Evening star., 1924-09-27
ARTICLE TX.

The accumulated shortage OF hous.
ing facilities for the District public
school children. the deplorable state
of the physical equipment of the
schools, the text books and other es-
sential supplies. as described in the
preceding articles in this series, are
all indicative of the unsatisfactory
educational conditions.
Prominent educators, the National
Education Association and even a
few members of Congress agree that
Washington's public school system
should be model for the Nation. The
system. however. as 1t exists today,
borders on national disgrace
Any one who examines the educa-
tional history Of the Nations Capital
will inevitably reach the conclusion
that educational progress has been
retarded. not because of superficial
or passing conditions, but because the
present plan Of organizing, operating
and maintaining the school system
does not conform to the fundamental
principles Of efficient administration.
X 4 4 4
Educational progress in city
school system, according to authori-
ties on education, depends on two
fundamental considerations: First, a
program; and, second, the resources
with which to put that program into
operation in systematic manner.
From time to time in the past the
board of education and the superin-
tendent of schools have set forth con-
vincing and unmistakable evidence of
the needs of the school system and
the proposed educational policy to be
followed in satisfying those needs.
In altogether too many cases the
financial resources and the necessary
educational legislation have not been
Forthcoming. Educational progress in
Washington is slow because under the
present system of educational con-
troll and financial support the needs
of the school system are allowed to
become acute before consideration is
given to improvement and then re-
lief comes altogether too slowly.
X y
1t is a generally accepted principle
in educational administration that the
authority which controls the appro-
priations controls education. Nor ey
is the means by which school syS-
TEN is organized and maintained.
Failure on the part of the appropria-
tion power to provide money for pro-
gressive educational activities max es
an educational system unprogTeSsive.
Failure to provide money for adequate
salaries means mediocre teachers and
iE effectiv education. Failure to
build enough schoolhouses means
overcrowded classes, portables and
poorly adapted rented quarters, and
such conditions make impossible the
best teaching. Briefly. the amount OF
the appropriation bears direct rela-
tion to the educational possibilities
to be created therefrom. No appro-
priationS mean no schools. made
quate appropriations mean inadequate
education, and generous appropria-
tions make superior education a pos
sibility.
AS Congress controls the purse
strings for the District public schools,
the entire blame for the present stu
alton of the educational system is
placed directly on the shoulders of
those who constitute the membership
of the Senate and the House.
X
Ernest Greenwood, vice president of
the Board of Education has this to say
regarding the failure of Congress to
provide for the needs OF the school sys-
TEN as well as other departments of the
municipal government:
For. while every department of the