Evening star., 1935-01-16
COMMISSION VETO
FOUGHT |NHEAR|NG.
Civic Group Spokesman Fear
Political Abuses Under
New Plan.
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must consider this measure in the
light Of the weakest possible Board
of Commissioners"
The speaker pointed out that while
the District was favored with strong
Commissioners now this had not al
ways been the case. He declared he
could see no Justification for disturb
ing the present set-up, which has
proved satisfactory for % years.
when Congress vested the power
of appointing the Board of Educa-
ton in the judges, it acted to divorce
the schools from politics"
Among the first to protest against
a change to make the School Board
responsible to the Commissioners were
Mary c. Dent. president Of the Wash
ington Teachers Union; Selma
Borchardt, vice president, American
Federation of Teachers; B. A. Woods,
representing the Citizens Forum of
Columbia Heights; Mrs. Leslie B.
Wright, secretary, Forest Hills Citi-
zens' Association and a spokesman for
the Alice Deal Parent Teacher As
sociation, and Charles H. Wesley, rep
resenting group of so spokesmen for
colored bodies.
Commissioner Hazen at the outset
declared the Commissioners still were
"open-minded" on the plan.
Outlines Bill in Congress.
Prettyman said it was vital that the
background of the case be kept in
mind in the debate. He said there Is
pending in Congress a bill to confer
on the Commissioners all the powers
that Congress could transfer under
the Constitution. He said no one
knew just how far that would 60, if
enacted He reminded the public also
that the Senate Committee Is study
ing the reorganization of the District
government and that one suggestion is
for a complete departmentalizing Of
the government: that is. to make the
Board of Education a District depart
ment and apply the same principle to
other citizens boards.
He said the basic ideas behind the
bill were to retain the commission
form Of government, to retain the
various citizens boards, said to num-
ber more than 80, and to leave with
these boards all their present routine
administrative duties, and to central
iZe executive powers in the Commits
sioners. He argued that where the
money goes, there should be the pow
err" meaning that since the Commits
sioners expend District revenues they
should have at least an emergency
power over all agencies using those
funds.
Criticism Called Unfair.
He said it would be great shame"
if debate on the bill, which covers
questions ranging from finance to po-
lice powers, should be centered on the
one subject of control over the citi-
zens boards.
Roberts said the criticism had arisen
unfairly in my opinion" against Ger
tain features of the bill by persons who
do not want any invasion of politics
in the school system
How can We prevent invasion of
politics?" he asked. Does it exist
now?"
He then said he wanted to see
Civil Service system established for the
schools and the rest of the District
government by law, saying the schools
now have only an optional merit plan
He said that while the schools spend
about one-third of the District appro-
priation, the School Board was not
the only agency not under the control
of the Commissioners.
Miss Dent said she recognized the
need for some form Of coordination
of District agencies. but she declared
for "the absolute necessity of main
tanning the complete autonomy of the
Board OF Education in educational ad-
ministration and the school person.
nel." Mrs. Borchardt then took up
the argument that there be written
into the bill a clause to safeguard the
tenure Of teachers jobs. She took fiat
issue with Roberts on the question of
whether there is real civil service
for teachers now She explained that
the schools have their own merit sys-
tenn.
Answers Roberts.
Mrs. Borchardt further countered
Roberts argument with the declara-
ton that party politics have not had
a part in the selection of the school
personnel. She explained that teach
ers from any place in the country
may compete with District residents
for teachers jobs here.
Wesley reported on a meeting of
colored civic leaders held last night.
He cited a long list of organizations
which registered their opposition to
the plan as applied to the school sys-
tenn.
we know of no cause or occasion
for a change in the present system"
he said. THE bill calls for the pro-
hibition Of action and even the power
Of removal Of persons from Office, out
side the civil service. We believe the
exercise Of these powers over the
Board of Education will lead to greater
injustices."
Offutt Favors Plan.
George w. Offutt, chairman of the
A. B. c. Board. appeared in favor of
the proposal to enlarge the powers
of the Commissioners. He declared
the proposed measure was defective