The Washington times., 1925-11-02
Let Everybody Pull For
Better Schools

II
washington fight for adequate public buildings has
Passage BY Congress last session Of the five
was the first step meeting the Districts school housing
needs.
united and unrsmng fight of District citizens That fight
be continued The courage and determination
which resulted IN enactment Of the program bin must prevail
today or the prize VIII be lost
The fveyear school building program Of great value
L outlines the obligations Of the nation and the District TO
It's future citizens merely program however The bill
contains no provision for duty
Of Congress to back up its sctiOn II adopting the bill By
approprag the money necessary to permit purchase Of
land and construction Of the authorized buildings.
Success failure Of the school building win be
determined In large part this winter by the action of the
Budget Bureau the House Appropriations Committee and
Congress
pupil needed to obtain from Congress promptly the $1,000
600 required school housing problem Il is Of
vital Importance that substantial Roadway be made the
construction program during the coming fiscal year
District public schools miserabg COngested Pupils
teachers and school officials struggling under hand
caps. The unsatisfactory conditions Of war days s prevail
OVecrOWded and unsatisfactory buildings Con-
dned buildings which should have been replaced years ago
being are crowded to the limit Portable school
buildings and rented quarters in this year so
Washington should possess the best schools and school faci
ties in the United States The Washington school buildings
students Of the nations educational prOblsms should find in
Washington the greatest agency Of democracy the American
public school in its most perfect form.
National leaders in educational fields saunchy inorse the
plans embodied IN the fveyear building program The
National Education Association in 1922 adopted the following
resolution:
We look the city Of Washington for Leadership ii mat
tiers Of school administration supervision teaching business
management and for the development Of balanced
and progressive educational program in city schools
special the schools Of the Capital City belong the
nation.
The fveyear program viii provide modern school
buildings to make it possible to-
Abandon all portable schools re
Eliminate rented buildings.
Abandon the use Of undesirable rooms.
Reduce elementary school classes standard more
than forty. pupils per class.
Provide fveho day Of instruction elementary school
pupils thereby eliminating parttime classes
Abandon all school buildings recommended for immediate
early abandonment in 1908.
Abandon other school buildings which have unfit
for further since 1908
Provide full day Of instruction for high school pupils
The present double shift system high schools should be
eliminated.
Provide for the annual increase enrolment Of pupils
during the fiveyear period.
While good start has been made this year the school
building program funds far appropriated have been
sufficient to out the schedule at the rate necessary
complete il within the fve-year period.
The campaign for adequate appropriations to carry the
program outlined affecting vitality every Washington
parent The program is exceently planned Il should be
carried out without delay.
Here is to which every civic organisation social
gathering and business group should lend the heares sup
port Every taxpayer and especially the parents Of Wash
mgon school children should join in the plea for full APP
preparations this winter in accordance with the authorized
schedue