The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-06-22
EDUCATION BOARD
EURCED TO TAKE
OVER HOMESCHOOL
DR.. Ballou Instructed to
Investigate Advisable
ity of Action.
MOTHERS PETITION
New Building for Business
High Recommended by
Alumni.
MOTHERS PETITION

The Board Of Education yesterday
took cogrizance of the controversy
over closing the Wisconsin Avenue
Home School when IL directed Su-
perintendent of Schools Frank W.
Ballou to investigate ard report to
the Board upon the advisability OF
using that institution as a part OF
the District School system.
The Boards action followed the
reception OF a committee from the
Congress OF Mothers. Declaring
that school authorities have power
TO designate the Wisconsin avenue
institution a special school for de-
linquent children. a petition SUBJ
mitted by the mothers. urged the
Board Of Education to function
as empowered by law"
Judge Willis Brown. Of Utah.
speaking in behalf of the mothers
organization. declared that thu SUI
perintendent OF Schools is the onl,
official who can legally commit o
child to an institution. Setting
forth the authority under which
he said the Board Of Education
could act. Judge Brown urged tina,
District wards be hsEdled by school
authorities instead of by the courts
under criminal law"
Interested I'm Petition.
Members of the Board evinced
Keen interest in the Mothers petit
tioL. Urging that a thorough inves-
tigation be conducted. DR.. Abram
Simon declared that in former years
complaints concerning public in
struction at the Wisconsin Avenue
Home have been received by the
Board.
A new building for Business
High School was urged by II. c.
Houghton, president of Business
High Alumni Association. in an ad-
dress to the Board. Citing the val
liable services performed by this
form Of education. Mr. Houghton de-
clared increase in population has
rendered present facilities totally
Inadequate to the need.
A petition. presented by Mr..
Houghton in behalf OF the alumni.
| fully emphasized the following rea-
| sons for a new building:
Reasons in Petition.
/. That this years enrolment
will exceed by at least 500 pupils
the number which the building was
intended to accommodate.
2. That the present building could
be diverted to other educa ticnal
uses without financial loss 10 the
District
3. That Business High has never
received adequate recogI ition in the
matter of building facilities II has
occupied space in Thomson, Frank.
| lin and Minor Schools.
4. The erection of a new buildins
has been recommended by all who
| have studied the situation.
5. Neither Of the buildings which
were supposed TO relieve Business
High will be an important factor OF
relief for the future as Central J.
already overcrowded and Eastern
will afford but temporary and par.
tial relief on account OF location
and the relatively small number OF
commercial students 1t will accom-
modate.
Consideration will be given the
petition in preparing next years
school budget Il was said.
The use of abandoned school
| property for Burney School play
ground was urged in a communica.
ton received by the Board from
the Barry Farm Citizens Associa
ton. superintendent Ballou was d.
rected to investigate whether the
property could be used by the Burney
School and IL advisable to order
such disposition.