Evening star., 1922-09-24
Go Get School Money,
Ballou Tells People
Superinte"dert's annual Report Calls
on Public to Press for Relief in
Districts Educational Muddle.

mended increased appropriations. the
appropriations actually have fallen
snort OF their recommendations by
about $2,500.000. Moreover, after
fourteen years appropriations have
not yet been made for buildings to
replace some OF those recommended
for immediate abandonment
During the past twenty years the
annual reports of the board Of edu-
cation show that the school authori-
ties have been fully aware of the
increasing congestion and have re-
peatedly called attention to serious
overcrowding. They have urged new
buildings. Moreover, in the school
estimates, the board has urged that
funds be provided for additional
schoolhouse accommodations.
The delay in carrying out rec
makes for increased congestion
rather than permanent relief The
new Eastern High School. recon-
mended In 1908. is not yet ready. II
look eight years to carry out the rec
! fermentation for a new Central High
school. 1t likewise took eight years
to get Dunbar High School. 1t took
nve years to get the Wilson Normal
School and over six t. get Miner
Normal School. The congressional
commission made recommendation
concerning these schools.
I'm the last analysis, the reason for
congested schoolhouses and anti
quated buildings is lack of consistent
and systematic appropriations for
new schoolhouses. The basis for
some of these several statements is
Indicated in the following pages.
During the period of nine years
from September. 1913. through June
30. 1922. the enrolment in the ele-
mentary schools increased 1896
pupils. Counting forty pupils to a
room, 1873 additional classrooms
should have been made available
during this same period to accommo-
date these additional elementary
school pupils.
However. during the same nine
years only eighty-six additional
permanent classrooms for elementary
four old classrooms were abandoned
and replaced. To take care of in
creased enrolment. and in lieu OF
the usual permanent construction.
forty temporary portable school
houses were erected in 1918 and
sixty erected in the two years. to-
| gether with the eighteen already in
use at that time, make the total Of
seventy-eight portables now in use.
Glasses Made Too Large.
From this it is clear that durinr
| this period of nine years the school
system has fallen behind in construC-
! ton OF permanent buildings for ele
| mentary schools to the extent of Irf
| classrooms. Even with the use of
seventythree portables in the ele-
mentary schools Give are used iH
high schools) there is clearly an un-
| met accumulated need of thirty-one
1 enrolment above. No buildings were
| erected to make possible the aban-
donment OF any undesirable buildings.
THE result of the attempt to edu-
| cate pupils without the required num-
ber of classrooms has been, first. to
| increase the size of class in many
cases far beyond the maximum
standard Of forty pupils. to rent such
| buildings as were available in the
vicinity of the pupils to be instructed.
| to put to classroom use small Office
| rooms. rooms in Easements and other
I classes on part time, SO that two
classes might occupy the same rooms.
one In the morning and the other in
the afternoon"
High School Additions.
DIR. Ballou's report revealed that
construction of additions to Western
and Armstrong high schools, pro-
1923, will proceed as soon as plans
can be developed. These additions
according to the superintendent.
should be ready for occupancy by
September, 1924.
Relief for congestion in the high
schools, the report said, is to be pro-
vided by the opening of the new
J Eastern High School, which will ac-
| commodate approximately 1900 pu-
pills. This is about 500 pupils more
] than have been accommodated in the
old Eastern plant, where the double
! shift program has been in operation
! for long time and other means of
relief temporarily provided" DR.. Bal
lou added. Some additional relief
for high school congestion will be
provided by utilizing the old Eastern
+, building for, a junior high school
j plant. This cannot be done until
| Legislation is secured establishing a
| salary schedule for administrative
principals. 1t may be doubtful
whether this plant can be opened as
a junior high school before Septem-
Der. 1928"