Evening star., 1923-09-02

previous year. There are now sixty
three municipal and thirty school play
grounds open and supervised for the
children Of the District. The munich
month in the year except January and
February. The school Fairgrounds
are open ten weeks during the sum-
mer. beginning July /. Congress ap-
propriated $1,000 for Fairgrounds
this year. The Fairgrounds are open
from o'clock in the morning until
dark every day III the week except
on saturday. when they close at 4:2U
o'clock. Several school yards have
been opened this summer for the
first time.
In the last annual report Of the
board of education is the following:
While in many respects Washington
is unique among the cities of the
nation, nevertheless, if the school
system is to be lifted to u place of
greater efficiency and is to become a
model for the city school systems OF
the country. it must be organized.
operated and maintained according to
those principles of eff1cient admins
tration which have been worked out
in practice and are now in operation
in many cities of the country.
Educational conditions in Wash
lngton have been more or less unsat-
isfactory for a long period of time
Any one who examines the educa-
ional history of the city will inev-
ltably reach the conclusion that
educational progress is slow. not
because of superficial or passing
conditions. but because the present
plan of organizing, operating and
maintaining the school system of
Washington does not conform to
fundamental principles of efficient ad-
minlstratlon. The superintendent
undertakes to formulate an answer
nIpSfInn is, 10, ,,1
progress in Washington so slow? In
part he says: I'm altogether too many
cases the financial resources and the
necessary educational legislation have
not been Forthcoming. Educational
progress in Washington is slow be-
cause under the present system of
educational control and financial sup
port the needs of the school system
are allowed to become acute before
consideration is given to improvement
slowly"
The board of education rents fourteen
different parcels of property for class
room use. These rented quarters are
Ior COOKING, sewing, manual training,
atypical and Americanization classes.
The board pays over $4,000 per year
In rental. Most of these rented quar-
ters are lily adapted to school work and
by ruling of the District authorities
no public appropriations for repairs can
property. Part-time classes have been
In existence in both elementary and
high schools. Many of the school build
ings are very old and unequipped
Now is the time for every parent :
teacher association to lay its plans
for the coming year. cooperate with
the school officials and see that Con-
gress does not overlook the needs of the
schools In the District.
Mrs. G. T. Shannon. president of the
Henry-Polk Home and School Associ-
alton, has the following report: The
Henry-Polk association has had a sue
cessful year. A Halloween party was
given to raise funds for school purposes
and the treasury was helped very sub
stanttally. Blackboards were purchased
for scores In the Fairgrounds and coach
Ing lessons In the school. They had a
car stop placed at P street, going south,
thereby having all the car stops changed
on 7th street from New York avenue to
Florida avenue, and two new ones put
in. dental clinic was established in
school, four benches purchased for the
coaching schoolroom the phonogra ph re-
paired and some new records purchased
A sweater was purchased for a prize
in the playground base ball team A
photo of the school winning the pennant
for attendance at the meetings was paid
for. The association has been very ac-
tive in trying to have painting and elec-
trio lights placed in the school.
Tho last meeting of the session was
held May ~. with 9 rising vote Of