The Washington herald., 1907-09-26
FINDS SEASY SOLUTION
Mr.. Weber Tells How to Take
Care of School Overflow.
ONE MANS OPPOSITION IN WAY

Central High Might House All Sur
plus Mckinley Manual Draining
school Students without Interfer-
ing with Elected studies-Supt.
Chancellor Still Seeking way Ont.
The trouble which is supposed 10 face
the Mckinley Manual Training School
admits of an easy solution, according to
Gustavus A. Weber, statistical expert Of
the Bureau of Labor. who has made
special study of school conditions here
and abroad.
The solution, he finds, lies in simply
transferring 176 Central High School pu-
pills to the Eastern and Western High
schools. and this, with the spare room
already on hand in the Central High
School, would accommodate the entire
overflow of the Mckinley Manual Train
ing School in the Central High School
building. without compelling them to
take courses of study other than those
they have selected.
DIR. Chancellor StIII TO Make Effort.
Although the order has gone forth di-
reet!ng the scattering of the Manual
Training School overflow. Or. Chancel-
Ior. superintendent of the public schools.
said last night that he would make
every effort 10 find room for one or two
classes of the school at the Central High
School
This state of affairs was foretold by
me last year" said DR.. Chancellor. "and
advised the board OF education Of my
views But this bedy was helpless in
the matter, the funds at its disposal for
school purposes and appropriated by
Congress being altogether insufficient"
On account Of the increased enrolment
of the Mckinley Manual Training School.
DR.. Chancellor notified Principal George
E, Myers that the freshman class of his
school would have to be distributed
among the three academic high schools
Of the city. and that the pupils would
have 20 take a course which they have
not elected.
Order for Glass to Scatter.
The letter of pr, Chancellor 10 Princi-
pal Myers is as follows:
Dear Principal Myers: Your high school build-
ing is equipped with 80 and desks for pupils
Your enrolment exceeds Co pupils. and win soon
60 beyond 100. In view n this extraordinary con
dition it does not appear possible fer rs 20 admit
any pupils o. the hrst-yCar classes Of whom there
are now 800 applicants
The school authorities have been endeavoTing for
weeks 70 hnd rooms that might be rented 80 ac-
c0mmodate the overflow. but such properties can
not be secured III the vicinity. The small addition
provided by recent act nj Congress cannot D. Sc
cured for a year at least. Even were II completed
it would be too small % remedy the situation ina
ieriaIlv
/ am Therefore compelled. much 10 the regret Of
all concerned "a order xou % distribute the ap-
plicauts among the other high schools and 10 Te-
le@se many teachers you can to assist else
Wherp One year hence all applicants EcW for
trance 10 the Mckinley viii be recognized FOR ad-
ysnC.d standing in your school, and they viii pur
sue studies ~ accordance with this plan.
The splendid growth Of the Business High School
prevents the continuance Of any Mckinley classes
in that building
The eurolimeut In high schools this year is al
ready 800 more than az ths same time last year
Expert Weber Suggests Solution.
Gustavus a. Weber. statistical expert
of the Bureau of Labor, who has given
the matter some thought, in discussing
the situation, said last night
''Dr. W E. Chancellor has issued an
order aboiishing the drst-year course of
the Mckinley Manual Training School
and requiring the distribution Of the pu-
pills among the Eastern Western. and
Central High schools. This means that
S25 =ew pupils who have chosen the
manual training course will be deprived
Of that opportunity and Will be compelled
10 take other courses.
The reason given is thai the accommo-
datiOns at the Mckinley School are in
sufficient 70 house the present enrolment.
In past years the overflow has been pro-
vided for in the Central High School and
in the Business High School but the
pupils retained their membership in the
Mckinley School
Entire Class Can BE Accommodated.
For some reasons the principals of
these schools seem unwilling 10 make
provision for this overflow this year un-
less the pupils change their courses and
abandon their membership in the McKin-
ley School
Mr.. Wilson, Of the Central High
School, according to the statement OF a
member Of the school board, stated that
he can take $50 of McKinley's pupils pro-
vided they become pupils OF Central High
School This offer opens up a simple So
luton of the problem. which would cause
no injury to any one and would enable the
wishes Of the parents Of 326 pupils 70 be
gratifed.
If Central High School has room for
l50 additional pupils, as its principal ad-
mits, and if Eastern and Central High
Schools can accommodate the remaining
176 frst-year Mckinley pupils, then Cen
tral High School can distribute l76 pu-
pills between Eastern and Western High
Schools. and thus make room for the en-
tire first-year enrolment Of Mckinley
School, without compelling these pupils
70 change their courses or their member
ship in the Manual Training School.
Only Difficulty Wilson's Opposition.
As the courses of study in the Eastern.
Western. and Central High Schools are
identical, the 176 pupils distributed from
Central to these schools would not have
to change their courses whatever. The
only difficulty in the way of this plan
seems to be the unwiIIingness Of Mr.. VIII
son to accommodate the Mckinley School,
and thereby to lose some of his pupils
The wishes Of the parents of 326 pupils
seem TO weigh nothing against his per-
sonal consideration"
Following is the enrolment of the five