Evening star., 1921-04-13

Fledging their cooperation ana
hearty support to the Washington
Chamber of Commerce, the board OF
education and the superintendent OIL
schools in the fight for a more efh-
cfcnt school system. Senator Pat Har-
rison of Mississippi and Representa-
tive B. X. Focht of Pennsylvania ad-
dressed the school night meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce at the
Willard Hotel last night.
The addresses by the members of
Congress followed the report OF the
school committee of the organ1zat1o on.
II. II. Classic. chairman. and brief
of the board of education. and DR..
Frank Ballou. superintendent OF
schools. all of whom took up the vital
immediate needs of the school system.
THE representative or senator In
Congress- said Senator Harrison.
who stands passively by while this
school situation in the District of Co
lumbia exists is culpably negligent.
I am sorry that the new school build
ings for this city which are 10
vitally needed have not already been
erected There is no question that
they are needed. and needed now
TT is not a question of the influx of
people curing the war that has caused
this situation. There are $500 more
children in the public schools this
year and certainly many have LETT
Washington since the war. Parents
ington to make their homes and will
continue to come here.
THE report of the school commit
tee asks for building program to
meet the needs of the present. l am
for this building program. but l do
not like IT. 1 am in favor of not only
providing for the children of today.
but for those Of the future
Children in the District of Colum-
bia. the capital of the United States.
education as children in the other
cities. We do not want parents to
hesitate to bring their children here
because they know that they cannot
obtain the proper education at the
seat of our government
Senator Harrison urged the people
of the city to give real facts to Con-
gress and work in harmony to present t
a united front. He cited the school
fight last year for new buildings. and
said that at the critical time some
one told congressman that there were
many empty classrooms in the school
buildings. He said that he hoped to
incorporate in the deficiency bill the
school-building program. which, he
asserted, will be passed at this session
of Congress.
Senator Harrison touched briefly on
the question of a business manager
for the school system. He said that in
his opinion there should not be a
business manager, but an assistant
superintendent to look after details
of the system. leaving the superin-
tendent free to devote all of his time
to directing the policies of the schools
Assurances Given by Focht.
America is an intelligent nation"
said Representative Focht, land any
stantly vote Aye on every PROPOSE
tion put forth here tonight. Wash
ington is going to get all of these
things for the schools and also higher
pay for the teachers.
I'VE must see to it that teaching
is made profession, not just some
thing carried on for time and drop
ped when better opportunities arise
We want to make the business of
teaching attractive. We also want
higher priced teachers in every de-
partment. That's the way we will get
Mr.. Focht paid, high tribute to Com
missioners Oyster and Rudolph. char
acterizing them as real business men.
You people wouldn't have a chance
to get this school building program
through Congress il you did not have
wv U0SiucSo iHcu AoE SOtutIliSSiONeTS.
In fact, that was one Of the reasons
for my going on the District commit
tee. I inquired about, these men. /
asked a friend Of mine, Are they just
out for the glory Of the thing or will
they really fight to help Washing
fight to help Washington. but need
the help of Congress- Thereupon !
Immediately went on the committee,
and as it's chairman will do every
thing can to help the citizens OF
this community"
DR.. Balleu Presents Report.
DR.. Ballou. in a comprehensive re-
port on the school system, pointed out
that in 1908 the commission appoint
yey of the schools recommended
that several of the present school
buildings be abandoned immedi ately
We are still using some of these
schools" said DR.. Ballou, "and will
have to continue to use them. Among
be abandoned at an early date were
the Adams School, on r street, and
the Force School, on Massachusetts,
avenue. Both Of the schools are
being used at the present time and
are taxed to capacity. There are
over 500 children in the Force School
alone.
The needs of the public school
system today are: The elimination of
the seventy-eight portable school
houses and rented quarters. the aban-
donment of undesirable and basement
rooms for classrooms. and 1873 ad
ditional rooms Immediately so that
the part-time study on the part of a
large number of students can be
avoided and whole days work sub
stituted.
Next year." continued DIR. Ballou.
fhnnSand r.
additional students with absolutely
no provision to take care of them
We expect to have ffty-two new
classrooms by next year. What we
and iss. 1t is absolutely i'm
possible for the system to absorb the
overflow any longer. The building
program of the board of education
solves only the immediate and press
ing needs. II does not even include
the high schools, which at the presel
time are very much overcrowded"
Eoicing plea for unity and har-
mony in presenting the school ques-
ton to Congress, DR.. Simon expressed
his appreciation of the chamber and
the chamber committee in delving so
thoroughly into the school question
He assured the members that the
board wished to cooperate in every
way with the local civic organiza-
tions and trade bodies. and said that
tire advice of these organizations
would always be needed.
Comnittee's Report Adopted.
Three paramount recommendations
are made in the report of the school
committee of the chamber. which was
submitted by Mr.. Classic and unani-
mOusly adopted bv the organization.
Plant and maintenance of the
schools was the first question taken
up by the committee.
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