Evening star., 1924-12-17
Old Schools and Present Needs.

O1u 0CHOOlS ana Present NeeQS.
In his statement of the needs Of the
public education system of the Dis
trict before the Chamber of Com.
merce last night at its monthly meet
ing, Supt. Ballou set forth that the
per capita cost of education here is
much less than in many other places,
citing particularly. that whereas Wash
ington spends annually only $77.69
per pupil for school purposes, Yonkers,
N. Y, spends s129.67. This is a char
acteristic comparison. The local school
cost has been kept low because Con-
gress has not been willing to spend
in accordance with the needs, al
though the District has been willing
on it's side, to contribute freely and
sufficiently of its tax money to this
end.
There should. however, be no ques-
ton of comparison. .Washington's needs
are absolute and unmistakable, with.
out reference to what other cities do
or what the cost may be. 1t is short
of buildings and short of teachers. 1t
IS short even of text books, now using,
as an example. obsolete Biographies
that do not accurately tell the story
of the world. Many of its buildings
are old, obsolete themselves in point
of structure, plan and sanitation.
Some of the elementary schools, DR..
Ballou pointed out last night. were
built as far back as 1868, or 66 years
aga.
Pleas for the betterment Of these
conditions have been made to Con-
gress for years. They have not fallen
upon entirely. deaf ears. Congress has
granted funds for new buildings from
time to time, but never in sufficient
abundance to permit a complete catch
ing up on the arrears at any one time.
The Districts public school equipment
has been like Mr.. wilfer's suit of
clothes, never completely new.
A -ive-year building program IS pro-
posed, a large-scale series of appro-
priations that will effect the replace
ment of obsolete buildings, perhaps
the consolidation of small buildings
and the provision Of new structures
that will bring the system for once in
the Districts history up to date.
The memory Of some of those who
heard the superintendent speak last
night at the Chamber Of Commerce
meeting doubtless ran back to the days
when many of Washington's public
schools were housed in rented struc-
lures, dark, ill-ventilated, and from
modern point Of view wholly unsuited
to the shelter of children under
tuition. From even the point of view
of that period--the early 70s. and, in
deed, the sos. of the past century
many of tila Districts schools were
poor makeshifts. Church Easements,
transformed small dwellings, and even,
in one instance, a remodeled brewery
building were used for long periods
while waiting for more funds for new
constructions And when the new con-
structions came they were tardy. The
school population had increased to the
point where they were barely ade-
quate for the new additions to the
school attendance
: That condition has continued to
date. Portable buildings have been
adopted as makeshifts, Yet some Of
the veterans still stand, unsuitable in
every respect. A deadline should be
drawn against them, a date line, line
that would exclude from public school
use all structures built or occupied be-
fore certain, time. q" ~@at are located
in crowded sections without adequate
recreation space, all that have not
abundant light and air. For to keep
these buildings up to the mark of
sanitation, regardless of the question
of play spaces, costs heavily. 1t is the
worst. of bad economy to maintain
them. ---..
A comprehensive building program
is the primary essential of District
school needs, The District has the
money in the Treasury for a good
start upon such a series of construc-
.tionis If Congress will give the word
for its appropriation on the basis of
equity The plea of mo funds" cannot
be faised in objection so long as this
fund remains unappropriated.