Evening star., 1920-07-02
new SCHOOL HEAD
J 1FEELSAf Home
h. IN WASHINGTON
Tells Summer High School
Students All Teachers Have
His Sympathy.

DR.. Frank Washington Ballou, the
new superintendent of District pub
Ii schools. feels right at home In
Washington, despite the fact that
he has never lived here before.
At least, that is what he told 1,100
students of the summer high school
at the opening exercises of the school
this morning in the auditorium of
Central Higf, School This was-the
first public appearance of DR.. Ballou
in Washington since becoming the
head of the school system.
Sympathy for all kinds of teachers
was expressed by DR.. Ballou. Il have
taught all grades from the kinder
garten to graduate work In uniyersi-
Ties," he said. "and so ] sympathize
with all kinds of teachers"
DR.. Ballou expressed the belief that
there ought to be opportunity in the
summer schools for any courses for
which there is a demand, and pre-
dicted that in the future there will
be larger use of school facilities
by the public throughout the year.
This forecast was interpreted TO
mean that more school buildings will
erings during the winter as well as
the summer.
Feels at Home Here.
, "T have lived in the west and in
the east" said Supt. Ballou. so feel
at home in Washington. where east
and west meet, and where we have
both southern and northern people.
There ought to be opportunity in the
summer schools for any courses for
which there is a demand In the future
there will be a larger use of school
facilities throughout the year, as well
as the summer"
Dr. Ballou was introduced by DR..
II. Barrett Learned, acting president
of the board of education. Miss Alice
Deal, principal of the summer high
school, presided.
The new superintendent held an in
formal conference this morning with
high school principals and this afternoon
conferred with supervising principals, at
which future plans of his administra-
DIR. Ballou pointed out that he has
not decided on any new plans for di-
recting the schools and that he in
structed his inferior officials to pro-
ceed for the time being with their
usual methods of running the schools.
However. il is obvious that DR.. Bal
lou will make some changes in the
operation of the school system be-
fore the schools reopen for the fall
term September 20. The new super
iptendent also is expected to settle the
So called Bruce case finally before the
schools reopen.
Supt Ballou stated today that he
expects to leave Washington for
Pittsburg Sunday TO complete his lee
ture course at the University of Pitts
burg summer schools. He will re-
turn about July II and remain for sew
eral weeks.
DIR. Simon Is Undecided.
Dr. Abram Simon, who was yester-
day elected president of the board of
education to succeed DR.. John Van
Schaick, jr.. intimated in telegram
yeceived today by the former school
board head that he had not definitely
decided to accept the office. DR..
Simon is in Rochester. N. Y, attend
ing a conference of American rabbis
and will return to Washington for
a day On his return. DR.. Simon said.
he would decide whether to accept
the presidency of the board.
In his telegram DR.. Simon also said
that he appreciated heartily the COM
pliment of the board in electing him
Its president.