The Washington times., 1921-11-27
DEMANDS FOUR
! MORE AIDES IN
ADMINISTRATION
superintendent Points Out Need
to Promote Present Assistants.
Urges Free Textbooks.
WOULD REVISE LAW OF 1906
Explains That City Has Out
grown Provisions of Statute.
Asks for More Teachers.


tension of the public school system,
reorganization of the administra-
tive staff, enactment of a school
census and compulsory attendance
law, provision Of free text books,
and enlargement of the boards of ex-
emlners are among the recommen-
dations made by DR.. Frank w. Bal
lou, superintendent of schools, in
tho fourth section of his annual re-
port released today.
Seeks Prompt Action.
These proposed developments and
I extensions should be provided for at
once" Superintendent Ballou declares
IN the preface to his recommendations.
Justification Of every one of the
developments or extensions herein ad-
vocated is to be found in the growth
OF the school system since 1906, when
the present system was organized" he
explains. with the exception of the
establishment Of the rank of annual
| substitute teachers the proposals are
for the further development and extern
sion OF existing practices.
Nothing entirely new is advocated.
No innovations or eliminations are
urged; only extensions, developments
or OSCILLATIONS Of what now exists are
recommended at this time"
He explains that, since 1906, the
growth in the number Of pupils has
been accompanied by an extensive
growth in the number of activities
carried on, every one creating new
functions and responsibilities for ad-
ministrative officers.
Supervisors Needed.
Notwithstanding the extraordinary
growth Of the school system since
1906, the central office staff has not
tically stationary" he states. The
actual increase has been from 80 to
IS. the only additional officials taken
on being one supervisor of manual
training, one director of drawing and
O director of penmanship.
while three persons have been add
ed to the staff other changes have
been made which have actually re-
suited in reducing the number of su
pervising principals and thereby in
creasing accordingly their educational
responsibilities" he adds.
THE school system as 1t exists to-
day was cast In the mould Of 1905.
The present organization Of the school
system 10 controlled by the law of
1906. Educational progress in the ma
ton during this period has been I'M
paralleled in any corresponding period
of educational history.
The administrative development Of
the school system of the District Of
Columbia since 1906 has been serious
ly limited by the provisions Of the or
ganic act Of 1906. The whole school
system must now be given more free
dom to develop in accordance with the
best educational practice Of the ma
ton
DR.. Ballou recommends that the
present assistant. superintendent Of
schools, two in number, should be
advanced to First Assistant Superin-
tendents, with the salaries of 5000
per year, to carry their present au-
thority and bear with the Superin-
tendent Of Schools the large RESPONSE
bilities placed by law upon the Super
tntendent's office"
Desires More Aides.
He asks for immediate appointment
Of the following officers: An Assistant
Superintendent in charge Of business
affairs, at $4,000 a year, to take
charge OF finance and accounts, pur-
chase furniture and equipment, to
direct repairs and alterations, to pur-
chase books and supplies, and to as
sist In preparation Of school esti-
mates.
An assistant superintendent for
education research, at $4,000, to con-
duct intelligence tests for classified
ton Of pupils. and standard tests for
promotion from grade to grade, to
study school census enrollments for
best utilization Of space, and to study
costs and other problems.
Two assistant superintendent for
elementary education and educational
70 ,taA
and supervise elementary schools, in
GLIDING kindergarten, primary in
struction, manual training, drawing,
music, domestic science. and domes-
tic art work, direct summer schools.
night schools, A m g r C a n z Il n
schools, community centers, play
grounds. and specialized activities.
Administrative principals for each
elementary school building with six
teen or more rooms or for a group
of buildings Of the same size. This
recommendation is classed as "prob-
ably the most important"
Executive secretaries to take charge
of the business Of the clerical depart
ments Of the central office.
He criticizes the lack Of information
regarding the children Of school age
living in the District and asks for
Immediate enactment OF a school CEN
GUS law anu a iIloi Y tilt'llNt tOInpul-
sorry attendance law to obviate weak
nesses in the present law.
Provision OF free text books and
supplies for all high school pupils. as
well as for the elementary schools. is
asked to provide 'In fact" free public
education for the children Of the Dis
trict.
% Substitute Teachers.
DR.. Ballou asks for provision OF
twenty-five annual substitute teach
ers, to be appointed in the same man
ner as other teachers. at a salary OF
81 200 per year, and recommends that
$50, 900 be appropriated for this pur-
pose.
Enlargement Of the boards of ex-
aminers IL asked, to provide that
each board consist of the Superinten-
dent Of Schools as chairman. together
with not less than four nor more than
ak other school employees, to be Sc.
lected by the Superintendent from the