Evening star., 1922-01-17
URGES MORE HOURS.
F0RM|N0R SCHOOLS
Supt. BalIou Thinks First and
Second Grades Should
Have Full Day.
SHOWS LACK OF HOUSING
Tells Monday Evening Club He
Favors Physical Examination
of Pupils at Intervals.

A full day of school for first and
second grade pupils as soon as hous-
ing conditions in the school system
make that possible was advocated by
Supt Frank w. Ballou in an address
before the Monday Evening Club at
the Cosmos Club building last night.
In answering a question of one OF
the club members. DIR. Ballou also as
serted that he favors a physical eN-
animation Of all children when they
enter the public schools and regular
examination at intervals thereafter.
At present, he said, it is Impossible
to conduct physical examinations IN
the schools, and they are made only
when a teacher detects some trouole
in a child that she teels needs atteh-
ton.
OF the education committee. presid-
ing, the club devoted the evening 10 d
discussion of school needs.
Indorses Compulsory Law.
The club adopted resolutions in
dorsing the bill now pending for com
pulsory education and for child cen.
sus to determine the future needs OF
the school system. Resolutions also
were adopted placing the club behind
the campaign for more school bufld-
ing and for an enlargement OF the
medical examining staff.
In advocating a full school day Tor
first and second grade pupils, Dr. Bal
lou said he did not mean that these
small children should be kept at desks
for five hours day, but that they
should be under school supervision Tor
a five-hour day. This. he said, Will
not be possible until Fairgrounds ana
other special facilities are available
Representative Millspnugh Speaks.
DIR, BalIou was followed by Repre-
sentative Frank C. Millspaugh OF Mis-
souri, who also recounted some of the
deplorable conditions which members
of Congress found in the local schools.
Representative Millspaugh was ap-
plauded when he said he hoped Con-
gress soon would authorize purchase OF
the Patterson tract at 5th street and
Florida avenue northeast for park
and athletic field for high school
pupilss as well as a playground space
for children of the northeast. There is
no park in the immediate vicinity of the
Patterson tract, he said, and the stretch
of land in question is admirably suited
for park and playground purposes.
Referring to criticism frequently di-
rected against Congress for not being
more liberal in appropriating for Dis
trlct neeQS, Representative MillSpduSH
said: Let me remind you that men,
bers of Congress are human, and when
every mornings mail is loaded with
appeals from constituents to lower the
tax burden, with often a threat of
retribution at the polls, it is not sur
prisins that Congress goes slow in au-
thorizing expenditures"
Speaking of District legislation in
general. Mr.. Millspaugh said there is
a growing tendency in Congress to
enact for the National Capital laws
that the states may we'll copy.
DIR. BnII0u's Figures.
Dr. Ballou gave ffsures to show
how District schools are behind. Even
with the forty-four additional class
rooms put into service this year, he
said. the system still needs approx
mateIy 125 more classrooms in the
elementary schools and two more
high schools in addition to the new
Eastern.
DR.. Ballou pointed out that last
year he said very little about the
high school situation, having concen-