The Washington herald., 1908-02-28

The permanent continuance OF the
schoolhouse commission, the expendi-
ture of 100000 in the next four or five
years by Congress for structural and
physical Improvement OF schools, the
Abandonment OF many school buildings
as defective for school purposes, and
numerous changes IN the system of edu-
cation are recommended by the school
house commission in its report sub
mitted' yesterday
Supt. Stuart In Doubt.
A. T. Stuart, superintendent OF schools
who was one OF the signers Of the report
generally approves Of it. He states
however, that as the Inspections were
made and all the work done and the re-
port prepared by the commission when
DR.. Chancellor was member he him
self has not conclusively considered all
the findings as thoroughly as would be
necessary before he could give his ap-
proyal 10 all the recommendations.
He is not exactly determined in his
Endorsement Of the proposed establishment
OF a first years business course in the
academic high schools. the conversion OF
Central. Eastern. and the NJ Street high
schools into grammar schools. Ind the
details of the proposed law making per-
manent the schoolhouse commission. al
though he approves OF the main idea OF
this last proposition.
Congress appointed the schooIhouse
commission last year 20 investigate the
schools of the District from a structural
and physical standpoint. and to compare
conditions with schools in the principal
cities OF the country. The commission
visited New York. Chicago, ST Louis,
Boston. Detroit, Cleveland. Providence.
Rochester, Syracuse. Brooklyn, Baltimore,
Brookline, Mass. and East Orange. y. J.
OF the schools Of the District. every
one was visited by the commission.
Abandonment of Schools Suggested.
Immediate abandonment Of ten public
school buildings has been recommended
by the commission. Early abandonment
of eight more school buildings has also
been recommended.
The commission urges the adoption OF
the sixteen-room and twenty-four-roo
school building in preference to the eight
room school building as types for con
solidating primary and grammar schools
Special attention was paid to the archi-
tectural properties and space require
ments OF the school buildings The com
mission had exceptional opportunities OF
obtaining the views OF members Of boards
Of education and sunerintendents and Of
ficers OF schools. as well as OF leading
architects in the cities visited.
Those who compose the commission are
Maj. Jay J. Morrow. Engineer Commits
siOner: James Knox Taylor. Supervising
Architect OF the Treasury, and Prof. A.
T. Stuart, superintendent Of schools OF
the District. who replaced Or. Chancellor
on the commission.
General Recomme ndatiOns.
The commission recommends:
Abandonment Of the ciSht-room school building
as type, except as the first half Of an ultimate
sizteen-r0om building
Adoption OF the siKteen-room building and the
twentyfour-rOom building types FOR consolidated
primary and grammar schools
Partial adoption OF the system Of separate pr
mary and grammar schools 70 better utilize the
present, eightroom school buildings.
Construction Of special high schools rather than
Of polytechnic high schools.
Immediate abandonment Of the Potomac Nc
Cormick. Thomson- John T. Cook Threlkeld High
Street, Hillsdsle, Bunker Hill, Garfield, and John
Annex school buildings
Early abandonment Of Webster. Abbot Berret.
Lincoln Force. Adams. Bradley. and Jefferson
school buildings.
Abandonment Of Central and Eastern High
Schools as high schools. and their conversion into
grammar schools. and the construction Of New
Eastern and Central High Schools.
Enlargement Of Mckinley. Business ard Western
High Schools, end The use of Business High School
Tor al but the first year of commercial work. IN
struction which, 1t IS urged. should be given al
each q the academic high schools.
Conversion Of the present negro high school 81
street, into an elementary school, and the con
struction Of negro high school With provision
for commercial instruction.
Construction Of white and ncgro normal school,
CT colleges.
Construction of a number oS manual training
centers similar to the B. b. French School.
More liberal provision in buildings for as
seDby rooms and gyinnasuns.
More liberal provisions FOR playground Aiace and
the establishment Of athletic fields
Greater use Of frepTnof construction In Auildngs
with higher unit Of cost than now ailo'5ed by
appropriations
u1e Of portable buildings relieve Unforeseen con
gestion Of school population.
Abandonment Of the present method of appro-
priating funds for new school buildings and sites.
and the adoption Of two lump funds. one for sites
and one for buildings.
The permanent continuance of the schooIhoase
commission by Law, with the following functions:
lal Appointment Of a school architect who shall
take over and carr out under the commission all
present duties Of the inspector Of buildings as 10
design. construction. and maintenanca Of school
buildings; (bl appointment and control over iani-
tors. enginemen. and ire1nen in school buildings.
and control over installing and maintaining funi-
ture and equipment Of school buildings; tc pur-
chase condemnation Of schOOlhOuse sites after
certificate of tho Board Of Educztion as 20 ne
cessity for school sites and allotment from
the lump fund appropriated by Congress OF the
necessary funds to purchase said sites this with
view 10 obtaining the site some time in advance
Of the building Of the sehoolho,Se; Cd aIlpoiut-
ment Of architects 10 design and Of necessary en-
ployes in the Office Of the school architect 20 su-
peTTise and inspect this work: Cel allotment from
the lump fund Appropriated by Congress for the
construction Of buildings after certificate from
the board o. education 70 necessity for new
school building. and making Of contract for erec-
ton ef said building; and % submission Of annual
estimates through the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and Ct an annual report, into
which shall Se gathered notable instances Of new
buildings in other municipalities.
Finally, the commission recommends a substantial
increase the size of the appropriations for sites
and buildings for the next three - Ave Years 10
due 10 insufficient appropriations for new build
ings o; recent yea-s.
Immediate accomplishment OF all OF the
recommendations is not suggested by
the commission. 1t does suggest that the
estimated cost, S5.6O0O00. be distributed
over the next four or i've years.
Reports Theft of Clothing.
Alexander Clark reported to the police
yesterday that his room. in the house at
6l2 Fourteenth street. had been broker
into some time Wednesday night and a