Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-13
ROTAR|ANS TOLD
Of SCHOOLS NEEDS
Supt. Thurston and Ex-Gov.
Brumbaugh Speak at
Clubs Dinner.

The entire membership of the Rotary
Club of Washington. following a din
pcr at the New Willard last evening.
listened to a statement of the needs
of the public schools of the District of
Columbia by Eotarian Ernest l.. Thurs
ten, the superintendent of schools,
Members of the board of education
were specially invited guests of the
cub. was former Gov. Brumbaugh
q Pennsylvania. who for many years
vas superintendent of schools of Phil
adelphia. The club pledged itself to
90 all in its power to bring about
retirement of conditions, and the preSl-
Gent, Roland s. Robbins, will appoint
committee to act vigorously in the di-
lection indicated.
The club will also appeal to the
l.roper committees of Congress to in
crease. over the estimates of the Dis
trict Commissioners. the appropriation
for school garden work. Rotarian
Frank BOlsiano pointed out the urgent
heed, from the standpoint of producing
4 cod for the people. for an increased
appropriation. 1t was explained that
the Commissioners We're compelled. in
preparing their estimates, to reduce
the amount asked. solely because the
law compelS them to keep within a GER
tain total
Divides Members Into Groups.
The Rotary Club has divided its
itttliptiS uf lEto TOUR groups, edcD
;roup successfully TO plan and carry
into effect some Worthwhile project
curing each OF four successive months
The meeting last evening was held at
tie instance of group No. l. of whicn
Eotarian Charles l. Corby is chair
man. and which has adopted as part
Cf its ''Service-not self" erdeavor the
betterment of school conditions.
Not only in this city. but generally
throughout the United States, i'll would
seem that the public school system
is breaking down. according to Supt-
Thurston. The crux of the situation.
he said, is the teacher question. The
better element of the teaching force
is going out in a steady stream. and
necessarily the quality is being low
cred as result of the urgent demand
for teachers and the taking In OF
MANY with qualifications below the
ranuired standard. in the opinion of
the speaker who added that there are
fewer trained teachers IN the service
now than there were at the he1ght OF
the war This is due to the TACT tnat
cond;+ions of employment. financially.
ave better for them outside the school
service
Discusses Night Schools
The SUPERINTENDENT spoke of the sue
cess of the night schools. with lo,ooo
DupiIs and expressed ms regret thdl
the appropriation for the same was
not sufficient to permit OF conuuc.ihs
such schools until June 80. or, IN iact.
throughout the summer. He eXplaineo
the plan and purposes Oh the Juhioi
high schools.
There should be a business organi-
zation TO look after the business in
terests of the schools, relieving the
PRINCIPALS and teachers for purely ed
rcational endeavor. Sald SUPP.
Thurston. He pointed out tnau
Washington is distinctly a high school
city there being an increased at
tendance in the high schools in one
wear of % per cent. He also ex-
planned that there are seventy-nNe
portable buildings in use. Better nave
halliday schools than portable ouliot
ings which occupy valuable play
ground space. in his opinion: 1t ~
for the community to say: we must
have more school buildings, and they
will be forthcoming.
The shortage of teachers IN, IN d the
Supt Thurston declared. In his
opinion the unrest and uneasiness
among the teachers are fundamentally
due to lack of community interest. he
concluded by saying that the salary
question. IS regards public schooi
teachers. is paramount. and that the
pressing need of the schools is more
teachers.
Mr. Brumbaugh Speaks.
Former Gov Brumbaugh announced
that based on facts stated by Supt.
Thurston. il was evident to him. in
view of his experience in Philadel-
phia, that Washington is in urgent
need of 800 additional schooirooms
Immediately. One of the greatest re-
ouirements of the public schools of
this country he said. is compulsory
physical education and the teaching
of Americanization.
There are $500 public school build
.ings in the United States closed be-
cause of lack of teachers" the speak
er said, in conclusion. The teaching
force is impaired in efficiency and re-
duced in numbers. The answer? More
money for schools
II. Il. Learned. a member OF the
board of education, spoke briefly
along the line of the needs of edu-
cation.
President Robbins and Charles A.
Demonet chairman of group No. 2,
outlined the plans of the group to en-
tertain poor children and orphans of
the city at the matinees at keith's
Theater. Monday, Tuesday and We'd
nesday December %. % and "a In
addition there will be special Christ
mas entertainment. including Christ
mas tree and the distribution of toys
in the promenade lounge. following
the regular bill, and a special show
ing the stage, to include Santa
Claus. the sleigh and reindeer.