The Washington herald., 1919-12-24
WORK FOR SCHOOLS
RUSHED BY BUSINESS
MEN OF MANY GROUPS

zens' Associations: I.oland Robbins,
president OF the Rotary Club. and
Charles L corby.
Five Needs Urged.
The five important needs Of the
school system will be thoroughly dis
cussed and plans mapped out for the
proposed joint committee to present
them to Congress. These needs are:
More teachers. more pay for teach
ers. more and larger schools, q bust
ness manager for the District school
system. and pensions for superan-
nuated teachers.
These are the real pressing needs
at this time" said Roy-C. Claim last
night. They cannot be overlooked
and the representatives of the business
and civic Organizations with whom ]
have talked feel alike about 1t. They
are all very eager to do all within
their power to assist In getting Con-
Rress to fulfill these needs in order
to save the local school system from
collapse.
Herald In Helping.
The Herald is doing a great work
In bringing to the attention Of the
people Of the District the needs Of the
school system and the conditions now
prevailing. The Herald's efforts are
being noticed by people all over the
city with whom ! have talked, and
some OF them admitted that they did
not realize the conditions until your
paper pointed them out. Now they
are eager to do everything and any
thing which will aid in any way in
correcting them"
Even where men who have not had
chance to ascertain the view of
their organizations, Mr.. Clafiin said
he found them eager to assist indi-
vidually in the drive.
Those with whom I have already
tolked." Clafiin further said. ARE
very anxious to start the ball NOV
ing quickly. realizing that action Is
needed now. While nothing can be
done either tomorrow or Christmas
Day. they will work during holiday
week.
Meet Saturday.
Following the meeting Saturday
night when it is proposed to form a
joint committee of the business and
civic interests of the city, the COM
mittee Immediately will start TO
work. They will visit individual
members Of Congress and point out
to them the facts regarding the Dis
trict school system as they have
found 1t. and ask for support for the
five principal needs"
As a result Of the conferences YES
terday several organizations will hold
meetings Immediately.
y 1t Is the belief of those interested
in civic matters in the city that much
OF real value will be accomplished be-
fore Congress by combining the sew
eral interests instead of having the
several organizations 60 before RED
resentatives and the committees sepa-
rately. 1t Is for this reason that the
efforts are being made to get the
several organizations to work Jointly
for school betterment. When the fact
Is presented to congressman person.
ally and before their committees that
the business interests and the citi-
Gems generally. through their organi-
cations are acting as one in the fight
for school betterment, 1t will give
considerable weight to the fight and
result in gaining aid for the system.
Ohcials of the school system ex-
press great pleasure over the fact
that they will have supporters in
their fight for teachers, more nav
and buildings when they go before
Congress, and believe, too, that the
cause will be helped by the business
and civic interests getting in per-
sonal touch with the Congressmen
even before the school matter for
mally comes before Congress.
Fear School Collapse.
The school officials are continu-
ing to do all within their power to
prevent the collapse of the school
system, which, they fear, must sure
ly come if Congress does not come
TO their relief. While the childr,
are receiving their education, they
realize that the teaching force is
under a heavy strain owing to over
sized classes and the fact that they
must perform their work on such
small pay.
The officials admit that thew
would not attempt to say Just how
long the system will stand up nm
der the present strain, and they are
DONG everything within their DOW
er to keep it standing. however DIFF
fcult it may be.
Bigger Rush Coming.
While they are bolstering up the
system preparatory to the semi-an-
nual transfer and promotion of
classes which will come shortly At
ter the classes resume their studies
following the Christmas HOLIDAYS.
they are nevertheless waiting, with
no little concern, for this period of
the school term to arrive. Glasses,
overcrowded now, it is ex-
pected. will be jammed then
The high school situation at that
time. IT is believed, will be the most
difficult to handle. There will be
promotions of several hundreds of
pupils from the eighth grade classes
to the high schools, and at that
time there will be very few gradu-
atoms, as the greatest number of
these take place at the end of the