Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-27
New School Head

League has followed with in
terest and appreciation the
expressions of the Board of
Education on the difficult
subject Of choosing a new
Superintendent of Schools.
1t is evident that the board
is approaching this task with
careful elaboration and in
tends to make the selection
on the basis of capability and
merit. In the hope of being
of assistance, our Committee
on Education has formulated,
and our Board of Directors
unanimously supports, the
observations which follow.
Objective standards: Al
though no single qualification
is deemed essential, the chief
administrative officer of our
schools will probably have in
his background an earned
advanced degree; successful
experience in democratic
administration of public
schools in a School-conscious
mmunity; publications
demonstrating insight and
ability in communication; a
good record in human rela-
tions, and favorable evalu-
atoms of his work and worth
from a variety of sources. He
should certainly have in his
background evidence of his
commitment to Indignation
including indignation of
staff at all administrative
levels-and of his commit
ment to the equalization Of
pupil opportunity in all of
our schools.
Special qualities: 1t is fun
damental that the new SUI
perlntendent possess unique
qualities of courage, leader
ship and resourcefulness, to
cope with uniquely challeng-
ing circumstances which OBJ
tain with regard to the Dis
trict school system. For in
stance: (a) Our budget is in
the control of members OF
Congress whose special in
terests lie in their respective
States; (b) we do not have
voting parents, teachers. and
other interested citizens to
effect organized support for a
creative school program, and
to back broad programs Of
regular and special education
to meet requirements as they
appear; Co the new super
intendent will start from a
position of comparative in
adequacy Of the existing Dis
trict of Columbia school sys-
tenn, measured either by pu-
pill achievement or teaching
plant.
In meeting these circum-
stances, there are some en-
couraging indications. With
the growing emphasis on
education, it may well be that
Congress and the local COM
munity will be more recep-
tive than in the past to
school budget needs. basic to
school improvement. With
budget help. the new super
intendent must furnish the
spark and flame for school
progress.
II. Frank Jones, Md,
President, Washington
Urban League.
v
Having noticed letters in
dorsing as a candidate for
the superintendency Of local
schools a man who came here
only 10 years ago. I feel COM
PEELED to call attention to
the excellent qualifications of
another candidate. DR.. Ellis
Haworth, a native Washing
tonian.
DR.. Haworth, a graduate Of
Eastern High School. won a
four year scholarship to
George Washington Univer-
sity from which he was
graduated with distinction
with a major in chemistry
and minors in physics and
mathematics. He received
his Pho. from Johns Hop
kins University with a major
in chemistry and minor in
physics, then went on to earn
credits in the field of profess
sional education at GNU and
Columbia University.
He has served as lecturer
in chemistry at Catholic Uni
versity, George Washington
University, and the Depart
ment Of Agriculture graduate
schools. and was lecturer in
education at Johns Hopkins
University and the University
Of Maryland.
Besides teaching in local
public schools and serving
for flve years as head Of the
science department for junior
and senior high schools, he
was for four years q member
of the Board Of Examiners
Cor prospective teacheIND for