The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-10-06
CONN AVE.
RESIDENTS
FLAY RULE
Gross Incompetency and Neg
Iect Laid at Door of Of
h. ficials in Charge.


n Charges Of gross lncompetency on
the part of Washington; school officials
and, undue neglect in the administra-
ton of their functions" were made last
night before the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association, at the monthly
meeting OF that body at All Souls
Church. g..
Charges preferred by parents Of
school children on complaints Of
various teachers in the public school,
ranged from failure Of the officials to
furnish books, as provided by law, to
corrupt practice OF school principals
refusing to transfer pupils from one
room to another in order to obtain
fees" which they receive where more
than twenty-four pupils are. crowded
in one room.
? Instances of where teachers have
had to purchase out Of their own
meager salaries, American flags to
:adorn their school rooms, and that
other minor supplies were not fur
nished by the bureau Of school sup
plies were recited.
Books Are Lacking.
% Among the complaints by parents
are that pupils are without books,
Notwithstanding the fact that the
school board has available funds to
purchase same and that books were
not purchased for the first semester
of the present school year until al
most time for school to begin"
( Notification of the charges show
that the first large supply OF books
for this years term were made the
middle of July. Approval Of award
for purchase Of school supplies was
made by the District Commissioners
on June Z, at which time acquisitions
for the new books could have been
made, It is said, whereas the order
was not placed until nearly six weeks
later.
= As result of the charges, the
Connecticut Avenue Citizens Asso-
citation passed a resolution calling on
the District School Board to explain
the shortage OF school books and to
take prompt steps to relieve the
shortage.
Buyer Explains.
There Is but one explanation for
the lack Of school books" declared
Alexander Stuart. in charge Of school
supplies, I'VE asked Congress for
$4,000 for the present year, and
were given only 100000. The price
Of books has advanced from s to 80
per cent and this coupled with the
fact that we have approximately
1900 more elementary pupils this
year over last. has resulted In some
temporary shortage"
Laxity on, the part Of school. Off
Gals in purchasing school supplies,
Mr.. Stuart denies. THE factssshow,
however, It is pointed QUIT Chat
contract for news books was approved
by the D. C. COMMISSIONER ontJ une
q. while the books were not ordered
until more than a month later.
The award for school books
could have been placed this year
approximately six weeks before It
purchasing agent for the District.
There appears to be little tustih.
cation in the late date at which the
school supplies were ordered ry the
officials as there is always m clcv-
enth hour rush by schools through
out the country for supplies and
with the manufacturers 1t is
case Of first come, first serve
\. Fee System Blamed.
4 Under the present system princi.
pals Of schools receive. In addition
to their regular pay, fee Of $3.50
per month, per room, where more
than twenty-four pupils are in the
room. Teachers complain that their
rooms are crowded but under the
fee system principals refuse TO
transfer pupils, for to do so would
deprive the principals Of their $3.50
fee - e.
Under the system" It was stated,
many small pupils are forced to go
much further to school than Is
otherwise necessary, in many cases,
being forced to cross two and three
sets Of street car tracks and main
streets OF traffic In going to and
from school" ~,
Complaint as to their manner Of be.
ing paid b also made by teachers. All
monthly payments are made by youch.
ef. The teachers are compelled to 20
from their school rooms to the office
OF the District supervisor, entailing in
many instances long car rides and
from one to two hours wait in the OF.
flee OF the supervisor, waiting for
their pay. s7.,s .. -,
Not infrequentiy the supervisor is
detained on business at various
schools In his jurisdiction, and the
techers are compelled to return the
next day for their pay. Payment of
salaries, the teachers declare, mas.
&rnuch as they are already made by
voucher, could be done by mail.
,.., Much Time, Wasted.
As an instance 1t Is cited that teach.
Eers from Brookland and Takoma Park
must spend two hours on the street
cars each pay day In going to the
office Of their supervisor for their
pay. 80 -
other Irregularities. charged by the
teachers, are that Neutrality-suspicious. for
supplies are not'filled promptly with
the result that they must either do
without or purchase same out of their
own salaries.
Due to the serious shortage OF school
books, pupils Of the lower grades are
compelled to ''double-up'' in order to
get their lessons at night, entailing
their absence from home while study.
children declare.
n Called . Disgrace.
without mincing words" said n.