The Washington herald., 1922-02-11
RELIEF FOR PUBLIC
URGED BY CITIZENS
Senate Committee Hears
Representatives From
Civic Bodies.
Confined from Pnae One.

Continued from Page One.
ths- Kiwanis Club. told the commit
tee that the high schools were to-
tally Inadequate as to space West
ern and Mckinley High Schools are
badly overcrowded. he declared, and
advocated the building of a new
structure or an addition to the
present building that would re-
|sieNe the congestion
Roberts when asked IL he ia
vored the appointment of a business
manager declared emphatically that
he did.
A resolution passed by the Civil
tan Club was read to the committee
in which the program of the Board
Of Education was indorsed in re-
gard to the proposed buildings.
Congress- was urged to give full
and sympathetic consideration to
the conditions confronting the Dis
trict and take the necessary action
to put the school building program
into effect.
Would Eliminate Red Tape.
Mrs Giles Scott Rafter. president
of the Congress of Mothers and
Parent-Teachers' Association, advo-
Gated the separation of the Boaro
of Education from the municipal
government. In asking for the
change in administration, Mrs.
| Rafter explained the ramifications
of the present system which she
characterized as red tape. Ell
forts to secure necessary accommo-
| dations for the children had been to
no avail. she declared. because
there was no responsible head.
l.
| ing to the plan advanced by Mrs,
Pafter, should be appointed by the
president and confirmed by the Sem
late. The board would then be held
responsible for the entire school
system. it was pointed out. Asked
IL she thought 1t would be desirable
to have a business manager ap-
pointed, Mrs. Rafter answered that
it would. in her opinion. be a splen-
did idea Then We could tar and
Feather him IL he failed in his duty,
she. added.
Problem I'm Graded Schools.
Mrs. Elizabeth E. Reiss. represent
ling the Federation of Women's
Clubs. emphasized the Importance
of the graded schools. which she in
sisted presented the greatest educa-
The details of the program affect
ing the graded schools should be
Icompleted before the question OF
Ifree text books for the high school
student was considered, Mrs Reiss
said.
Evan II. Tucker. speaking for the
ICitizens' Relief Association of the
District stressed the Importance OF
carrying out the building program
The non-attendance. he believed
could be attributed to the crowded
conditions existing in the schools
and the lack of accommodations
MIR Tucker indorsed the bill now
before the committee to build the
necessary schools.
Favors Free Text Books.
A T. Driscoll, who appeared for
fhe Midcity Citizens Association
brought up the question of free text
books for high school students
Many children that could otherwise
avail themselves of the opportunity
TO get a high school education were
not able to purchase the necessary
books to complete the course. Dris-
coll told the committee members.
A H. Gumke, representing the Ma
tinal Association of Colored People
insisted that Congress had been un-
fair in dealing with the colored
school situation.
The 81 per, cent estimate had been
eut to 10 per cent. which, he de-
tlared. was inadequate and discrim-
natory.
Lack of Fairgrounds and proper
facilities were pointed out by
iumke as being universal in the
>ase OF coIored schools in the Dis
r1ct. The John F. Cook School
tolored, was said to vibrate when
he piano was played.
Mrs Bell. representing the Cook
School, said that she had made q
formal report to the school author
ties that the building was unsafe
Thomas Bradley, president Of the
Washington Board of Trade. pre-
ented a written statement from w
washburn, chairman Of the school
ommittee. urging speedy action on
he part of Congress to make the
peal schools the best in the coun-
ry.
The recommendations OF the
(oaId called for better school equip
ncnt, better pay for teachers, bet
rr attention 10 physical well being
&c textbooks and support OF vo-
ational training.
A. E. Seymour. speaking for the
Washington Chamber of Commerce,
eclared that it would be false econ-
my TO deprive the children Of any
Educational advantages.
Washington" declared Seymour,
should have the best school system
the country"
Committee members following
he hearing were of the opinion that
o more testimony would be taken