Evening star., 1951-01-05
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

/ 4llc DUAL VI EuuCdtlOIl UUudy
had in it's hands a long document
from School Supt. Hobart M.
Corning. defending his admins
tration of the city's public schools
during the last five years.
! DR.. Corning sent the report to
the board-and released it to the
press-yeSterday afternoon be-
cause of "events that have recent
ly taken place" He said he felt it
important that the board have a
"clear-cut" statement on his po-
sition.
Il am proud of the Washington
schools" DR.. Corning declared. II
am proud of the progress made in
various phases of school admin
istration and supervision during
the five years I have been in
Washington"
Attacks Publicized Criticism.
DR.. Corning said that an "un-
fortunate" aspect of the present
situation is that constant and re-
curing criticism of administra-
tive details have been publicized
to the extent that they seem to be
the predominating characteristics
of the organization and admins
tration of the school system.
The superintendent made no
direct reference to the criticism
of his administration by Adelbert
w. Lee, board vice president. A
constant critic of DR.. Corning for
the past few years, Mr.. Lee eli
NAKED his ault-flnding recently
by stating the board should con-
slider whether DR.. Corning should
be reappointed.
DR.. Corning's second three-year
term expires in March, 1852.
Cites Positive Phases.
Because of the continuing con-
troversy. DR.. Corning said the
public-and it may be the Board
of Education itself-may have lost
sight of the positive phases, fall
ing to realize what has been
accomplished.
He listed a long number of
things accomplished during his
tenure. These include a big build
ing program, reduction of part
time classes, a single-salary scale
for teachers, sick leave with pay
for teachers, an in-service train
ing program for teachers, major
overhauls of the curriculum, more
money for books and equipment
in the schools and reorganization
of administrative routines.
1t is A Big Business
DR.. Corning called attention to
the fact that administration of
this school system is big business" !"
He added:
Its very magnitude makes the
job of administration very diff
cult and exacting. It is impossible
to conceive that the work of
administering the schools could
proceed without some errors
occurring"
There will, of necessity, be
some mistakes in judgment and
there always will be instances in
which, in the light of final out
comes, it would seem that de-
cisions should have been made
otherwise. The Board of Educa-
ton can be assured, however, that
such mistakes as may occur will
be inadvertent and will be pain
stakingly corrected"
Seeks Positive Thinking.
DR.. Corning said one reason he
was making the report to the
Board of Education was "to at
tempt to direct our thinking along
positive and constructive lines. u
DR.. Corning said this of the
board:
The Board of Education as a
body has thoughtfully and in
telligently considered all the pro-
posals and recommendations
placed before it by me and has
shown a profound interest in the
schools of Washington and in
their further development and ]
sincerely appreciate tie cooper
alton which I receive"
Realized Major Problems.
DR.. Corning said when he came
to Washington he realized the
major problems to be attacked
concerned insufficient school,
buildings and inadequate use o1
. existing facilities, with the at
, tendant evil of part-time classes
and diversified classes.
In 1916 there were 1850 ele-
mentary and junior high pupils
to "create a cordial spirit of CO.