The Washington herald., 1922-02-11
RELIEF FOR PUBLIC
SCHOOL CONDITIONS
URGED BY CITIZENS
Senate Committee Hears
Representatives From
Civic Bodies.

Civic interest in the public schools
of the District manifested itself
yesterday when representatives
from every business and social or
ganization in the city appeared be-
fore the subcommittee of the Sem
ate District Committee to offer CO.
operation in seeking a remedy for
the present condition of the schools.
Chairman capper expressed his
qualification at seeing so much In
terest shown In what Ae called
the Districts greatest problem =
The school situation. he declared,
was the grayest that faced the
people of the District and he ad-
vised the citizens to impress the
members of Congress in any way
they saw fit with the necessity Of
bringing relief to the public schools
Of Washington.
Must Hammer at Congress.
He explained that Congress was
absorbed with vital legislation but
that the different organizations
must keep hammering away until
Congress was thoroughly impressed
with the fact that the District
needs assistance
Although each speaker concen-
trated upon some particular phase
of the school problem, the testi-
mony as a whole coincided with
that presented by the various edu-
Gators from different parts of the
United States who have appeared
from time to time before the COM
mittee.
Snowden Ashford. representing
the Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions. enrphasized the lack of cap
allie Iaen 20 operate the heating
plants. He told the committee that
half the money noy. expended for
fuel and repairs to the furnaces
could be saved IL eRcient licensed
engineers were placed in charge Of
the plants.
Urges Tuition for Outsiders.
The question Of educating pupils
who live outside the District was
discussed by Mr.. Ashford, who an
nounced that the federation had
drawn a bill to provide that the
parents of these pupils who had no
connection with the city of Wash
ington should pay either tuition or
taxes to the District.
Representative William F. Ham
mer in questioning Mr.. Ashford
brought out the fact that about s
per cent of the pupils in the Dis
trict schools are residents of Mary
land or Virginia. Mr.. Hammer ex-
pressed the opinion that great in
justice might result from a law
which would bar from the District
schools the children whose parents
were obliged to live in the out
lying sections of the city because
of their limited means.
Fears Congestion Result.
Representative Woods, of the
committee. believed that it would
increase the congestion in the city
to place a tight restriction on the
suburban population.
When told that the community
centers practically were in charge
of the schools, Senator King de-
clared that he had feared this
would be the case.
Mrs. Lucy r. Swanton, represent
ing the United Citizens Playground
Association, pointed out to the COM
mittee the Importance of recrea-
tion. ~
Arthur Deering Call. representing
the Monday Evening Club. favored
placing the minimum salary of an
elementary school teacher at $500
a year with an increasing of 500
each year for i've years.
The present stan Is wholly made
quate, he charged. to meet the bus
mess and professional require
ments.
Charles +. Roberts, president of
contsmsed on Page Three.