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
Congressional friends of adequate educational faci
ties for the school children of Washington carry out
sther intention to combat the work of the subcommittee
which framed the measure. Too many congressman
and Senators personally aware of the crippled
dtion of our public schools-and may easily fortfy
this knowledge by undeniabe official data-for mis-
statements to go unchalenged. Just now, too,
fragrant misstatements are on the rounds.
One of these 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 is
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
to be brought to the maximum point of efficiency
As part of this fveyear program the school author
ties asked for appropriations for fortytwo additional
class rooms in the elementary schools in the next fiscal
year. The House bill provides eighteen additional
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 asked for 81 100000 to complete and
equip authorized school buildings The House cut the
sum to S., 100000.
These are mere samples of what looks to be the
wreckng of absolutely necessary school program,
unless the real friends of public education to the
rescue, we have every hope and belief they will
Happily for the District, the House and Senate
tain large numbers Of members who have spent months
in Investigating school needs and have frankly and
frequently expressed deep regret that the schools
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
it is there that sentiment is overwhelming for dealing
with the school problem in systematic, thorough
instead of by the piecemea style of recent years.
The five-year program proposed has the backing
of able in the House and Senate and contemplates
methodcal action until the schools fitted to take
of every child and youth in Washington, and make
the system model for other cities. relapse to hap
hazard legislation each year taking of itself-Con
gress niggardly one year and liberal another-wl
make system of public schools in this city that
will be the pride of Washingtonans the nation. The
piecemeal method has existed too long and has been
fruitful of too much trouble and weakness to be con
tnued.
We feel confident that it is the purpose of leaders of
Congress to agree upon definite program and follow
it to definite conclusion