Evening star., 1919-12-31
Five Points of School Progress.

Enthusiastic cooperation by citi-
zeps' organizations is assured for the
constructive program of public school
improvements that has been recently
outlined, embracing five definite re-
uuirements. 1t is now evident that
when Congress meets the voice of
Washington. will be heard at the Capt.
tol unanimously in favor of these
measures, which involve a minimum
of disturbance and change in the
school organization and promise a
maximum OF good results for the bet
terment of the system. These five
points of school betterment are more
teachers, more pay for teachers. re-
tirement system, more buildings and
. business management.
The success of this citizens en-
deavor will largely depend upon the
wisdom of the methods employed to
bring the needs of the schools before
Congress. The District in its political
impotence can not safely or success
fully demand 1t must ask, and the
hope now is that it will ask earnestly
and eonvincingly and unanimously
that Congress, recognizing the justice
and necessity of the changes pro-
posed, will assent without hesitation
or delay.
Furthermore this program of the
(. five essentials should be kept clear
of all other questions, involving mat
ters upon which there are differences
of opinion among the itcizens who are
now warmly advocating these particu-
lar items of school aid Extraneous
issues, directly or indirectly affecting
school welfare, are not to be pressed
!. without harmful reaction upon the
now united endeavor of Washington
for more and better schools.
1t has been recognized generally
that if these five points are gained
through legislation and appropriation
the schools will be put in a better
position than they have occupied for
years, and without any fundamental
change affecting the personnel. Just
at present the schools need relief
from proposals and projects for
amendment. 1t is impossible to con-
duet surveys or to plan reorganiza-
tion without distressing the teachers
and distracting them from their work
Of teaching the children. !. The pupils
inevitably feel the bad effects of such
projects of amendment and disturb
ance The classes become secondary
In the teachers interest.
With more adequate force, with
better pay and with retirement the
teachers, relieved of the excessive
burdens they are now carrying and
Of the narrowing anxieties that con-
tinually beset them, can do better
work than they have been able to do
for years. With more buildings the
schools can be more adequately ac-
eommodated, with smaller classes,
with fuller hours and in consequence
with more efficient teaching. With a
business management provided to re-
ieve the superintendent and his as
sistants of the physical and financial
cares that now burden them the
school administration will be more
efficient and satisfactory and econom-
ical..
If these five purposes can be ac-
icomplished greater strides will have
been made toward a model school sys-
tenn than through any other changes
that can be conceived or conceivably
executed at present. No voice is
raised against these five proposals
Upon them there is unanimous agree
ment as to their necessity and as to
their effectiveness for immediate
school bettermeut. To get them all
will be big task for the friends of
the schools, quite a sufficient win.
ter's campaign without distractions
and difficult and mooted endeavors
along other lines.