Evening star., 1920-01-01
APPROXIMATIONS
URGED TO HELP GET
BETTER SCHOOLS
Campaign Will Be Launched
at Committee Meeting To-
morrow Night.

Every public spirited organization in
the District will be invited and expect
ed, to join the drive to make the city
school system one of the models OF the
nation. This invitation will be issued
Just as soon as the campaign is formally
launched by the organization OF the
citizens school betterment committee
at a meeting in the District building
tomorrow night. .sss..,
cit is the purpose Of. the eorEa1p zations
which have started the movement to
enlist the aid of every one whosha an
interest in the efficiency Of our schools
and the education of our children. saau
Roy c. Clafiin, chairman Of the Board
of Trade school committee today I'VE
have big problem to solve; Al me
Small politics. petty jealousies and IN,
dividual selfishness must be submerged
for the good of the community. we
have a big idea which will be developed
to the utmost. Before the work is
completed it is going to resolve itself
into triumphal procession Every live
wire in the community is going to join
Sbat parade. There will be no reserved
seats on the band wagon-first come,
first served"
Many .ApprOvals Received.
Since the movement was started by
Roland Robbins and Charles l. Corbt
of the Rotary Club, DIR. Arthur Ram
sey of the Chamber of Commerce. Jesse
c. Suter and William B. WeStlake of
the Citizens Federation. Capt. James
F. oyster and-Mr. Clafiin of the Board
of Trade, at a little unofficial meeting
in Mr.. Clafiin's Office. 1903 14th street.
last Saturday night. whe Supt. Ernest
L. Thurston of the public schools de-
scribed conditions. these spokesman
have received hundreds of tokens of
approval from professional and busi-
ness people and teachers.
The activity is now described as ':the
most important movement W ..lade in
behalf of the District schools" From
what has been said to the men who
betterment idea into a clear-cut cam
paign, there will be no lack of cordial
support from all local interests.
Morale Strengthened.
A Strengthening of the morale OF
the whole teaching corps was evident
Mr. Claf1in declared today. immediate
ly following publication in the news
papers of a statement that the big
four" civic organizations would take
up at once finish fight to get for the
teachers the vital needs they them
selves have been almost struggling
for.
Mr. Thurston told the big four
spok it was true the efficiency
of the teaching force had been low
cred because of their interest in the
fight for living salary. for just re-
tirement system, for adequate school
housing. and because a large number
of the teachers were disturbed and
nervous over projected plans of reor-
ganization. federal surveys and sc
forth.
Teachers Tell of Aid.
A delegation of teachers yesterday
called on Mr.. Claflin and said:
The action of the four leading
civic organizations of the District in
taking up the cause of school better
ment and of adequate pay and a pen
sion system for teachers has put the
entire teaching organization back on
it's feet. Now that the cause is cham
pioned by powerful forces, the teach
professional work, sustained in the
knowledge that their needs and the
/ needs of the school system will be
| ably looked after. The old esprit de
| corps weakened by various influences
in the last two years will be restored
in the teaching forces to full vigor.'
Mr.. Claflin said the delegation in
cluded both union and non-union in
structors 1T certainly is heartenine
to us to feel that already we have
| encouraging the teachers. The inn
portance OF restoring their confidence
and optimism cannot be overestimat-
| ed
1t was decided at iuncheon glVer
at the Willard Hotel yesterday by Mr.
Robbins, that the meeting at the Dis
trict building tomorrow night shall &C
no further than to effect a permanent
| organization-the citizens school bet.
| terment committee-out of the join,
school committees. totaling 100 members
of the big four bodies. Details OF
the school improvement campaign, in
cluding publicity and expenditures. will
| be left to the executive committee. com:
posed of the president of each organi-
| zation and the chairman of each of the
| four school committees Thenceforti
the project will be rapidly developed