Evening star., 1920-01-11
CIVIC BODY JOINS
SCHOOL CAMPAIGN
Mount Pleasant Association
Hears Mr.. Thurston De-
scribe Conditions.

After Ernest L. Thurston, super
intendent of schools, explained the
critical school situation in the Dis
trict and throughout the country. and
urged support of the school improve
ment plans. the Mount Pleasant Cit
liens Association, meeting in the
JohnsonPowell School last night.
voted to join the National Capital
School Betterment Council and aid
the council in realizing all of the
hve-point program recently drawn
up.
Speaking of the nation wide con-
ditions, MIR. Thurston said there are
now in the United States $4,000 pub
lie school teachers. One hundred and
forty.three. thousand persons quit
work that would give them a decent
living wage The average yearly pay
for a teacher, the country over is a
| little under $645. Here in Washing
ton some teachers have been paid as
Little as $500 yearly no, SO long ago
Teachers learned during the war
that they could sell their talents for
much more in the business and pro-
fessional world than they could get
as teachers. A great number of good
teachers took up other work because
they couldn't live on what they were
paid in the public schools declared
Mr.. Thurston.
ute0t Dem0n0S On Schools.
I'VE have a postwar situation now
where greater demands than ever will
be made on the schools. And here and
elsewhere we haven't the BUILDINGS.
equipment nor teachers to meet the
demands adequately. The schools
must lead in Americanizing foreign
erS. They must increase trade and
vocational training, science, teehni-
cal work, physical culture and other
subjects.
When we raised a great army for
war we discovered that at least 5000
000 men in the United States could
nelther read nor write-an intolerable
condition in an enlightenel nation.
Yet today not far from Washington
schools are entirely closed because
teachers cannot be obtained to tn
struct classes.
We must have much better pay for
teachers and all other school en-
ployes. We must have many more
teachers. We must have an adequate Q
building program to meet needs al
ready here and pressing hard for
solution. We must have !, regular
business management"
The board of education was thanked
by the association for discouraging
the collection of funds for various
purposes from teachers and children
In the schools George E. Hamilton
and John B. Larner, recently resigned
from the board, were thanked for
their services.
Utilities Report Adopted.
Reports of the public utilities COM
mittee disapproving the proposed
Washington Railway and Electric fare
increase and the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company's pro-
posed increase in rates were unani-
mously adopted.
Resolutions requesting installation
Ct electric lights in classrooms Of the
Johnson-Powe1l School and suggest
ing minor alterations in the building.
offered by the school committee, were
unanimously passed.
Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter urged the
members of the association to work
as heartily as possible for the school
betterment program, for improve
ment In the Johnson-Powen plant and
for cooperation with the Mount
Pleasant branch Of the District Moth
ers' Congress and parent-teacher as
sociations.
When the meeting adjourned re-
freshments were served in the school
basement by ladies of the community.