Evening star., 1920-01-01
schaick were reappointed for another

schaick were reappointed for another
term on the board.
In January, 1919. it was estimateo
that approximately 1900 chlid[en anu
200 teachers had contracted lnnuenIa.
During the early months OF tne
year there was a shortage of janitors
in the schools. partly as result oA
the low wage scale
At the midyear graduations IN Fep-
ruary 1900 eighth-grade pupils were
promoted to the high schools.
Night Schools Closed.
In March it became necessary to
close the night schools for time as
a result of the adjournment or Con-
gress without passing the bill con-
tanning the appropriation for the op-
Grafton of the night classes.
In May a campaign was conducted
to enroll $4,000 public school children
in the home garden movement.
Company II of Mckinley High School
won the banner in the annual COM
petitive drill of the high school ca
diets in May. Company B of dunbar
carried off first honors in the colored
schools.
Early in June the principals of the
grade schools began campaign to
be relieved of classroom duties. Un-
der the present arrangement they
must divide their time between teach-
ing and directing the administration
of the building.
During the last week of school in
June a street safety campaign was
conducted among the children, with
the cooperation of the police depart
ment.
Sixteen hundred white children
graduated from the eighth grade in
June.
On July l the board Of education
voted to take steps as soon as pos
sible to correct defective speech
among school children.
Summer Classes Established.
Summer classes for pupils desiring
to catch up" on certain subjects were
conducted during the vacation
months.
On August IS the House passed the
teachers retirement bill. The bill is
awaiting action in the Senate.
In September Washington's first
junior high school was established in
the old Central building, 7th and O
streets. Miss Alice Deal, president of
the High School Teachers Union, was
named principal.
On September % the schools opened
with an enrolment of 50.S72. By Oc-
tober 3 it had jumped to Sc. APT. Two
weeks later the total attendance was
So O0O On November the number of
children in the schools was 60,213.
On October Supt. Thurston made
public his annual report, in which he
advocated more buildings and higher
pay for teachers as the most impera
tive needs of the system.
lexington Asks High School.
In September several of the citizens
associations of the section north OF
Florida avenue and east of 7th street
launched a campaign for the erection
of a high school in lexington.
On October 3 c. T. Lanham was
named colonel of the cadet corps
Lieut.. r. d. Day. marine, veteran
of the world war, was appointed mil
itary Instructor of High School Ca
dets.
Early in November Supt. Thurstor
visited q number of other large cities
to find out what they were doing to
relieve crowded conditions in the
schools.
Upon his return he recommended
that the platoon plan be tried here
The board of education approved the
recommendation and arrangements
have been made to put the Park View
white. and the Mott, colored, schools
on the platoon plan in February. This
plan does not mean halliday classes
The children are divided into two
groups. The groups alternate during
the day between the regular class
room, where they get the basic stud
les, and the auditorium and other spe'
cial rooms, where they are given spe.
cial subjects.