The Washington times., 1922-01-26
District School Program,
Wrecked in d. C. Appro-
priatiOn Bill
BY BILL PRICE.


The District appropriation BILL as reported to the
House, will not have easy sailing through that body
if Congressional friends of adequate educational faci
ties for the school children of Washington carry out
sher intention to combat the work of the subcommittee
which framed the measure. Too many congressman
and Senators personally of the crippled con-
dition of our public schools-and may easily forfy
this knowledge by undeniable official data-for mis-
statements to go unchallenged. Just now too, some
fragrant misstatements on the rounds.
One of these concerns the alleged inability of Con-
gressmen to obtain attendance figures in the public
schools to confirm the known fact that the schools
are crowded beyond the point where pupils able to
get the educational training they plainly entitled
to- The charge has been made that school authorities
offer enrolment figures only. Whatever may have
been the facts in this respect in 1919 there now
available to any Congressman Senator the daily
attendance in any school building in Washington, and
the capacity of that building.
Evidently influenced by assertions that the at
tendance figures can not be had, the House sub
committee which framed the District appropriation
bill proceeded to wreck the fve-year program which
school authorities and District Commissioners agreed
upon absolutely necessary if the local public schools
are to be brought to the maximum point of efficiency
AS part OF this fve-year program the school author
ties asked for appropriations for forty-two additional
class in the elementary schools in the next fiscal
rooms The authorities asked for high school relief
through additions and purchase of new sites. This
item is omitted altogether in the House measure.
Congress was asked for 81 100000 to complete and
equip authorized school buildings The House cut the
sum to $1,4OO,OOO.
These are mere samples of what looks to be the
wrecking of absolutely necessary school program
unless the real friends of public education to the
rescue, as we have every hope and belief they will
Happily for the District, the House and Senate con-
tain large numbers of members who have spent months
in investigating school needs and have frankly and
frequently expressed deep regret that the schools were
ever allowed to get into their present condition.
That is why we doubt if the House itself is going
to accept the committees action regarding public
schools. To do would be denial to the children of
Washington of proper facilities for an education.
On the Senate side of Congress has the local school
situation received the most thorough investigation and
with the school problem in systematic, thorough man
instead of by the pecemeal style of recent years.
The five-year program proposed has the backing
of able in the House and Senate and contempates
methodcal action until the schools are fitted to take
of every child and youth in Washington and make
the system model for other cities relapse to hap
gress niggardy one year and liberal another-will
will be the pride of Washngtonians the nation The
fruitful of too much trouble and weakness to be
tinued.
We feel confident that it is the purpose of leaders of
Congress to agree upon definite program and follow
it to definite conclusion.