Evening star., 1925-04-19
BALLOU IS LAUDED
BY TEACHERS HERE
"Dreamer Who Made Dream
Come True" Honor Guest
at Banquet.


dreams come true.
Epitomized, this is the tribute that
the citizens of Washington. through
= representative group. paid to DR..
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent of
schools. at a testimonial dinner at the
Hotel Mayflower last night. given in
recognition of his achievements
which have put the National Capital
on the threshold of an unprecedented
era of school expa nsion and brought
10 him the highest position awarded
q school superintendent-the presf-
dency of the department of superin-
tendence of the National Education
Association.
Great Figure In Nation"
Lavish was the praise heaped on DR..
Ballou. John J. Tisert, Federal COM
missioner Of education, characterized
him as "a great figure in the Nation
today who has aroused the respect OF
the educational world" DR.. William
Mather Lewis, president of George
Washington University, described him
as ''ths Paul Revere of Washington"
Other speakers found different words
10 extol him. and in response to it all
the superintendent said, sincerely:
THE passag ge of all the important
school legislation by Congress was not
lied forces of the city. the press and
TO my loyal associates"
DIR. Frederick Ernest Harrington,
headma ster of Chevy Chase school
who acted as POSTMASTER. at the out
set of the extolling ceremonies, ex.-
planned that ANY man who can put
over In the city of Washington a
S19,000000 school building program
deserves to be honored." And any
man who Is elected president of the
National Education Association" he
added, deserves 10 be looked up to.
The school superintendency in wash
ington is the hardest in the country,
and Dr.. Balou has done more than
his best friends expected him to do.
Lauded i'm Verse.
Federal Commissioner of Education
Tigert after praisins DIR. Ballou ex-
pressed the opinion that the people of
Washington would have given him
s19 200, 900 for school building pro-
gram years ago if they had any voice
iD the matter.
To the surprise Of many of the edu-
Gators at the dinner, DIR. Lewis. recog-
nized as one of the country's leading
public speakers, established prec.
edent by reading an original poem in
stead of speaking. 1T was based on
Longfe1lows Ride Of Paul Revere"
and depicted the efforts of DR.. Bal
lou to arouse the interest of the resi-
dents of the District in his five.year
building program.
Maj. William H. Holcombe. assistant
District engineer commissioner, told
of his association with Dr. Ballou in
an official capacity, and declared that
before the superintendent completes
his work Washington will have ''the
finest set of school buildings and
teachers that can be obtained"
In spite of a tempestuous and
balky Board of Education, DR.. Ballou
has maintained an even keel, and
through his efforts we have built up
a splendid school system" was the
tribute that James G. Yaden, chair.
man OF the committee on schools of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions paid to the superintendent: Il
feel that we have at the head of our
school system" he said. "a superin-
tendent who ranks among the great
est His career has been fraught with
extreme difficulties. He has had nu-
merous obstacles to mount, but he has
met every discouraging situation like
q man. For the last few years we, the
parents, have only begun to appre-
ciate his splendid services.
Points to New Ideals.
Of the Columbian College of George
Washington University, also paid a
glowing tribute to DR.. Ballou. and
outlined the new ideals which have en-
tered education, the chief one of which
he said was fellowship.
Rev. Waiter A Morgan, pastor of
the Mount Pleasant Congregational
Church and president of the Pastors
Federation of Washington, stressed
he nj Intimate
tionship between the church and the
school UNLESS there is the finest and
closest cooperation between the
churches and the educational forces.
he said "I am confident America will
not go forward as she should"
James T. Lloy, president of the
school board, pointed out that Wash
ington has had no superintendent OF
schools in recent years who has so
successfully and faithfully mastered
his work in every detail as DR.. Ballou.
He explained the difficult problems
encountered in the administration of
the District schools and declared that
the superinte endent had met them with
little friction due to his ''poise and
superior good judgment.
Friction Absent.
Mr.. Lloyn also emphasized that
there is no friction between the board,
the Commissioners, the Budget Blu
reau and Congress. and that the
superintendent in recent months has
had the splendid support of the
board"
The broadmindness of DR.. Ballou
was touched on by DR.. Peter Gull
day. professor of church history at
Catholic University, who also declared
that the leaders of the Roman Cath
olic Church in America ''are praying
for the day when they can open the
doors of the parochial schools to the
public schools. That day will come
he said, when some place is found
where we all can meet on that deli
cate and dangerous phase of religious
education"
The greatest disadvantage Of being
superintendent of schools, DR.. Ballou
declared, is that the citizens don't ac-
cept the superintendent professional
views as they do those of the medical
and other professions. The time has
not yet arrived when we can expect
our opinions to be accepted by the
public" he said. {" We must prove
them"
"a Teacher Of Teachers
DR.. Ballou reeounted some of his
earlier experiences in Washington.
some of his multifarious responsible
ties, and explained that he conAid-
cred himself a teacher of teachers"
Congress, he concluded stands
more ready to do Its part for the
welfare OF education in Washington
than ever before"
During the progress of the dinner
several telesrams and communica-
tions were read from those unable to
attend, adding their laudatory com.
mendation to DIR. Ballou. They came
from the Washington Board of Trade,