Evening star., 1935-12-22
ELECTIVE SCHOOL
BOARD PLEA MADE
Mrs. Corbin Asks Adoption
of Provision Embodied in
Capper Bill.

the future course of their children by
electing the school board, in the opln-
ion of Mrs. George Corbin, second
vice president of the Federation of
Citizens Associations and delegate
from the District Congress of Parents
and Teachers.
"AS parents and taxpayers" Mrs.
Corbin says, I'VE feel that inasmuch
as it is our children who attend the
schools, likewise our money that helps
to maintain the schools, We should
have some voice in selecting the men
and women who govern them. Schools
in cities having non-partisan elective
school boards are better managed in
every way and the people are getting
q greater return on the money ex-
pended for educational purposes than
in those cities where school boards
are otherwise appointed"
Law Is Criticized.
Mrs. Corbin does not criticize the
present members of the school board
MY criticism is wholly against the
present law, which does not afford
ing who shall be on the Board Of
Education, she declared in a radio
address over Station WMAL last
Thursday
Personally, I think that the citi-
Eens of the District should be ac-
Quainted with the character and ca
pacity of the men and women who
hold such Office" she declared. Such
facts can best be ascertained through
an election. The casting of ballot is
one Of the most important duties Of
citizenship Is there any valid rea-
son why the people of this District
should not be granted the limited
form of suffrage proposed in the Cap
per bill?
Fight Has Been Made.
while we of the District have sub
Ynitted to our present plight and form
Of Government, it can not be success
fully argued that we have not strongly
urged upon the Congress as charge in
our present form of Government. Cor
gress should, as expeditiously as pos
sible, afford the District people
through the enactment into Law of
the elective school board bill greater
degree of control over the educational
welfare of our children.
Taxation without in some meas
ure allowing for the right of fran
chise is contrary to the inherent
rights of any free people. The
Federation of Citizens Associations
stands squarely behind the elective
school board bill and has recon-
nended favorable action by the Con-
gress. as it embodies the fundamental
principles of government"
An elective school board bill was
first introduced into the House in
February 1925, Mrs Corbin asserted
The bill received very wide indorse-
ment from civic associations, parent
teacher bodies and other civic bodies.
The bill has been reintroduced in
every session of Congress since that
time. During the present session of
Congress the bill was introduced by
Senator Capper.
Provisions of Capper Bill.
The Capper bills essential pro-
visions are the election of non
partisan members to the school board
by the people. The board would con-
sist of nine members, each selected
for a term of three years, with terms
of three members expiring each year.
Men and women would be equally
eligible to serve. The measure further
provides that the District would be
divided into 50 and not more than
100 precincts which would be grouped
into three electoral divisions, in each
of which there would be one regular
vacancy to be filled at each annual
election.
The voting places would be the
school houses. The bill further con-
templates the division of the colored
schools of the District into one dis
trict and white schools into two other
districts, thus giving to the colored
people the right to elect three Of
these board members, the same num-
ber as are now members of the
board.
Eligibility to vote or to hold elec-
tive Office is reserved to those who
have children in local schools and
those who through taxes support the
schools. The maintenance of a vot-
ing residence in another State would
not disqualify a resident. The elec-
tions are proposed for May of each
year and any citizen of the United
States 81 years or older who has re-
sided in the District for one year is
eligible.
Duties Remain Unchanged.
The bill does not propose to modify
In any particular the functions or
duties of the board.
At present the board, consisting of
nine members, is appointed by the
Supreme Court judges of the District
for terms of three years each. Subject
to the District Commissioners, the
Bureau of the Budget and Congress,
the board has jurisdiction over all
matters pertaining to education.
Educators informed by experience,
Mrs. Corbin stated, favor control of
school systems by elective boards in
order that the school systems will be
free as possible from the evil influ-
ences of the spoils system and domina-
ton by political groups.
In more than rs per cent of the
cities in the country the school boards
are elected, and, she asks, why
should we of the District be classed
among the exceptions"
Sullivan to Talk.
Each week a civic leader gives an
address over WMAL on topics of cur
rent civic interest. The series is spon-
sored by the Federation of Citizens
Associations and is under direction of
Thomas Ellis Lodge, president.
This weeks speaker Will be George
z. Sullivan, chairman, Federation's
Law and Legislation Committee. The
subject Of his address will be 'The
Most Important Bulwark Of Patriot
asn1-the Public School System"