Evening star., 1922-12-03

the school building program recon-
conference with the board OF educa-
building program calling Tor all ap-
: buildings and grounds.
! NEEDS OF D. C. SCHOOLS
F., WILL BE EMPHASIZED
! BY LOCAL EDUCATORS
While educators and newspapers
throughout the country this week
| designated as education week" by
quainting the citizens of every city.
town and hamlet with the so-called
de,plorabie conditions in the District
public school system. the local school
author tie; will launch an intensive
and concerted campaign to have Con-
E1e9s pass the pending legislation
which is designed to alleviate them.
This legislation includes the Cap
per teachers salary and school re-
organization bill. the compulsory
school attendance and school census
bill and the free textbook bill. These
| measures have the Endorsement CT
civic. trade and other organizations
interested in public education. and
the school authorities believe that
| systematic drive on Congress at
this time will result in their enact
| ment.
whatever the future may have in
store" said DR.. Frank W. Ballcu.
Superintendent of schools. these in
terested in better education for Wash
ington must steadfastly work for the
enactment of Legislation necessary to
make possible improved conditions
and for appropriations commensurate
with the needs Of the school system.
Conference Arranged.
The united public support which
was SO conspicuous during the past
school year, must continue if i'm
provements are to be secured"
The initial step in the campaign
proposed by the school officials will
be conference between the board
of education and the representatives
tions. trade bodies and parent teacher
! associations in the Franklin School
| Tuesday night at o'clock. This con-
clave will be one of the salient events
in the observance of education week
! in the nations capital
, The outstanding topic Of discussion
! at the conference will be the short
! age, Of sohoolhouse accommodat IONS
F, which. according to Supt. Ballou. Is
| one Of the PRINCIPAL factors retarding
| educational progress in the District.
In this connection the school budget
for the next fiscal year will be barred
for the first time and DR.. Ballou will
+: explain each item.
! In regard to the lack Of adequate
/ school accommodations Supt Ballou
pointed out that the people Of Wash
ington must squarely face certain
stubborn facts and then must take
| such action as they may deem ap-
f, propriate under the circumstances.
| The superintendent emphasized that
! tney must realize
for elementary school pupils opened
! during the school years of 1S2O-1921
and 1921-1922 have not been sufficient
to do more than take care of the in
creased enrolment in the elementary
{: schools during the same two years.
! 2-That those that have been open
! ed since the beginning of the
F, new term in September and others
/ which will be opened in the near fu-
ture have rot and would not do much
more than take care of the usual In
crease in enrolment
| 3-That very little, if any, prog
! ress is being made on the accumulated
, shortage of elementary school accom-
modations of the pre-war and war
period.
t-That additional accommodations
at Eastern and Armstrong and the
| ne junior high schools. If available
at once. would leave unprovided for
enough pupils to fill school build
, ing larger than the new Eastern High
School. now nearing completion.
elementary and high schools only by
increased appropriati for school
buildings.
More Funds Needed.
"The accumulated building needs
are not being taken care Of as rapidly
az they should be-" said DIR. Ballou.
The appropriations act of 1922 car
ried about 100000 only. large
portion Of which was for obligated
appropriations and did not represent
new items for permanent relief. Like
! wise. while the act Of 1923 carries
{ over $2.000.000. only about one fourth
| of it is for new projects. the balance
is for obligated appropriations. In
the light OF the pressing building
needs Of the school system the APP
preparation for new items of school,
house construction in the appropria-
tions act for 1928 is regerettably small
! and very inadequate. The regular an
| nual appropriations for schoolhouse
construction must be materially in
to be made up. Two million dollars
per year for new projects. exclusive
Of obligated appropriations. for a
period of five years. will be neces-
sary."
! During the campaign for school i'm
pie Of Washington should adopt a
policy of urging on the Commission
ers. the budget bureau and Congress
the necessity of providing appropri-
ations which will result in abolishing
from the schools:
Psrt-time classes in the elementary
schools and double shifts in the high
schools.
Oversize classes in the elementary
and high schools.
The use Of portables and other un-
desirable rooms in elementary and
high schools.
All rented buildings
The use of buildings recommended
, for abandonment.
A further policy also should be
adopted. DR.. Ballou declared, which
will provide:
Assembly halls and Kymnasiums in
all elementary schools of sixteen
rooms or more now in use or here
after erected.
The selection and purchase Of
school sites In advance Of their use
to insure e'beinE able to secure enough
land to provide not only for extend
ing a building. but also suitable
play space for pupils.
The erection Of schoolhouse accom-
modations as needs are apparent
and before real congestion exists.
UNLESS and until these policies