The Washington herald., 1920-10-03
REPORT TELLS
SCHOOL NEEDS
Thurston Asks District to
Expand System to
Meet Needs. /

That the school accommodations
of Washington are seriously behind
the school needs of the community
is the substance of the report sub
mitted to the president of the Board
of Education by Ernest L. Thurs
ton, former superintendent of
schools, and made public yesterday.
Definite recommendations for
building up the school system in
all its branches are contained in the
eight-seven-page report Among the
most vital needs, according to
Thurston, are the following
Changes Urged.
l. Immediate construction OF a
composite high school north of
Florida avenue for the pupils COM
ing from the suburbs of the north
west and northeast.
2. Extension and districting OF the
Junior high schools to relieve pres
sure on higher grades and high
schools.
3. Immediate construction OF a
grade school buildings, with audi
toriums, gymnasiums and facilities
for manual training. and capable of
being operated II necessary on the
two platoon system.
Finances Discussed.
4. Financing of schools through
regular tax rate and placing upon
the Board of Education RESPONSE
bility for proper distribution Of
funds.
5. Establishment of a minimum
wage for teachers of $1,000 a year.
6. Complete readjustment of or
ganization of smaller grade build
ings.
z. Establishment Of a board OF eX-
aminers to relieve the present mem
bers of the board who have heavy
duties.
s. Adoption of a standard type Of
grade school building.
Explains OvercrowdinE.
Overcrowding of the school sys-
tenn is due to three factors. the for
mer superintendent declares in his
report.
First, is the marked increase in
the population of the city, amount
ing to more than so per cent in the
last few years" states Thurston.
Second, is the marked increase in
high school enrolment, due not only
TO the increase N population but
the larger number of pupils who are
continuing through high school in
stead Of leaving at the age of "A.
And third, the shift OF popula-
tion. Before the war there was 4
very general and steady trend Of
city population from all sections TO
the northwest section especially.
section Growing.
The northwest section has been
growing with remarkable rapidity,
while the drift from other sections
OF the city was not sufficiently
heavy to close buildings or permit
of much consolidation of classes.
An indication of the tremendous
growth of enrolment in the schools
is given in Thurston's statement,
We are growing at 4 rate that
would fill several 16-room buildings
each year.
Future Predicted.
IL - OLNOuDNNN4y u Gc ll1l
within five years We shall have
1900 students taking work in the
four high school years. This is a
serious problem to be met.
The problem of high school con-
struction is one very seriously to
be considered" continues the report.
1t depends in part on what plan is
adopted for the extension of the
Junior high schools.
The extension of these interme-
diate schools will naturally tend to
take some of the pressure off the
senior high schools by reducing the
number of first year pupils to be
and TO take some OF
the pressure off the graded schools
by accommodating additional seventh
and eighth grade pupils.
Relief Slight.
Even with this help. however, /
see no way to avoid additional
senior high school construction
within a very short time. The new
Eastern High School will accommo-
date 1900 pupils when completed.
but will probably be filled the day
il is opened. Tho relief II affords
existing schools will be relatively
slight.
The Mckinley High School is
seriously crowded and the Business
High School is comfortably filled
Additions are needed here. Another
high school must be provided, how
ever, and should probably be placed
north of Florida avenue to help take
care of the great suburbs in the
northwest and northeast"