The Washington herald., 1922-08-21

T IKE travellers in the desert, it seems, the
people of Washington have been follow
- ing a mirage that looked like oasis.
They find only desert and more desert--dry
wastes on which no green palms of hope can
grow.
That seems to be the present status Of the
school situation. The request of the District
Commissioners made necessary by the demands
of the Budget Bureau, that the Board OF Educa-
ton cut down the school estimates for the COM
ing year from over eight million little
FIVE million comes blow indeed to those
who have wandered long toward what seemed
like haven OF foliage in the dreary Sahara.
1t will be possible to keep District schools
open for the coming year, presume, on S., 5oo,
ooo' 1t would be possible to keep them open
less than that if it were necessary. But will it
be possible to give the school children of the
District of Columbia fair deal on that sum?
Many projected Improvements must be given
up. Anyone who takes the trouble to investigate
learn how badly these are needed Old,
crowded, nsantary buildings. poorly paid teachers,
inadequate playground facilities dscontented chill
dren-the same four horsemen will ride again
next year
Washington schools do not measure up to
, the proper standards. Even the gentle of
critics must admit that few cities so large arc
able do little in the line OF free education
w nat IS the remeoy! Inc Herald suggested one
cure a year ago and it since has been approved
by Congress. Its adoption. confident,
will bring about immediate improvement
But under no system can any worthwhile
change BE- brought about without money The
schools must be supported or they will grow
worse instead OF better. There is the question of
pay for the teaching staff. This is not sufficient
Il does not compare favorably with that given
in ether large American cities. Even if had
the best teachers in the world they soon would
grow discontented and rather inefficient with thei-
hopes OF increased salaries perpetually bghted
There is the question OF buildings Some of
these arc unfit for classes. Read over the files OF
The Herald OF few months ago if proof OF this is
desired. y comprehensive survey OF District
schoolhouses revealed conditions that would make
-ane anti Bolshevist propaganda it they could be
made to apply to the present school system OF
Russia. What is the remedy Build better school,
houses This be done without money
Brcklayers. carpenters etc, well paid fellows
in the District OF Columbia just now Few OF our
teachers draw salaries in any way commensurate
with the sums in the weekly pay envelopes of
these building trades mechanics. The District gov
ernment cannot employ these skilled workmen un-
less 1t has the money to pay them.
What is be done about it? The people of
Washington understand the trouble and how it
could be reInedied. The Board of Education and
the District Commissioners under illusions
They know that improvements urgent if Wash
ington is to have decent school system Congress
hnaly has been persuaded to take the same atti-
tude and to incorporate it in legislation Then
comes the Bureau OF the Budget, which deals in
cold figures paper and not in the heart-beats OF
humans and blasts all hopes
Something is wrong. We are voteless people
Even il we understand clearly where the fault lies
VIC can do nothing to remedy it. We will continue
to have disgracefu'ly bad schools in the Capital of
the best educated nation in the world
Somewhere across the desert lies the Promised
LAID. Somewhere the palms OF Egypt are green
against the sky. We will throw down our blankets
on the hot sands and sleep for another night At
sunrise there may be another floating mirage which
we will mistake for another oaAs and again journey
on hopefully unto renewed disillusionment But we
can comfort ourselves with the belief that after each
stage of the hard journey Egypt is little nearer.
better day in school affairs seems just around
the corner