Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-05
WORK OF COMMISSION
CONSOLIDATION OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN VIEW.

Inc special commission created by Con-
gress for the purpose of submitting to the
latter body plans for the consolidation OF
the public schools in the District has made
considerable progress toward inspecting
school buildings and sites, although it has
only been actively engaged in the work a
few days.
Ihe commission is composed of Commits
sioner John Biddle. VIM. E. Chancellor. su-
perintendent of public schools, and James
Knox Taylor, supervising architect Of the
Treasury Department. They decided that
the first step to be taken by them should
be a tour of inspection of the various
schools and school sites throughout the city.
This inspection work is beng made ABOUT
two days week, and the members OF the
commission using as a means Oh
conveyance, the one-hOrse carriage OF Com
missioner Biddle. On Friday last they de-
voted their attention to the school districts
across 1.-The river" in the vicinity OF Ana
costa, and succeeded in inspecting the fol-
lowing schools; Coed Hope, Stanton, Car
field, Congress Heights. Hillsdale. Birney
Annex. Van Buren, and Van Buren, Annex.
The members Of the commission met
again this morning in the office Of Com
missioner Biddle in District building, and
after outlining tour of inspection which
will occupy their time nearly the entire
day, started on their work. Although they
did not mention what schools they intended
to visit on their inspection trip today, they
announced that they would visit the build
ings in the extreme northeast and south
east sections Of the District. The school
buildings are numerous in these localities,
and in view of this and the amount OF ter
ritory that they will have to cover, 1t Is
doubtful IL they succeed in visiting all the
schools in that district today.
Protests Received.
Since the announcement in The Star Fri
day last that this commission had been ap-
pointed to consider plans to consolidate the
schools of the District and make a report
to Congress at the coming session upon
what it found and deemed advisable. Nu-
merous communications have been received
at the District buildings from parents OF
school children protesting against any
change in the present plan of school build
ings.
To make this consolidation it will be nee
essary to abandon a large number OF the
small four and eight-rOOm school buildings
which are scattered throughout the city
and suburban sections now, and build large
and up-to-date school buildings. which will
be centrally located. The idea Of making
large schools and having them centrally To-
delphia and other large cities, but it is evil
dent from the expressions so far made that
this consolidation will not meet with favor
in the District
nose VINO nave at CnlS early Qdte mace
known their objections to the plan point
out that it would be a source of much
regret to the many parents of school
children to have their children attend a
school which Is anywhere from ten to fif-
teen blocks from their respective homes.
Some of these protestants say that the
reason this consolidation plan Is practiced
in cities like New York and Philadelphia
Is because of the scarcity Of property to
erect school buildings on. Such is not the
case in the District, they say. Good school
sites are available. they declare. in almost
every section of the city. and there is no
reason for an consolidation of school build
ings.
1t is likely, according to the views ex-
pressed by District official this morning.
that a public hearing will be held before
posed consolidation In order that the views
and opinions of the parents of school
children may be learned before the Com
missioners report Is made to Congress.