Evening star., 1922-10-28
Example in Education.

President Harding. issuing proc
lamation for a nationwide drive to
arouse universal interest in education,
and Commissioner Tigert and officials
of the American Legion broadsiding
the country in this good cause. have
a notable example right here in the
National Capital
The school system of Washington
needs just about everything essential
to general education, needs adequate
school buildings, needs living wages
for teachers, needs text books that are
not antiquated, needs funds for all
sorts of supplies.
Congress, which has exclusive juris-
diction over appropriations for the
Washington schools, has had these
needs pointed out, emphasized and
visualized. and Congress has promised
relief through a definite program Of
school legislation.
The administration and Congress
have an opportunity TO set hitting
example of their zeal in this educa-
ton drive, which comes the opening
week Of the short session, when the
appropriation bills will be passed, by
making the school system Of the Ma
tional Capital a model one for all the
country to pattern after.
APPROXIMATIONS should be made
which will result in the abolition OF
la) part time in elementary schools
and double shifts in the high schools;
th) oversize classes in elementary
and high schools; (cl the use OF
portable and other undesirable rooms;
lD all rented buildings. and (e)
the use of buildings recommended for
abandonment.
The need for more school buildings
is apparent TO any one who studies
the enrolment, which is today the
largest in the history Of the school
system-66, ,OS1, and with accommoda-
tions for only about $4,000. There is
a present need of 159 additional class
rooms to accommodate satisfactorily
the enrolment in the elementary
grades. When all the accommodations
for which appropriations have been
made become available there will still
be an unmet need Of additional accom-
modations for 1900 high school pupils.
The appropriations for school sup
plies in recent years have not IN
creased in proportion to the increase
in enrolment. Consequently, there is
q grave shortage Of supplies, and most
pressingly for new text books. Ap-
proximately 10000 of the text books
now in use are obsolete and filthy,
some of them having been condemned
and pulled back into use because
there were no funds to replace them.
Scores of teachers are today paying
money out Of their own pockets for
essential supplies and to make the
schoolrooms attractive to the youth,
because no funds are available.
One of the measures on which Con-
gress has promised to take action is
the Capper bill for teachers salaries
and school reorganization. The school
officials and conspicuous educators in
Congress say this is imperative. Sup
porting it, bulletin has been issued
by the National Education Association
carrying the salary schedules for cities
of 100000 population and over. which
shows Washington lowering close to
the foot of the list in all classes.
The Washington example in educa-
ton Is not now encouraging. The
people Of the country. stirred by
President Harding's proclamation,
may well feel that a more inspiring
example should be set them by Con-
sress, which has the National Capital
under its thumb.