Evening star., 1922-09-24

aIter the gentlemen VINO nOlu tne
citys purse strings. School officials
may talk themselves hoarse explain
ing the shortcomings and needs of
the Districts public educational
system, but previous efforts have
proven that their loquaciousness viii
not pry open the money bag. The
authorities will do the talking.
Rather forcibly, this summaries the
third section Of Sutp. Frank w. Ballou' S
comprehensive annual report which was
given out last night for publication. In
the superintendent's words. he wants
on the Commissioners. the bureau OF
the budget and Congress the neces-
sity of providing appropriate
which will result in abolishing from
our schools:
Part time in the elementary
schools; oversize classes in the ele-
mentary and high schools: the use
of portables and other undesirable
rooms in elementary and high
schools; all rented buildings, and the
use of buildings recommended for
abandonment"
Must Forestall Congestion.
"A further policy" DR.. Ballou
added. should also be adopted which
will provide:
Assembly halls and gymnasiums
for all elementary schools OF sixteen
rooms or more now in use or mere
after erected; the selection and pur-
chase of school sites in advance oil
their use to insure being able to
secure enough land to provide not
only for extending a building but
also suitable play space for pupils
and the erection of schoolhouse &C
commodations as needs are apparent
and before real congestion exists.
Unless and until these policies have
been agreed to and shall have been
put into practice" the superintendent
emphasized "the present congestion
is inevitably bound to continue and
to increase"
1.-THE accumulated building needs are
not being taken care Of as rapidly as
they should be-" continued the report
The appropriations act of 1929 car
ried about 81 100000 only. large por-
ton Of which was for obligated ap.
propriations, and did not represent
new items for permanent relief
Likewise, while the act of 1928 car.
ries over $2.000.00o, only about one.
fourth of it is for new projects. the
tions.
New Items Inadequate.
I'm the light of the pressing build
/
preparation for new items of school.
house construction in the appropria.
tions act for 1923 is regrettably small
and very Inadequate. The regular
annual appropriations for school
house construction must be materially
Increased if the shortage Of the pas
is to be made up. Two million dol.
lars per year for new projects, ex.
elusive of obligated appropriations
for period of five years VIII bt
necessary.
THE people Of Washington mus
squarely face certain stubborn facts
regarding schoolhouse accommoda'
tions and then must take such actor
as they may deem appropriate under
the circumstances. They must realize
a. That the number of classrooms
for elementary school pupils opened
during the school years 1920-21 and
1921-22 have not been sufficient to dc
more than take care of the increased
enrolment in the elementary schools
during the same two years.
"2. That those to be opened during
the school year 1928 will not dc
much more than take care Of the
usual increase in enrolment.
Shortage Not Made Up.
"s. That very little, If any, progress
is being made on the accumulated
sh ortage of elementary school accom-
modations of the pre-war and wal
period.
tions at Eastern and Armstrong. ant
the new junior high schools. ii avail:
able at once, would leave unprovldet
for enough pupils to fill a schoo
building nearly as large as the new
Eastern building.
In elementary and high schools only
by Increased appropriations FOL
school buildings.
I'm the light Of the congestion ex.
listing during the school year 1917.
the wisdom Of Congress in making al
appropriation Of nearly $2,00o.000 fol
buildings and grounds in the sec
ond deficiency act OF 1871 nov
stands out clearly apparent. Tha
appropriation was to meet a rea
emergency, much Of which will con
tinue to exist after these building!
are completed and occupied.
New Building Hastened.
"The money appropriated in th'
second deficiency for school build
!.ings became Immediately available
The Engineer Commissioner exercised
oommendable judgment in employ
ing outside architects on several o
these buildings to prepare plans un
der the supervision of the municipa
architect. BY SO doing. the construc
tion of the buildings was hastened
the buildings SO planned, except two
will be occupied by September. 1922
or shortly thereafter. The schoo
authorities can now organize tnes.
schools at the beginning Of the veal
rather than in the middle OF a schoo
term. as would undoubtedly have
been the case had any other course
been pursued. By pursuing the
course which they did, the Com.
rnissioners are placing several OF
these buildings at the disposal or tht
possible moment. For this. In view
Of the very urgent need. the schoo
authorities are very appreciative.
school buildings In Washington
are generally overcrowded- some
of them are greatly congested. Some
be replaced. Several factors have
contribute to create this situation
During the period of the wal
Washington experienced an unprece'
dented Increase in population. The
school system experienced a cor
responding increase in school at.
tendance. During this same periot
Of tho war, when school population
was increasing 30 rapidly, school
house construction WAS largely at
standstill due to war conditions.
War Not the Only Cause.
but the war was not the onl!
factor. The evidence presented ir
the superintendent's last annual re
port clearly shows that the presen
shortage of classrooms in both ele
mentary ana high schools repreeent
an accumulation OF failures from
year to year to provide the additiona
classrooms necessary to take care O
increases in enrolment. and to pro
| vide the additional educational faci
progressive school system Obvi
! ously, when the additional classroom
opened each year are insufficient Z
accommodate the increased enroll
ment it Is impossible to abandon an!