Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-07
SCHOOLS TOO SMALL,
SAYS SUPT. DAVIDSON
District Would Save Money if
Buildings Were Larger,
He Declares.

The District would today be saving
much money in the conduct of its schools
If in the years gone by those in charge
of the work had ordered twelve or six
teen room schools instead Of eight-room
buildings, according to DIR. William M.
Davidson, superintendent of schools, at
meeting of the Columbia Heights Cit
liens Association in st. Stephens Parish
Hall last evening! DR.. Davidson added
that in the future the weight of influence
he is able to command will be thrown
for from twelve to sixteen room schools.
He said there Is more need for moral
education in the local system, as the
education which reaches the heart of
the pupil goes far toward making the
ideal citizen.
Until recently it was pointed out that
practically all of the buildings which
have been erected for school purposes
have been of the eight-room order, and
that one can see in looking over the
question that it Is more economical to
maintain seventy-five to 100 large school
buildings than $50 eight-room houses. as
are in use at the present time.
In this connection he said that the cost
of fuel is large item in the mainte-
nance Of the building and that the larger
type of building can be heated with prac-
tically the same equipment as the smaller
one using about the same amount OF
coal and yet accommodating many more
pupils.
Must Now Bear Burden.
"At the present time" he said. "the
do is to bear the burden which is upon
l,,o oh $Ha c1t
ton as new buildings are erected and
the older ones fall into decay and dis
USE"
Dr. Davidson went deeply into the
question of school statistics, declaring
there has been no common basis to place
the educational statistics Of the various
cities of the nation. He called attention
to the fact that here has been some
criticism with respect to the large amount
expended on the schools Of the District
each year, and in this connection cited
the cost Of the system in Baltimore and
other cities, declaring that he believes
that figures which he hopes to have at
the affairs of the schools in the District
are not conducted in an \ extravagant
manner. as some might infer from the
criticism heard from time to time.
systems has been based on the pop
ulations of the cities in which they
are located, while in other cases
the cost has been based on the
number Of enrolled pupils, and in this
connection, he declared, figures which the
census bureau will give out in a short
time, and which are computed on a COM
mon working basis, will show conclusive
ly Just where the District Is in the col
umn of cities endeavortng to give their
school children the best service in the
schools and at the same time bring down
the cost in line with the rules Of econ.
omy.
Forty Pupils to Each Teacher.
The speaker also said that no teacher
should be placed in charge OF more than
| forty pupils. declaring that in many cities
| there are fifty and more assigned to a
teacher, which, he said, is Crime
against childhood" as :fe teacher loses
control of the pupil and there is danger
to the health of the pupil as well
| AS DR.. Davidson closed Judge Bundy.
president of the association. introduced
Stephen E. Kramer, supervising principal
of the schools located in the Columbia
Heights section, who made a brief ad-
dress Mr.. Kramer pointed out that ne
! is the man who must settle all the diff
| culties arising in the schools Of the
heights, and that in all instances, he
said, he looks forward to the co-opera-
ton of the parents.