Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-04
NEEDS OF SCHOOLS.
Superintendent Powell's Explanation
of the Trustees Estimates.
.INCREASEOF SALARIES ANDEQUIPMENT
Suggested Introduction of Kinder
garten System Of instruction.
MANUAL TRAINING SCHOOLS

Superintendent Powell of the public
schools today presented to the Commits
sioners an explanation of the estimates
submitted to them several days ago by the
board of school trustees, which contains.
among other things, the following import
ant features:
The number of new teachers asked is
thirty-six the same as that provided for
the current fiscal year. Already it has
teen proved, he says, that the number aed-
ed is too small, so that the Increase asked
is justified. He explains in detail the sug-
gested increases in salaries, and then says
this of night schools:
IAN increase for night schools is again
asked. In the organization of night schools
for the current year that has just been
made We find the appropriation too small
to put schools in many places where they
are actually needed. Especially is this
true in the colored schools in both the city
and the county.
Then follows an explanation of the in
creases asked in the pay of janitors, and
attention is called to the estimate for an
engineer to operate the maaIal training
school, whose duty it shall be to look after
the machinery and keep it in repair. This.
he says, is necessary and should be APP
propriated for.
Matter of Repairs.
Under this important head the superin-
tendent says:
1.-The amount submitted as necessary for
repairs would not be too great If it were
doubled A large number Of our school
buildings are in a disreputable condition
for lack CT paint ard kalsomining. The
Railways and runways generally are black,
iingy and broken. Many of the roofs leak.
The outside appearance is such for lack
OF paint or repair, as to cause remarks by
the passersby.
Under the head of manual training he
says:
1.-The appropriation for the current year
will not supply the necessary material for
the conduct of this school. We shall have
to do without material toward the close of
the year or resort to making assessments
on pupils for its purchase. Twelve thou
sand dollars is the least that should be
appropriated.
Western High School.
Concerning the estimate Of $4,000 for
completing the new Western High School
and furnishing it with a proper outfit, Mr.
Powell observes:
by completing is meant the construction
OF laboratories, physical, chemical, biologi-
cal and botanical. which when made will
be a part Of the permanent structure
These necessary adjuncts to a properly
equipped high school building could not
building because of the limited appropria-
ton. BY furnishing is meant the seating
of the various school rooms and of the as
sembly hall and providing other appropri-
ate appointments for retiring rooms, lava
tories, library. reception room for parents.
teachers rooms and office of the principal
The amount asked is probably not a dollar
too much to do passatly well what should
are contemplated
other estimates are explained as follows:
Contingent Expenses.
AN increased appropriation for contin-
gent expenses is well nigh a necessity to
prevent harm to interests that are vital
TO the welfare of the school. Our health
exercises require apparatus, which we can
not provide, for lack of means. This is
true in the high schools, as well as in the
grade schools. In many old buildings the
curtains are wearing OUT thus giving dis
credit to the schools among those who
pass them on the street and others whose
residences are near, but more significant is
the fact that the furniture all of which
must be purchased out of the contingent
1und, Is wearing out and becoming insight
iy, unhealthful and very announcement The
school system has grown so large that the
annual wear and tear of such appointments
as must be purchased out of the contin-
gent fund aggregate SO much that a large
amount is needed to prevent disreputable
appearance, and to give comfort and
healtEful accommodation to teachers and
pupils.
Much that ought to be done, such as
furnishing clean towels for the high schools
and grammar schools, to say nothing of
the lower grade schools. and for furnishing
respectable toilet accommodations for
young ladies and gentlemen, has now to
be omitted or neglected for lack of funds.
Repeatedly, every year. the superintendent
must refuse to buy a couch for the teach
ers' retiring room. In which there is none.
where teachers and mature young women
may seek place Of rest and retirement.
This condition of school is not conducive
to happiness or the best school results, and
is not creditable to a community as in
tellfgent as that of Washington.
1T has never been possible to supply the
1anitors with the necessary shovels, lawn
mowers, hose and many other things that
they ought to have, that they may keer
the school houses and school lots In proper
condition
Free Text Books.
Fifty thousand dollars are asked for the
purchase of text books and supplies. The
sum appropriated for last year was toe
small. shown by experience. That ap
propriated for the current year will prove
too small as it appears to us now. Here
tofore only half set in the case of som'
books has been provided for a school, OF
the theory that one division may use a Sc
| of books while the other division recite!
| on subject treated in another set of books
| This plan in practice. SO far as the con
duct of the school Is concerned, works vel
| enough and from the standpoint of educa
| ton is satisfactory, but the health office
| Of the District has advised. and with wis
| dom, 1 think, that to prevent contagion
| the same books should not be used by diff
] ferent pupils, when this practice can b.
\ avoided.
| Extra money Is necessary to complete
| many sets of books This amount, togethe
| with the amount necessary to supply tn
| annual need of AZ 600 or A 900 children at
| dollar per capita, a very small estimate
| will require SUM not less than that asked
| Until additional appropriation is made fo
the completion of partial sets of books
| this desirable change cannot be made Il
| entirety without infringing upon tn
| amount demanded for the current neces
| stiles Of the schools.
/ New buildings.
THE eight-room building asked for by tn,
| northeast should be located somewhere no
far from, but north of. the junction of I
street and Benning road. This buildin,