Evening star., 1921-01-01

when the justices of the District Su-
preme Court filed it by appointing
E. c. Graham. simultaneously. Daniel
A. Edwards was named as successor
to DR.. Van Schaick. In june. just be-
fore the expiration of the terms OF
DR.. Abram Simon. Mrs. Coralie
r. Cook and DR.. Henry Bar
rett Learned, they we're reappointed
The so-called school, controversy,
which aroused the indignation of many
school employees and citizens. had its
inception February 10. when the
school governing body. in special ses-
sion. voted to notify Mr.. Thurston
schools demanded that his services
as superintendent expire at the end OF
his term, June 80. A committee of three
was then appointed to ind his sue
cessor. It is needless to retell what
followed. except to mention the ex-
system by q special committee OF
the Senate:
When DIR. Ballou was elected su-
perintendent the. vote was to 1.
Fountain Peyton dissenting. At the
reorganization meeting of the school
board July 1 DIR. Simon was selected
to succeed DR.. Van Schaick as presl-
installation into Office of the new
superintendent, who had thrust upon
him almost Immediately the case of
Roscoe c. Bruce, assistant superin-
tendent of colored schools, whose re-
moval from Office is being sought by
DIR. Ballou has not disposed of the
so-called Bruce case, despite various
tactics employed by the league, and
which has led to police protection of
board members at recent sessions of
the body. due to imminent outbreaks
nf hv Qf ~ ha
When DR.. Ballou became head of
the school system he promised to
give Washington the best public
educational system possible. Several
months later he took definite steps
toward this end by making a careful
schools, which showed that 1873 addi-
tional classrooms were Immediately
needed to relieve overcrowding. A
campaign was then started to secure
IAN appropriation of approximately
100000 to carry out an emergency
urgent needs. Representatives of
four score civic organizations were
called into conference with school
board members on December and
unanimously indorsed this project
The survey of the schools by Supt.
one made during the year. In the
spring a committee of the District
Congress Of Mothers and Parent
Teacher Associations made a thor
ough inspection of every school in
the system and submitted a sta.
needs to members of the Senate. A
reporter for The Evening Star also
visited the schools that were in the
most deplorable condition and de-
tailed account of his observations
Soon after the openinp NJ the
schools in September the school board
held special session to hear rep
Fesentatives of various civic bodies
stress the need of improvements in
school conditions in their respective
territories. The needs they outlined.
It was estimated. would entail a total
cost Of not less than $50. 100000.
Overcrowded conditions in the
schools during the year not only re-
suited in the continued use Of porta-
BILE structures; rented buildings. and
other undesirable quarters. but forced
the institution of a two-shift system
in many Of the high and elementary
schools. Pupils attending classes op-
Grating on this shift system receive
about so per cent OF an ordinary edu-
cation.
The final annual report of former
Superintendent Thurston advocated
the floating Of a bond issue to carry
out a school building program. His
suggestion has since been approved
by the Commissioners and Endorsed
by many civic organisations.
The annual report Of DR.. Joseph A.
Murphy. supervising medical inspector
Of the schools. disclosed that 10000
children have crious teeth. while
one-third Of the $1,000 children en-
rolled in the schools were 10 per cent
or more under weight. He recommend
ed the placing Of more dental clinics
and a quarterly weighing and meas
urfng Of all children.
On September l. members Of the
school custodian force started a cam
paign to obtain increase in salaries.
They asked for wages equivalent to
those recomme ended for them in the
proposed Redistribution legislation.
Prior to the campaign they threat
ened to resign in a body unless they
received increased compensation. The
threat was not carried out due to a
provide that Congress would provide
financial relief for them at the pres
ent session.
Before the closing of the schools
for the summer vacation period the
teachers began q movement to obtain
q $500 bonus to tide them over the
summer vacation, when they receive
no pay. It proved unsuccessful how
ever.
The board Of education. in Septem-
Der failed to approve the resumption