The Washington times., 1922-09-20
BA[LOU URGES
H|GHERPAYFOR
. D. 6. TEACHERS
REORGANIZATION of. Educational
System Also Desirable.
~.' ,r' Ne Declares.

Increased salaries and reorganiza-
ton Of the Districts educational
system, provided for in bill pend
Ing In Congress. are cited by Super
intendent OF Schools Frank w. Bal-
lou as the two greatest needs OF his
department. in the second section OF
his annual report, released for pub
lication today.
: III any disinterested and qualified
educator from outside Washington
were asked to indicate the outstand-
ing needs OF the school system OF
Washington" states the report. he
would. Undoubtedly, name a new sal
airy schedule as one OF the most
urgent.
"The salaries OF all educational
employees Of the Board Of Education
are low compared with the salaries
in other cities. They are not high
enough to secure the quality OF serv-
ice to which the Nations Capital 10
entitled"
DR.. Ballou emphasizes the point
that "a salary schedule is more than
legislation fixing the compensation
Of employees; II is also legislation
providing for the reorganization OF
the school system"
Legislative Of 1906.
"The legislation fixing the salaries
of employees and establishing the
plan OF organiza ton and administra-
ton of the school system of WASH
inKton was passed in 1906. Outside
of piecemeal legislation in appro-
priation acts, no supplementary leg
islation has been passed since that
time" the report continues. Mean
while. since 1906, great progress has
been made in the theory and prac.
tice Of educational administration.
The new features Of education are
given in detail:
Junior high schools have been
established as an integral part OF the
school system. The extended use OF
public school building beyond the
traditional five hours day, ooth
for evening and summer school work,
and for adult education, recreation.
and civic Improvement. has been
recognized and generally provided
for in cities like Washington.
Larger units Of elementary school
organization are generally accepted
as financially necessary, and educa-
tionally desirable.
throughout the country In more
recent years there Is a marked ten
dency more nearly to equaliZe sal
aries of elementary and high school
teachers by establishing salaries on
the basis of the qualifications. pos
sessed. rather tina on the grade or
work taught. Vocational and pre-
vocational education has been gener-
ally established since 1905.
Piece Work Bad Policy.
"AIl these and many other develop
ments have taken place since the
organic school law was passed in
1906. New legislation Is now a
necessity not only to provide ade'
quate compensation for employees.
but also to bring up to date the or
ganization and administration Of the
school system"
Or. Ballou critiCiZes the treatment
received by the District schools from
Congress in the past, in that the ap
preparation acts have frequently car
ried scraps Of legislation to meet new
situations as they have arisen"
This" says DR.. Ballou. "is not
good practice. The salary schedule
should be established through legis-
latiou. and the school estimates for
salaries prepared in accordance with
that schedule. Moreover. the need
Of recognizing and establishing by
law the many new practices which
have necessarily been inaugurated in
the school system Is equally urgent
DR.. Ballou strongly advocates the
passage OF the teachers salary bill
now pending in Congress, calling 1t
"the most important school legisla-
ton for the District Of Columbia that
has been presented to Congress In
more than fifteen years"
Public Opinion For II.
THE public Is back of II: the Dis.
trict needs and wants IT," the report
states. THE school authorities OF
the District have been gratified to
receive the assistance Of public optn-
ion and public support. They ap-
peal. not only for support. but for
active legislation in impressing on
Congress the necessity OF passing
this legislation at the earliest pos
sibie opportunity