Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19
LAST SCHOOL YEAR
DECLARED NOTABLE
Supt. Ba|Iou Holds Teacher
Pay Bill Great Achievement.
For Five-Hour Day.

For FWe-Hour Day.
The scholastic year of 1924 will
lie locked upon. in years to come as
one of the most important in the
history of education in the District,
i,r. Frank w. Ballou. superintendent
OF schools. points ont in the first
section of his annual report to the
t'"ard of Education. made public last
ght.
Thc initial inStallment of the com
PfshenSive and VoluminouS report
covers II topics of sufficient impor-
tance to be Chronicled in public school
history. Some of them relate to the
teaching and administrat tive person
mel, while others are devoted to an
explanation Of the various educa-
llonal problems disposed Of during
the year.
DIR. Gallou lists as the outstanding
events of the year the passage of the
teachers salary bill, which provided
It new wage schedule for all educa-
tional employees of the school system
ana the classification of all other en-
ployes-Janitors, medical inspectors,
nurses and Clerks-under the pro-
vision of the rcclassification leGisla-
tfon.
Agree on Legislation.
THE school year of 1924 also
witnessed an agreement on the part
81 tn" Board of Education on the
provisions of proposed legislation
growing out of the report of the
1oiht committee of the House and
senate. of which Senator capper was
chairman" said the report This
legislation will undoubtedly be in
'roduc'd into Congress at it's next
session. This proposed legislation
nodiiies the functions uf the Board
OF Education and outlines re-
organization of the administrative
and supervisory staff in accordance
with the best educational practice of
the day.
The school year 1924 has also
seen the formation of a well defined
public opinion on the part of the peo-
pie and general agreement among the
school authorities. the District Com
mIsSionerS. the Bureau of the Budget
and committees of Congress concern
ing the necessity for the adoption
by Congress Of comprehensive. five
Year building program for the public
schools.
Lloyd Presents Report.
The report OF James T. Lloyd. presi-
dent of the school board, was made
public simultaneously with that of
DR. Ballou. 1t is brief and contains
the optimistic expression that the
schools during the current scholastic
Year should be more successful than
in the past and the board wishes 10
do all in its power to accomplish that
end"
Mr.. lloyd touched briefly upon the
disScnsiou on the school board which
resulted in many heated verbal bat
ties between the two factions, and
said: 1T has been n strenuous year.
The operation of an extensive school
tystem with its many intricate prob
lens affords opportunity for an hon
est divergence of opinion. and the
hoard has not always been in agree
ment. There have been some passing
phases of unplea SantneSS, and at
times lack of complete harmony,
Yet every member has been conSclen-
tious in trying to do what was re-
Earded as best for the school system
in which he has an abiding interest
In retrospect it is now observed
where mistakes have hecn made:
where the board. if unhampered. may
increase the efficiency of our schools.
Tribute to school stan.
High tribute is paid by Mr.. Lloyd
70 Supt. Ballou and the teaching
force. THE administrative branch
under the leadership of DR.. Frank
w Ballou is highly efficient" said
the school board president. DIT
Ballou is faithful. progressive,
human: he is conversant with the
best educational methods and prac-
tice, d superintendent who aspires to
the highest standards of excellence.
The people of Washington are to be
congratulated that their schools are
in such worthy hands.
THE teaching force is superior
one. 1t is loyal to its work and
faithful in its performance. our stan
"f teachers compares favorabiy with
amy other TO be found in the large
cities. There is promise of increased
efficiency hy virtue of the new salary
scale and the improved morale which
follows adequate compensation
Or. Ballou's report referred to the
extension Of the Junior high school
system. the steps that have been
1aken to safeguard pupils using
ma,nual training machinery the
teachers institute. the citizens con-
fprrrceS with the school board. the
rrincipal changes in school officers,
the new procedure in making repairs
and alterations to buildings. the five
hour day for pupils in the primary
GRADES. the Denny case, reorganlza-
tion legislation. the transfer OF the
AUGMENTATION classes TO the w en-
Ster School the report of the commit
tee which investigated MuZzey'S
American history. the supervision of
subjects in the Junior high schools,
changes in the boards maternity
rule the two sport rule adopt
ed in the high schools. the change in
basis for Withholding longevity pay
and the case of Miss NJ. f. Quander.
Discusses Five-HOur Day.
Referring to the five-hour day
urogram for the primary grades, DIR.
Hallou said that he felt constrained
to advise the board of education that
some OF the teachers in grades 1
and protested against the five-hour
day for them much in the same man.
uer and spirit that they are now
for their pupils. The school officers
teachers time could be approximately
used for the benefit of the teachers
and the pupils. and undertook at once
plans for utilizing that time"
The superintendent is convinced.
from the experience of the school.
wear that when tho supervisory Off
GERS and teachers shall have worked
out an appropriate educational pro-
gram for A five-hour rather than a
three-and a-haf hour school day,
disadvantages in the operation of a
! and 2. The superintendent finds
change in the five-hour day for pupils