The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-12-22
SCHOOL PROBLEM
UP TO CONGRESS
CONTINUED FROM FACE ONE

CONTINUED FROM FACE ONE
There are seventy-siX school
buildings with eight rooms and
twenty-six of the four-room type.
The small buildings have no as
sembIy halls or recreation spaces,
with the exception of one or two
small playrOOms. Recreation spaces
are now recognized by public schOOI
administrators as fundamental and
i~'portant factors in a modern sys-
tenn.
Assembly Rooms Needed.
There is no place where the chill
dren can be assembled for such in
struction as should be given only in
groups. where they can have school
conferences, or where they can hear
lectures and see educational pictures.
Their work must be confined to one
of the small class rooms. thus de-
nying them opportunity to absorb
the community spirit. Instruction in
this class of schools is likely to let
the children grow up in a provincial
attitude. Unless this is done during
the school day. the children seldom
assemble themselves of their own
accord after the school il dismissed
for the day.
The population Of the District of
Columbia is growing so rapidly that
even the school officials hesitate to
say at this time what will be the
requirements in the way of build
ings for the coming year. The orig
inaI estimates. it is said. carry pro-
vision for about sixty class rooms.
and when class rooms are spoken of
in school circles it does not mean
RIN~ no fsla vii ffG
Black boards and desks. but all of the
[nec-ssaries in n modern building.
such as recreation space and special
obstruction facilities.
New Estimates Necessary.
officials admit that their original
climates will have to DO Tecast in the
hGht of the immense amount OF home
bud apartment house building which
has been undertaken in the past few
nOnths. superintendent Thurston
Jays that a tour of the northwest sec
Jon will show any one just what the
chOol officials fact in their efforts
% provide adequate school facilities
br school population which is grow
nc In big jumps. 1t was such a sur
Vcy made by the school superintendent
which convinced kim that any esti-
rnateS for school buildings and teach
Fers which he put in now would be
valueless in a few months. He in
tends to supplement his original esti-
TIateS with increases which he be-
Iieves will be needed to take care Of
this population.
In addition to this fact the superin-
tendent of schools has knowledge OF
hundreds of families. the heads of
which are employed in Washington.
who are living in the suburbs and
sending their children to State and
county schools who will bring them
into the District just as soon as they
can find homes.
The local school building program
- about four years behind. The citi-
zens are beginning to recognize this
end are awakening to the fact
that their children are being hud-
died into schoOlhouses under cOndi-
tiOnS which make il impossible for
them to obtain the education to which
they are entitled.
school Population Grows.
Tho citizens of the Piney Branch
section, that section between Georgia
avenue and Sixteenth street. and
north of Decatur street, are already
circulating a petition which is to be
presented to the Superintendent of
Schools and to Congress asking that
the West School be increased to a
siXteen-room building.
All over the city the school popula-
ton Is growing enormously, although
this year might be assumed to be
little abnormal. due to the fact that
a number Of young men and women
who left their studies to do war work,
have=Teturned.
At the West School the population
in 1914 was 30 pupils: there are now
enrolled there SO. At the Powell
johnson. near Fourteenth street and
Park road. the population in 1914 was
$50 and now it is 1887. At the Park
View School the figures for 1914 showed
is pupils. now increased to 9Ol. All
through the graded school system the
numbers have enormously increased.
and the high schools are in an even
worse condition.
During the school term ending June
% last. the school officials spent less
money for sites and buildings than
at any time during the past twenty
years.
Even with its present buildings. it
il necessary 10 rent some buildings
in order to attempt to take care OF
the pupils For the year ending June
20. Sls.5S6 was spent for rent alone.
Building Is Vital Problem.
The school officials regard the dues-
ton of buildings as one OF the most
vital questions affecting the efficiency
of the schools. More than 80 classes
now are being conducted, two in
ROOM
In the belief that the District should
return at the earliest possible moment
to the construction of necessary per-
manent buildings. the Board of Edu-
cation is having mapped out a five
year building program. DIR. II. b.
!, Learned. vice president of the Board
Of Education. is now working on this,
and II will be submitted to Congress
as soon as II is completed. At any
rate. the superintendent points out.
urgent Efforts should be made to Sc
cure funds without delay for the
buildings which have already been au-