The Washington times., 1920-01-30
SCHOOL JAM
DUE MONDAY
New Semester Will Find 1000
Pupils in Buildings De.
signed for 5000.


pleted plans for caring for 1000 en-
IRA pupils who will enter the schools
next Monday, the. beginning Of the
second term A shortage OF teachers
will mean a reduction In the NUMBER
OF hours OF study And the number OF
subjects pursued. Both the teachsr
and student will suffer materially
during the next semester. The hish
schools must care for 1000 pupils, al.
though the school we're originally IN
tended TO accomn date 5000.
Gymnasiums, drill halls, corridors
assembly halls, laboratories, drawing
and typewritins rooms and probably
the principars office in one or the
high schools, will have to be turned
into recitation class rooms. In sew
eral Of the schools, physical training
instructors and Librarians Will be as
signed to teaching classes.
Never before has such inconvenience
been caused In the District public
school system. Teachers will be over
burdened their efficiency reduced, and
the student, in the end. will surfer
from the lower efficiency OF his IN
structor.
Tech Conditions Worst.
Conditions at the Mckinley Manual
Training are worse than at any other
high school In Washington. The
school was built to accommodate
about 100 students and 1t now Sarts carr
for 200, with 200 more students
coming Monday. In the six mouths
the enrolment has increased 400
pupils. Only two extra teachers have
been provided to instruct these 400.
1T is almost a physical impossi-
.bility to- care for these incoming
Students" said Principal Daniel,
but we must do it. 1t will mean
that the student will not get the in
struction he is entitled to. 1t is un-
fair to both the pupil and teacher.
"Our school is crowded to capacity.
Every available space has been turn
ed into a classroom. Now come 200
more pupils. What can be done? II
we obtain additional room it will do
us no good. We have no teachers to
take extra classes. We will be forc'
next week to distribute the 200 stu
dents among now overburdened teach
ers.
- Cut Currsculum. =
'"The result is going to be that we
must cut down the number OF SUBJ
iects pursued. Students taking one
subject FIVE hours a week will be
compelled to reduce to three or four
hours, and pupils taking four sub
jects will have to drop one. More
teachers are needed Immediately"
Beginning Monday morning, twen-
ty-six classes at the Central High
School will report at $50 o'clock. The
remaining pupils will report at $3.50
o'clock. Shortage Of teachers will
make 1t necessary to cut down the
number of hours of instruction for
some classes.
The school now has 2,571 students.
1t should accommodate only $500. and
80
more. 1t will be necessary to turn
The gallery of the girls gymnasium
into class rooms. Seven classes will
be assigned to the gymnasium Mon
day.
May Gust Principal.
Eastern High School may be forced
to turn the principals office. into
class room. Plans are made to use
the auditorium, drill hall and biologi-
cal laboratory for recitation rooms.
Already the corridors are being used
for typewriting.
Charles E. Hart, principal Of the
school. expects $50 moro pupils Mon
day. There are 573 students in the
school now, while tie building should
hold only about 450. 1--WE will handle
the situation" said Mr.. Hart, but the
student and teachers will suffer to
immediately"
The librarian and two physical
training teachers will be assigned to
lass room work in the Western High
school next week, DR.. Newton, prin-
cipal of the school, said today. West
crn will receive so moro students
10 be added to the 500 now attending
the school Western was built to ac-
comodate $50 pupils.
gn,,s La, tp ~ tno rE
said Or. Newton today, 1--WE need Ave
more teachers Immediately. 1t is
now impossible to teach French to m
coming students. Our classroorns are
overcrowded and our teachers are
overburdened. We can handle the
situation, but It will be difficult both
for student and teacher"
Busincs. To Retrcnch.
Business High School probably will
find IL necessary to cut down the
number OF subjects student may
y, take. according. to Allan Davis. prin
cipaI Of the school. Five subjects
are pursued now but this may be re-
duced to four.
1--WE have solved the space prob
lem" said Mr.. Davis. "our labora-
tories and typcwriting rooms have
been turned into recitation classes
and class rooms. Our problem is one
Il teachers. We are in dire need of
Iour more Instructors"
Next week, go more students will
inter the school, making an enroll
'nent of 1,150 while the school was
nuilt to accommodate 1850.
Graded schools will not be so bad
" crowded as the high schools. The
kindergarten rooms Will be over
crowded.
school officials are hopeful that
Congress will provide relief soon in
the way OF moro teachers. A bill is
ow before Congress for moro IN