The Washington times., 1907-09-13
District of Columbia Ed
ucational Institutions
Maintained at Enor-
nous Expense.

The proverbial melancholy days have
come-for the Washington small boy.
meaning In plain words that the Wash
ington public schools viii open again
| September 3.
Once each year the face Of the small
boy lengthens. mis- days seem to grow
shorter and shorter. and his nights are
filled with discCmhting dreams Of grim
visaged teachers, well tnumbed books.
and aftersschool interviews
To those who look upon the school
days" famed in song and story, with
such disfavor, it is difficult to under
stand why Congress should appropriate
each year almost a kings ransom to
operate the public school system OF
Washington.
Cost of Schools.
Congress at its last session appropri-
ated for operation and maintenance
Of the public schools OF the District OF
Columbia the sum Of S2,243,l 09. for the
scholastic year 1907-ls0S.
Other statistics as compiled by the
District authorities. indicative OF the
magnitude and thoroughness Of the
Washington school system, are as fol-
lows:
The District owns $50 school build
ings, with a desk seating capacity Of
between $1,000 and 10000 pupils. IN ad-
dition TO these buildings there are a
number of rented buildings used for
trict.
Salaries.
Washington's army Of pedagogues will
draw in salaries this year the sum Of
s., 1924. 500.
OF the sum total appropriated for
school for the current year $685., 900 goes
for the erection of new school buildings
ana the purchase of sites. which Is a
small sum compared with what is DeedeJ
in this direction.
The school population of the District
is rapidly growing and additional school
facilities are demanded annually. one
or the greatest needs Of the District
school system is the Capitalization OF
school buildings by the abandonment of
the present many small school build
lnss ana the erection OF large buildings
that can be operated TO better adva0-
tage and upon a more economic basis.
For this purpose Congress at its last
session directed the Commissioner to
secure data in the largest cities and
present their deductions and recon-
mendations at the Sixtieth Congress,
When some steps will be made to build
larger and more modern buildings.
School Employees.
There are 1871 employees connected
with the operation of the public schools
Of the city, made up as follows: OF
GERS, IS; teachers and Librarians. / ,e99.
Janitors, 144; assistant janitors, 50; med
ical inspectors, z; and night teachers.
I4O.
For new school buildings and misceI-
laneous expenses, supplies and all other
purposes the sum of 1915, 4s4 is included
in the appropriation.
The new school Buildings provided for
N the appropriation for the current Ms
cal year are those OF the MCKINLEY.
Lsngdon, Washington Heights. Lincoln.
PetwoTth, and Brookland
Ihere Is little comfort in the above
facts and figures fOr the average young
who thus sees the drasfi3
plans promulgated by the powers Thai
De 70 curtail hts vacation liberties for
another eight months. In fact these
grouchy young individuals # allowed
The power Of ballot which however
Is not even allowed their elders. would
undoubtedly vote to materially cut down
the appropriation and to throw in the
waste basket all plans for the erection
OF new school buildings, which are re-
garded as out places where unWeIcOrne
hnOWleuge must De acquired as IL falls
from the lips Of heartless .pedazogues.
- lHOSt WHO take a material interest !
IN the ScnCol affairs Of washington /
however, tne outlook for the present /
school year Is brighter than ever before
and the entire system may be said IL /
De taking On new life. A policy OF Wig
orous Improvement has been iuauRuT-
ated by the board and Superintendent I
Chancellor and the patrons OF the ]
schools generally have reason to be 1
grained at past achievements and pres !
snt plans and prospects.
This city has long enjoyed the dis /
JUNCTION OF being the center OF educa- 4
ton. art. and social culture and pos
sessiEg a public school system equal TO /
the best in this country. That this is 4
rue is every year attested in the large
NUMBER OF pupils who are graduated from
The public schools and enter the tniyer- !
stiles and colleges here, and at other /
points OF the country. and distinguish 1
themselves IN their college work and /
Asterwarc IN the practical everyday J