The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-25
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SCHOOL CRISIS
Committee Of Five Named to
Probe Evils and Suggest De-
tailed Plan of Remedies.
$1,000, 900 NEEDED JONES

Definite facts and figures facing
Chattanooga's school authorities an(
concrete worked-out plan to NEE
them are being sought by q committe,
of five appointed by Commissions
Fred b, Frazier Friday afternoon a
a result OF q motion carried at a meet.
Ing Of delegates from all civic organ.
lzS !ons.
The duty OF this committee a. out
lined will be to find out the definite
needs OF the city schools. and Their
work out program OF relief ,...u re.
port the same back to the genera
committee at another meeting to b,
held at 3 o'clock next Friday. Those
appointed on this committee are: #
A. Nelson, chairman; All Law, DR.
II. r. Fancher, Mrs. Herman FergeI
and Mrs. ]. A. Burrow.
Commissioner Fred b. Frazier pre-
sided over the meeting. and the dis
cussion relative to crowded condi-
lions OF the schools was opened by
Supt. r. L. Jones. He declared that
in order to finish the original plans
of the Wyatt High school and place
the schools In good condition would
require q bond issue OF 100000.
Room Nee ded.
Mr.. Jones said that in no school
should q teacher have more than
thirty Ave pupils under good condi-
tons, and that where there were more
than this the pupils progress was re-
tarded.
lie pointed out that In one OF the
lower grades In the First Distric,
school ninety-six pupils were regis
tered. Since that time, he said, there
lad been another teacher added. but
that so far they had not found another
room. This same condition exists In
some of the grades in practically ev-
cry school in the city. declared Mr.,
Jones.
Within the next thirty days, Mr..
Jones pointed out, every cent OF the
poney allowed for school purposes
would be spent. He said further that
when the present part OF the high
school building In completed II will
provid thirty-two rooms, with no
heating plant, no manual training or
science department. To meet pres
emit requirements the high school
would have to be sufficiently com.
pleted to accommodate thousand
puDtlHs uNn tU0 oAu htkh otbVOs
building could be used as a junior
high, taking in the seventh and eighth
grades from the grammar schools.
materially relic ying crowded condi-
lions for the present.
Have Annex Already.
At tho present time an annex U being
rented next TO the present high school
in which nine teachers are holding
clnsseH. AZ the Junior High, which was
built only n few years ago, four teach-
ors are holding classes In an annex. Al
the East Fifth street colored school, two
classes are being held In the Steel Or
phRnage. At the Chestnut street school.
II has been necessary for three base
mont rooms TO BIO converted into class
rooms, and at tho Chattanooga avenue
school two bnsemen rooms are being
used. as was explained by Mr.. Jones.
The available space In and near these
school two basement rooms are being
declared, and tho question now IL what
will be the next stepf He spoke
strongly In favor OF n bond issue for
tho schools 10 be put before the next
legislature. with referendum IN
cluded.
General Resolution Beaten.
After Supt. Jones had explained the
present condition OF tho schools, In an
swer to n number of questions, a rebo-
luton was introduced by Or. Fancher
going into detail concerning the pros
ent conditions, and calling on tho COM
mitteea ms a whole to favor such
bond issue as might be necessary to
place tho schools In good condition.
The resolution was thought TO he too
general ana was therefore defeated, be-
Ing tabled by n majority vote Upon
tho suggestion OF +. A. Nelson. tho
committee was appointed TO work out
something definite for the general COM
mittee TO indorse. ID. II. Griawold In
troduced this motion.
Both Mr.. Griswold ana Commissioners
Bass, who were present at the meeting.
ca lied attention 10 the financial side OF
tho question, and said that such large
f0nd issue was one that had to have
serious consideration,
Those present representing different
civic organizations In tho city who took
active part In tho discussion were: u.
A. Nelson, ID. III. Grlswold. All Law.
Mrs C. G. Nottingham. Mrs Herman
ForEer, Morris Temple. Mrs Harry
Lacey chairman Of the county school
Howard, n. NJ, Cooke. Dave Barker,
Rev. Battle MoLester and Adolph
Ocha, Jr.
Some crowded conditions existing al
the Park Place school. which are an u
lustration OF tho condition In every
other school In the city are given. In
tho NTH grade there arc slxty-hvs pu-
pills. seven without desks and no place
In tho room TO place additional seats.
In the sixth grade there are nfty-tw0
pupils. seven OF which are without
desks; seventy in tho first grade and
forty"nlne In the second grade. Two
grades In this school are on halliday
AesHionn. Mrs. Herman Ferger stated
that II had been necessary for the chill
dren 10 nit around In the window sills
and any Dlnea ayaliahia