Evening star., 1921-12-04
PLAY SPACE URGED
FOR NEW SCHOOLS
Supt. Ba|Iou Also Recon-.
mends RecreationaI Equip
ment of All Yards.
FINAL SECTION OF REPORT
Favors Increase in Medical and
Dental Inspectors and Shows Need
of Physical Training of Pupils.

Adequate play space for every new
public school established in the Dis
.trict and the satisfactory equipment
for play purposes Of all school yards
now available. but unequipped, are
the salient recommendations of
Supt. of Schools Frank w. Ballou in
the fifth and final section Of his an
nual report, which was given out last
night for publication. DR.. Ballou also
urged that new items be provided in
the next budget for the purchase of
equipment to replace worn out play
ground equipment and to provide
compensation for supervisors of play
grounds after school hours and dur
A.. ing the vacation period.
in the past, the equipment Of our
school Fairgrounds has consisted
largely of swings, see-saws and
slides" said the report. These are
all deteriorating solely because under
the law, new equipment can be pur-
chased for six additional Fairgrounds
yearly. but none of that appropria-
tlon may be expended for grounds pre-
viously equipped or recently enlarged.
From the appropriation for mainte-
nance and repair. repairs for play
ground equipment can be made from
time to time. However. when it Is
once worn out it may not be re-
placed under any appropriation now
provided in the appropriations bill.
1t is usually replaced by the generous
contribution of home and school as
sociations and like organizations.
Need for Fairgrounds.
"The streets of Washington are
coming to be more and more danger
Gus to pedestrians and particularly
to school children. 1t is desirable
that the school Fairgrounds be util-
lied to their fullest exent. They
should be opened before school and
after school and during the recess
periods. School Fairgrounds SO OPEN
ed should be properly supervised
first grade to the eighth grade are
using the same playground it is es-
sential that there must be some one
in charge to supervise the children.
During the recesses which occur
in the schoolday a teacher can be
children. 1t should not be consid-
cred a part of the teachers duties to
supervise the play of pupils during
the summer vacation"
Medical and Dental Inspection.
A large part of the report is taken
up with a description of the work
of the medical and dental inspectors,
which, DR.. Ballou points out, is handi-
capped because of low wages paid
tne PHYSICIANS anu QeHllSlS anu the
small force AS result. the super
intendent recommended that the num-
ber of medical inspectors be in
creased from twelve to twenty, that
the dental inspectors be increased
from four to six. that the dental
operators be increased from eight to
sixteen, and that their salaries be
substantially increased. An increase
from $2.500 to $3.5G0 a year also Is
asked for the supervising medical in
spector. The adoption of these
recommendations, said DR.. Ballou.
will extend the present efficient but
limited medical and dental service
throughout the school system so
that all pupils who need it will be
reached by the increased staff"
obstruction in physical wellbeing
is provided for in the course OF study
in the elementary schools and in the
high schools said the report 1T
consists of a study of physiology and
hygiene. in physical exercises and IN
the inculcation of health habits in the
elementary schools. 1t consists more
largely of gymnasium work, drills and
athletics in the high schools.
"In the elementary schools during
the past year much attention has
been given to the modern health cru !,
sade. which has been part of the