Evening star., 1921-11-06
SCHOOL CONDITIONS
IN CONGRESS- HAND
Supt. BaIIou Declares All
Future Progress Rests in
Size of Appropriations.
MAKES HIS FIRST REPORT
More Rigid Requirements Upon
Teachers Noted-Many Sweep.
ing Changes.
MAKES HIS FIRST REPORT

Improvement Of the unsatisfactory
conditions In. the District schools
:reAts entirely with Congress, Superin-
.tenaent Of Schools Frank w. Ballou
pointed out in the initial installment
aof his dtst annpalfsaRortst to ythsshoard
OF education, which WAS made public
last night - ~.
Congress controls the educational
progress in the schools Of the District
by making or failing to make the ap-
propriations necessary to, provide for
that progress" said the report Con
gress alone can improve the unsat-
isfactory conditions in the schools
which prevent the securing Of the
high type Of educational achieve
ment which the citizens Of Washing
ton desire and which the National
Capital should .exemplify to the
world"
Report I'm Five Sections.
The complete report is comprehen-
sive and for this reason will be made
public in five weekly installments
The major part of it describes con-
ditions in the schools which DIR. Bal
lou believes should be given imme-
diate and serious attention. The first
section, given out last night, deals
with some of the salient administra-
tive changes during the scholastic
year of 1920-1921, which the superin-
tendent said were made in an attempt
to establish certain practices for
very definite purposes"
1t was pointed out that the admins
trative changes were intended to
raise the qualifications of teachers;
to improve teaching; to secure better
instruction for the pupils: to secure
unity of purposes and action among
those interested in and responsible
for the school system; to clarity and
systematic administrative practice
and procedure, and to improve or to
eliminate conditions which initiate
against effective management of the
schools or against securing efficient
educational results
In the preface of the report, DR..
Ballou commended the public, mem-
bers of Congress. the Commissioners,
members of the school board, school
employees and the press for their SUP.
port and interest in the school system,
Grateful for support.
Acknowledgements also were made
to the public for its cordial reception
Of the new superintendent; to the press
for Its public service in educating pub
lie opinion regarding the schools; to the
officers. = teachers and other employees
who share with the superintendent the
responsibilities of the school ystem for
their uniform courtesy and efficient CO.
operation; to the members Of the board
Of education for uniform and unfailing
support Of the superintendent and his
recommendations, as well as their char
liable consideration Of the superinten-
dent during his first year as city super
intendent; to the five different Commits
sioners Of the District who have served
during the past year for their sylnpa-
thetic interest, wise counsel and helpful
support of the school projects: to ,nem-
bers of the House and Senate. especial
lyA the members of the appropriations
committees, for their consideration Of
school :needs,--and their unusually large
appropriations to satisfy the building
needs; and to all others who have as
sisted in school progress on behalf OF
the $4,000 school children in whose in
terest we labor" =.
1 Years Outstanding Changes.
Outstanding of the changes during
the year and reviewed in detail by
the Superintendent are: Establish
ment of. the: fivs-hour day for: kim
idergarten, first and second grade
teachers: esthbiishinent df a basis for
withholding the longevity pay OF
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