Evening star., 1920-01-06
CITIZENS ENDORSE
SCHOOL MOVEMENT
North Washington Associa'
ton Hears Report of Gen.
c. H. Ourand.

vigorous 1nuOFselneHt Va the C1tl-
zens' committee for school betterment,
in it's work to improve the public
schools of the District, was given at
a meeting of the North washington
Citizens Association last night at the
Church of the Advent.
In a report on school conditions in
Washington, and particularly in the
Gage School at Cd and.U streets. Gen.
c. H. Ourand. chairman OF the asso-
ciations committee on scnools ana
schoolhouses. brought to the atten-
tions in the public schools In wash
inrton and recommended that they
be bettered.
Gen. Ourand's report urged that
Congress increase the pay or teach
ers; increase the number OF teachers;
provide business manager to sup
plement the work of Supt. Thurston
and provide more schools to relieve
the congested classes. The report
recommended that a teacher for the
new S-A grade at the Gage Scnool
either be transferred or appointed IN
order that pupils may be prevented
from going long distances 1or the
work taught in that grade.
Co-operntion Is Authorized.
On motion of f. II. Wheater the as
socta ton adopted a resolution au-
association to join with the citizens
school betterment committee to bring
about better schools, and urged that
the Joint committee be given every
help by the school committee OF the
association.
the Federation Of Citizens Associations,
told of a representative of one OF the
South American republics who came
to Washington to study the school
system OF the capital, which. as he
thought would be a model to the
United States. Great was his surprise
and disappointment. Mr. Westlake
one of the worst in the country.
I'VE have not a model school sys-
TEN in Washington. We have not
even a good school SYSTEM, said Mr.
westlake. "It is not the fault of the
school authorities or of any single
man or group of men. But If with
the impetus given in the last rev
weeks by groups of responsible cftf-
Gems seeking better schools in Wash.
ington we don't have a model school
system within five years it will be
the fault of each one of us. Every
resident of Washington who is inter
ested in the civic betterment OF his
city should join in and be an active
factor in the fight to better the school
want only through concerted action.
Results would BE Considerable.
Mr.. Westlake said that success in
the fight for better schools In the
capital will lead to other and larger
results He explained the half-and
half system of financing the District,
which he characterized as bargain
made in 1878 between two business
men. Tie District was getting tired OF
the heavy financial burdens brought
about by irresponsible government,
he said. "and bartered it's right to
vote for the lessening OF the hnanciai
burden. Thus the half-and-half was
born. and it has been eminently sue
cessful to date"
Jesse c. Suter. vice president OF
the federation. and chairman of the
organized citizenship" committee,
urged that citizens associations hold
their elections on a stated day. which
he suggested to be national election
day, the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November. This, he said,
would have psychological erect on
District residents. and would nelp
them to fight for the actual privilege
of voting for representatives. in Con-
gress.
l.. J. Matthews, chairman OF the
associations committee on streets.
sidewalks and lights, reported on the
electric light situation regarding al
legged excessive charges maNe py tne M
Potoma Electric Power Company Tor
the installation, of electric light lines.
He said officials of the power COM
many were not inclined to make any
concessions, and said they eould not
do better than their quoted prices
for installing light.
Read Letter to Mr.. Chance.
Frank r, Wheater chairman OF the
committee on postal facilities. told OF
| h.
station at 1882 1st street northwest,
and read a letter he wrote to Postmas-
ter Chance thanking the postmaster for
establishing It. In the letter he urged
installation of a permanent post once IN
the North Washington section waste
paper in the streets constitutes con-
siderable nuisance, according to re-
port made by Dr. A. D. Cobey. Sug-
gestions for remedying the situation
we're made by DR.. G. Ball. NJ. +. Cooley
and o. C. Botcler. M. F. Cooley. chair
man of the police committee. urged bet
ter police protection on Michigan ave-
nue.
A report embodying the Board of
Trade recommendations for purchasing
playground sites on the sites of the
old forts which surround Washington
was read by j. w. Cleary. and reso-
luton urging extension of the present
system of Fairgrounds and acquisition
of the sites now used as Fairgrounds
was adopted.
A resolution protesting against re-
routing of all the cars running south
on the North Capitol street line up 18th
street, was adopted by the association
when Charles A. Ford, chairman Of the
committee on transportation. said they
would probably al go UP 11th street.
1t was said great Inconvenience would
be caused to those persons who wished
to go to the Treasury by routing all
the cars north on 11th street.