Evening star., 1926-02-18
UNSAFE SCHOOLS
PROVOKE DEBATE
Board Of Education Disavows
Blame for Conditions
in City.

Responsibility for the insanitary and
generally unsatisfactory conditions ex-
listing in many Washington public
schools, particularly the older ones,
was disavowed by members or the
Board Of Education and DR.. Frank w.
Ballou, superintendent, at a meeting
Of the board yesterday afternoon.
Ernest Greenwood, vice president
who has had the expenditure OF the
repair fund under his supervision for
the past two years, said he resented
the boards being blamed for not
spending money they didn't have. He
said last year they found that 81 .loo'-
900 was necessary to take care OF COIL
ditions needing attention, and that OF
this amount they asked for $55O,00O,
which was cut to $4,000 before the
estimates were sent to Congress.
Based on Investigation.
The discussion, based on the report
of Representative Mary Norton OF
New Jersey, who recently advised
the Gasoue subcommittee that II out
OF 13 schools she visited were insan1-
taly and in q .5graceful condition,
was provoked !; Charles F. Carus1
He voiced t., opinion that any
school not Sc ought to be closed.
DR.. Ballou advised that he was
making up - report Oh lue 10 S.iioo,
buildings V: tied by Mrs. Norton. and
inttmated t'lat some of the situations
she reprtted We're exaggerated
President T.. C. Graham ruled that
the boarl should make a survey or
every s, nool every year and have a
report of the exact conditions pre-
vailing.
The board appeared disappointed
over a report on the recent student
strike at Armstrong Technical High
School as made by Assistant Supt.
of Schools G. c. Wilkinson. He was
ordered to make another report at
the next meeting Of the board put
ting responsibility for the strike d.
rectly on the shoulders Of some one.
Wants Blame Fixed.
In his report Mr.. Wilkinson said he
had not found evidence that any men,
Der of the faculty at Armstrong had
taken an active part in the student
walk out" but he had established
that most of the faculty knew what
was going on, and after the strike was
called they failed to meet the situa-
ton. He said he particularly blamed
Charles NJ. Thomas and Miss Helen
Crawford, student council sponsors,
who failed to "sit in" on the council
meetings at which the strike was
discussed. Mr.. Greenwood said he was
opposed to making the council spon-
sors the goats" but that he did want
responsibility placed where it belonged
and a definite recommendation Tor ac-
ton from Mr.. Wilkinson.
Capt Arthur c. Newman was given
permission to receive loving cup
from his former pupils at Armstrong
High School.
The appointment of George w.
Hines as head of the department of
business practice in the colored hlSh
school divisions was approved.
A request from the Washington
Central Labor Union that school
be named in honor of Samuel
Gompers was filed. The Northeast
Boundary Citizens Association re-
queSted that a portable school be IN
stalled at Burrville, while the Rhode
Island Avenue Citizens Association
asked for a junior high school and
other schools in the Woodbridge sec
ton.
Report was made of the following
deaths: Miss E. B. Purman, Blake
School; A. F., GaSch. Manual Train
ing, and Miss B. NJ. Sewall, school
garden teacher, division 13.
Changes i'm Personnel.
The following changes in personnel
were approved:
Resignations-F. NJ. Biggs, teacher.
class la, Smallwood Bowen School:
NJ. I. Ostrolenk. teacher. class Ia,
Smallwood- Bowen School: Peter Peter
sen, janitor, Webster School; K. b.
Hayn.e. assistant engineer, Central
High School, and NJ. j. Gillian,
janitor, Taylor School.
Terminations-E liz b eth Law,
teacher, class la, domestic art, LenoX
School; Lois Niswonger. teacher, class
Ia, domestic art; Marian Dienelt
teacher, class la, domestic art; Mar
garet Chamblin, teacher. class Ia,
physical training; J. F. Skehan.
teacher. class "a, Jefferson Junior
High School; Christian Gates, teacher,
class IA, Abbot Vocational School;
l.. A. Lee. teacher, class ga. Arm
strong High School, and r. +. Ovel-