Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-25
Rops City Heads

Rops City Heads
Inasmuch as a considerable
part of the Commissioners
recent feinting and sidestep-
ping on public works was
prompted by certain propo-
sails of the D. c. Congress of
Parents and Teachers, l would
like an opportunity to express
more fully the sentiments of
this organization with respect
to the action of the Board of
Commissioners of February !
appointing a l5-man Commit
tee on Public Works Program
Review.
We wrote to the Commits
sioners January 26 indorsing
the request of the Board of
Education that a public hear
ing be held at an early date
on the school construction
program. The reply came Feb
fuary in the form of a pub
lie announcement that the
Commissioners had established
the aforementioned commit
tee. and had referred the
schooi construction program
to it. Examination Of the En-
gineer Commissioners memo
randum setting forth the func-
tons of the committee and the
names of its members re-
vealed two basic defects:
Cd The absence of persons
close to. and experienced in,
public school matters. and
(2l an assignment heavy with
unnecessary, time-consuming
detail which would almost
certainly defeat the objective
OF congressional action this
year on the proposal for legis-
lation authorizing borrowing
for capital outlay.
We do not challenge any
individual on the Public Works
Committee. We complain only
Of the lack Of school represent
tation. The Commissioners
dismissed our appeal for rep
resentation on the committee
on the ground that there is
no place on this committee for
citizenry with partisan" or
special" viewpoints. Are we
to assume. then, that the Com
missioners carefully inquired
Of each of the many Board
OF Trade members appointed
TO the committee as to whether
he had any connection with
the much-publicized statement
filed with the Board of Educa-
ton by the Board Of Trade
opposing borrowing for school
construction? All indications
po'at to the fact that a par
tisan" or special" viewpoint is
any viewpoint unpopular with
the Board Of Commissioners.
We must confess that PTA
members do have a special
point of view, to wit, securing
adequate laws for the care
and protection OF children and
youth" We have no other
special interest or objective
which Supersedes this one. Our
function in this regard is the
more vital. our responsibility
the greater, in voteless WASH
ington.
The Engineer Commissioner
takes the view that the Board
OF Commissioners is superior
TO the Board Of Education on
matters of educational theory
and policy. Will this result
In an attempt on his part to
substitute his own educational
theories for those of persons
experienced in education and
charged by law with the re-
sponsibility of administering
our public schools?
II Is a matter of record that
the District public schools
have Jagged behind many
American communities. Our
as yet unrealized elementary
school pupil-teacher ratio of
80 to is well above the rs to
/ ratio recommended by the
National Education Associa-
ton. Is 1t not appalling that
our city heads should ask us
to retreat from. rather than
move forward to. our objective
OF providing for our children a
model educational system be-
fitting the dignity Of our Ma
tional Capital?
We believe that the Public
Works Committee can serve a
useful and constructive pur-
pose IN the planning Of our
city. If the Board Of Commits
sioners intend that they do so.
This Committee could set up
and coordinate the needs of
our schools with other activi-
ties within the General Fund,
develop a realistic financing
program. and sit from year to
year as the occasion demanded
In working out a co-ordinated
plan Of building priorities and
In readjusting the program to
meet unanticipated develop
ments. AS matters now stand,
however. their schedule, and
the schedule Of the Board lof