Evening star., 1921-12-09
COMMITTEE SETS
MODEL SYSTEM Of
SCHOOLS AS GOAL
Would Create Plan in District
to Be Example to Whole
Nation.

Development Of a high-class, mod
ern education plan for the District Of
Columbia which would serve as q
model for the cities Of the country
was the general program which the
joint congressional committee on
public schools Of the District, headed
by Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas.
set as goal for itself at a meeting
today. This plan not only would in
clude the mapping out Of a co-ordi-
mated and well balanced program Of
education for the children Of the Dis
trict. but complete provision for all
necessary buildings and equipment. as
well as provision for a continuing
program to take care of the natural
Increases in school population.
The committee decided that the.
matter was so important, feeling that
the pressure Of the entire country
was behind 1t. that 1t intends to bring
to Washington Immediately some of
the best known educators from all
parts Of the country. and get their
views of what is needed here to best
cilities for the National Capital. The
spirit shown at the meeting this
morning Indicated that the members
are anxious to go ahead and provide
the necessary facilities here at any
cost and to do 1t as quickly as pos
latest In educational facilities.
VIII Invite Educators.
Letters will be sent today by Sena-
tor Capper to DR.. John H. Finley, for
mer head Of New York city's school
system, and now editor of . large
New York daily paper. as well as 4
leading educator, and DR.. Finssan,
of education of the
state OF Pennsylvania, asking them to
come here and present to theycommit-
tee their ideas as to what Is needed to
provide an up-to -date and model
school system for the District Of CO.
lumbia.
Senator Capper said he would also ask
other prominent educators. whose names
have not yet been determined. from De-
troft. Chicago, Minneapolis and points
In the south and west, to come here. not
only to advise the committee as to what
is needed for a modern school system
here, but to suggest the names of edu-
Gators to form disinterested COM
mtttee which would make an investigaI
tion Of the local system and determine
just what would have to be done to
bring the local system up to date.
Want System to BE Example.
1t was the general view OF the mem
bers that something must be done
promptly. and all plans being developed
point to a quick decision as to the needs
of the District followed by prompt re-
porto opd rsooynr, an do t}on. %a haxh
houses.
It developed at the meeting that
educators and others In all parts Of
and members of Congress pointing
out that they are looking to this COM
mittee to develop a system here, on
which the building up of educational
systems in other cities could be based.
The members feel, said these letters.
the country In any move or action
they take to provide adequate facili-
ties for the District of Columbia.
While awaiting for the arrival Of
the educators who will be invited to
present their views. the committee
plans to make a personal survey Of
the conditions in the local schools.
1t was decided to have the whole
committee start from the Capitol at
o'clock next Tuesday morning and
visit q number of the schools while
they are in session. SO that they
would have hrst-hand Information Of
the prevailing conditions by, the time
the out of town educators arrive. The
committee proposes to continue these
personal investigations to- ascertain,
first, the conditions in the schools as
to overcrowding: second. the char
acter of the building: third, classes
and the number which have to run
on shore time, and fourth, the school
populations in the territory covered by
each building.
Senator Capper pointed out to the
committee that not only are the
accommodations here not kept up to
the normal growth OF the school
populations, but that provision has
not been made for the accumulated
growth for the past four years.
Divided Over Buildiag Tyre.
One Of the most important ques-
tions that must be decided before the
committee can hope to map out any
comprehensive program, Senator King
Of Utah pointed out. is the character
of buildings which will have to be
nrOvidAd Some he said. favor thA