
through its architects and building bureau would be
responsible to Congress It would have to answer to that
body for mistakes and shortcomings Under the existing
arrangements it is impossible to fix responsibility The diff
ferent agencies shift the blame each other Congress
blamed and, in turn, puts the blame elsewhere.
Is it going to be possible to make schools what they
should be under present condons One single word is the
answer-NO.