Evening star., 1917-09-18
SERIOUS PROBLEMS
FACED BY SCHOOLS
Shortage of Teachers and
Supplies Cause Officials
No Little Anxiety.
MAY NEED NEW LAWS

Washington's public schools face .
shortage of teachers and supplies-
Although these problems are not i'm
mediately imminent. they are near
enough to cause the officials of the
schools no little anxiety. particularly
in view of the fact that 1t is anticipated
far more children will be enrolled in
the public schools this year than ever
before.
Congress may be called on for legis-
lation to remedy the supply shortage.
But legislation can be only a partial
solution of the teacher problem.
Thirty-one teachers have already
been drawn from the last graduating
class of the Wilson Normal School
This class was an unusually small one.
having less than fifty graduates from
the regular" grade school course. Last
wear on the second day of school only
twelve teachers had been drawn from
the class of 1916. Despite this and tho
fact that last year was only a normal
one. from the attendance point of view,
the officials had to go back into classes
which had been graduated several
years previous and from which all ell
gibles had not been drawn.
Other Fields Attract
Demands for labor In other fields
with prospects of higher salaries. have
attracted a large number of those who
would have been teachers. The OPEN
ing day this year finds but nirety-one
students enrolled at the Wilson Normal
School as against 1873 last year on tho
opening day, and III at the Miner
Normal School (colored) as against 1855
the former year. Unlike the grade and
high schools the normal schools do
not usually show any great additions
to their enrolment as the year pro-
crosses, as the students planning to
become teachers have to be at Work
from the very beginning of the year
The normal school course is diff
cult one where back work cannot De
made up easily.
few special subjects also need
teachers. and examinations to NIL these
vacancies had to be planned rapidly.
Apart from the question of where to
find teachers when the few remaining
eligibles have been drawn. other ques-
tions must be met. however.
For instance, sufficient salaries are
great increase in the Districts teach
ing force This may ne remedied
through congressional action when the
need is actually at hand.
Salary Question Arises.
Legislation is also said to be Imperative
10 change or abolish certain statutes now
in existence governing the payment or
teachers. Under present laws teachers
cannot draw more than one salary if the
total of the two salaries is equal TO more
than $4,000 per annum. decision of the
controller of the Treasury further compli-
Gates this by holding that teachers cannot
be paid two salaries which would be "at
the rate of more than $4,000.
Night school teachers. especially in the
high schools. are drawn from the ranks
OF the trained men and women who teach
the day schools In many cases they have
charge of valuable equipment which could
not well be left to persons not already re-
spoasible for it.
The high school teachers. considered
by the school officials as the most eff-
cient men and women available for
night teaching. receive salaries of $1,000
or more for their dav work, and this
combined with the salary which is paid
for night work aggregates more than
81 900 in many cases. and In all cases
makes the rate of payment more than
50 900 year.
High cost of materials has n'ade pos
sible the purchase of amounts which
are smaller than those usually OBJ
tanned. If the money on hand is not
sufficient to obtain all the supplies
necessary. and it is now doubted that
it will be, congressional appropriation
will be necessary.