The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-14
SOUTHERN SCHOOLS.
BADLY contested
Lauderdale and Cummings
Delegations Ask Board of
Education for Relief.

Immediate relief for Lauderdale and
Cummings schools was demanded Of
the board of education at its regular
meeting Monday night. Large delega-
tons representing both schools were
presented and described the congested
conditions at the two institutions and
Insisted upon action. Considerable OPP
position to the proposed construction
of three junior high schools was ex-
pressed by members of the delegation
and the only real action taken in the
matter came as a result of a sugges-
ton by Mrs. Isaac Reese. Upon Mrs.
Reese's suggestion the architect for the
board, Walk Jones. was instructed to
make estimates on the cost of con-
structing additions to Lauderdale, Cum
mings and A. B. Hill schools, and also
an estimate on the construction of a
new building on a lot to be purchased
at Richmond avenue and Orleans street.
His report will be made at the next
meeting of the board.
Mrs, Reese, in discussing the matter,
stated that she believed the only sane
solution would be the erection of a new
building and thereby relieving all three
of the schools mentioned n also taking
care of the new pupils who will come
into the city schools when the city limits
are extended. However, this matter
was deferred until the report of the
architect is submitted.
Record Enrolment.
Conditions in the Lauderdale and
Cummings schools were described as
being worse than last year insofar as
aAnunCttnn 10 annanRnnd Entr f.nnT1E
in the basement of the Lauderdale
schol are being used as classrooms and
additional room is needed to relieve
ever the present situation without dis
continuing the use of the basement, At
least six additional classrooms would
be required before the use of the base
nnent could be done away with.
S~ubstantiating the statements of in
creased attendance, Prof. Wharton S,
Jones, superintendent of schools, read
bis report for the month of September
In which enrolment figures were given.
The enrolment for the first two weeks
Of September aggregated 1887, or al
increase of 1,491 over The same, period
Of last year. A notable feature OF the
increase in enrolment was at Contra
high school, the report stated, the &C
tual Increase over last year being 2O2,
Prof. Jones' report also recommended
the erection of three junior high schools
" 4 lC bAhACtf ~ u ANihI N0AN
for the over-crowded condition in the
grade schools and would successfully
meet the demands for increased faclli-
Ties for the high school. This plan woulc
add materially to the running expenses
Of the schools, he added, but If the
schools Of Memphis are 10 continue tC
grow as they have done the situation
must be met in a broad way.
Bank for High School.
The matter of organizing a savings
bank at Central high school with
branches in each of the grade school!
was also submitted by Prof. Jones will
the statement that he would confer viii
members of the clearing Rouse associa'
tion in the near future Regarding thu
matter.
The course of study in vogue in tn,
schools at this time was described t.
The board members in detail. The su
p%erintendent could not make a def
mite report on the success of the work
study-play plan now being tested in Ro
zell school for the reason hat suitable
teachers had not been secured for al
departments. This situation would b,
relieved in the lear future, he stated
Detailseas to the work being don
at the continuation school, Hope nigh
school n the vocational school wer
gone into and the formation of ney
classes described.
Routine business coming before tn
board constituted a very minor par
in the meeting Monday night, the ad
dresses and discussions relative to sal
airy increases for the teachers and i'm
provements for Lauderdale and Cum
mings schools requiring the a~ttentio
of the board until a very late hour.
1t is very apparent to the board tina
some action will have to be taken t
relieve congested conditions but tn
problem that the board faces is adop
ton of the method that will accomplis
the most good with the funds that ar
available. This matter will doubths
he decided as soon as the report of tn
architect is submitted.