Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-26
Seat in Suitable Building for
Every Pupil Will Be Sought
ay Local Board.
AND HALLS
DESIRED, BUT MUST WAIT
Full Demands of Civic Associa.
tion Would Represent $30,000,-
600 Cost if Carried Out.

Congress will be asked to appropri-
ate funds only for vital necessities
of the District public schools the next
fiscal year.
More school playground space and
the addition of assembly halls to a
number of the buildings, demanded
by many of the civic associations,
will not be included in the estimates
of the board of education, which go
to the District Commi ssioners Oc-
tober l.
This was learned yesterday from
DIR. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
Of schools.
The paramount and vital needs of
the school system, as classified by Supt
Ballou. are new school buildings. addi-
tions to others and higher pay for school
employees.
These will be the salient recon-
mendations included in the school
budget. Many other minor, but es-
sential, improvements also will be
recommended in the school estimates.
Seats for Pupils.
While DR.. Ballou is aware Of the
fact that adequate playground space
for the children and the addition of
assembly halls to a number of the
schools are necessary. he feels that
classroom accommodations are the
outstanding needs. 1t is his express
building for every public school
pupil"
Failure to include the demands of
the civic organizations for additional
playground space and assembly halls
in the estimates for the next fiscal
year does not mean that they are
being overlooked by school officials.
All data submitted to the school board
at the public hearings last week are
receiving careful consideration. and
all urgent improvements noted.
It was estimated by one school off,
cial yesterday that to provide all the
playground space, new buildings, ad-
ditions and other improvements re-
quested by the civic organizations. an
appropriation Of $30.00o,00o would be
necessary. DR.. Ballou and other Off
cials are confident that Congress
would never grant this amount.
Therefore they will hold their recon-
mendations for appropriations for the
schools down to the absolutely es-
sential.
More classrooms first, Fairgrounds
gan of the superintendent, Adequate
classroom facilities for every public
school pupil, in the opinion Of DR..
Ballou, are vitality necessary if high
standard of education is to be main
tanned in the District schools.
Better Pay for Employees.
DR.. Ballou also is strong advocate
of better pay for all school employees
from officials down to janitors. A
recommendation for increases in
wages for all school workers will be
included in the estimates.
The superintendent feels that salary
is fundamental in establishing and
high standards of educa-
tion. Adequate wages. in his opinion.
attract the best talent.
The exact policy the superintendent
will pursue in making recommenda-
tions for the school budget will be
outlined in a concise statement he
will read to the members of the
school board, sitting as a committee
on estimates at the Franklin School
tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Specific reasons for failing to rec
more playground space and
other seemingly necessary improve
ments to the schools also will be
given in the superintendent state
ment.
After the school board completes.
the drafting of the budget it will
begin work on an emergency defici-
ency appropriation bill calling for
funds for school supplies. This meas
ure will be submitted to Congress
soon after it convenes in December.
Higher Prices for Supplies.
The last District appropriation bill
provided only $S5.O0o for supplies for
children in the elementary schools
for the school year ending June, 1921.
All but about $1,000 of this money
already has been expended, and be-
cause of the increased cost Of sup
plies this year funds were not avail
able to purchase a sufficient guam
tity to last until after the close Of
the first semester. February 1.
Before drafting the emergency
measure, DR.. Ballou will definitely as-
certain how much money is needed to
furnish each school pupil with indis-
pensable supplies. The appropriation
of $685. 900 allotted for this year allows
only slightly over s1.3s for each child.
while in the opinion Of some school
it should be about $3.50.
Supt Ballou already has written to
in various cities
the country to learn
how much it costs to furnish supplies
for children. Only few replies have
been received. and they show that the
amount fuctuates between $1.50 and
$3.50.