The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-01-20

housing the children, of course III
will be under very unsatisfactory
arrangement and not In keeping
with school conditions which should
prevail in the Capital City Of the
United States.
The wheatley school Is but an
other one of those which has suf-
fered on account of the war and the
Increased cost Of building materials.
An appropriation was made in 1917
of $4,000 for the construction of an
eight-room addition. with an assem-
bly, hall However. like several
other schools in the city. material
went up to such q point that when
found who would attempt to put up
the building for. this amount.
The school ofncials. anxious to see
the work commenced and appreciat-
ing the urgent need of an addition,
asked in their estimates for an ad-
ditional appropriation of 100000.
This amount was almost cut in half
by the Dist Commissioners. They
granted $4,000. making q total of
$4,000. There Is no doubt Of the
very urgent need OF very much
larger building here, and II IL ar
gued that an amount large enough
to cover the constantly increasing
cost of materials should be asked
for in order that there may be no
further delay.
There are four dwellings on the
school property. II Is planned to raze
these, when authority for the new
building is received, but now they are.
rented. the money going into the Dis
trict Golfers. Pleas have been made
by the people In the school to use one
Of the houses as a kindergarten. thus
relieving one of the sftst-grade rooms.
but this has been Refused even in the
face of the seriously crowded condi-
lions.
Sanitary Facilities Bad.
Two of the four portables are To-
Gated about three-quarters of block
away from the administration build
ing, making efficient administration
awkward and all the more serious as
the pupils in these buildings have to
use the sanitary facilities in the main
building.
This school also has been seriously
hampered by lack of teachers and in
ability to obtain substitutes. Many
times 1t has been necessary for the
principal to leave her classroom and
go out to the portables and supervise
classes under a substitute who had
found 1t impossible to handle the lit
tie ones. At times IL has even been
necessary to send pupils from the
eighth grade out to teach these classes,
relieving an unsatisfactory substitute.
In many cases. 1t is said. the subsii-
tutes are so unsatisfactory that the
eighth-grade pupils do the better
teaching.
One class had to take a substitute
not long ago who had never taught
school before. but thought she would
like to try It. The school officials
were helpless. They could not get
satisfactory substitutes and had to
give the children anyone they could
find to take the class for a day. One
class has had five different teachers.
all substitutes. this term. and 1t Is
poitned out that their education is
suffering on this account.
Only yesterday there were three
classes with substitutes and these
were obtained only after combing
the city. One of them did II as a
favor. being the wife of a man who
came to the city to do war work
When the schools opened in the
Sixth district yesterday. of which
urgent call for six substitutes.
There was only one available.
School officials explain that this
shortage is due to the low salaries.
which 90 not attract people. The
shortage in this school had to be
made up by requiring teachers of
the day schools to do double
duty. a condition declared to be
most unsatisfactory.
Limits Abolished.
This school Is supposed to take in
all the territory north of H street
northeast and east of Tenth street
but owing to the overcrowding the
territorial limits have had to be
abandoned and children sent to any
place a seat can be found for them.
Almost similar conditions prevail
at the Pierce. Hayes and Madison
schools. where the classes are
crowded. and where there will be
serious conditions to handle at the
time of the semiannual promotions
on February 1.
Tomorrow the conditions mt the
Eastern High school. Seventh and G
streets southeast. will be outlined.
High schools will be most seriousIy