Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31
Congress Liberal City of Washington in Legislation Passed
RETIREMENT BILL LAUDED.
AS BENEFIT TO TEACHERS
Education Officials Call Legislation
Most Important Chapter in
Schools Greatest Year.

Passage of the teachers retirement
law allowing more adequate retire
ment provisions with the view Of Inn
proving the teaching service in the
District of Columbia is stamped by DR.
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent and
other school officials as the chapter of
the most far-reaching Importance writ
ten during the eventful 1926 school
year, which brought the enrolment
figures above the 10000 mark for the
first time in school history.
The success achieved in securing
the prompt enactment of this legisla-
ton, designed to make retirement of
school teachers desirable rather than
specter to be feared, is credited to
the manner in which the legislation
was organized and presented to Con-
gress. School officials, members of
the Board of Education and the
teachers council committee all worked
with a perfect unahimity of opinion.
thus creating a favorable impression
upon the members of Congress hand
ling the legislation.
The year just closed has been a not
able one in the carrying out of the
five-year building program, particular
ly inasmuch as the largest single
appropriation in the building program
was allotted by the budget director
sion Of Congress.
Program Progress.
Concrete evidence of the progress of
the five-year building program was
seen at the opening of the schools in
September. when six new elementary
schools were added to the system. 1t
is also noted that work is being rushed
on four new junior high schools, three
til IT,
opened in February. They are: The
Stuart Junior High. the Francis
Junior High, a new wing to the Mac
farland Junior High, all of which are
expected to be opened in February,
and new wing to the Hine Junior
High, scheduled for completion in
April
While the enrolment nearly touched
5000 during the latter part of 1925 it
remained for the year 1926 to win the
honor of seeing the largest enrolment.
that OF December 8 last, which was
70,553 pupils.
At the very outset of 1926 the edu-
cational forces of the city came into
the limelight when. in February. the
department of superintendent of the
National Education Association held
it's annual gathering here. The host
of educational leaders from all over
the United States and many foreign
countries taxed the accommodations
of the city to their capacity and the
several score of sessions at the Wash
ington Auditorium of the department
and its allied bodies were declared to
be the most notable ever held.
DIR. BalIou Wins Praise.
DIR. Frank w. Ballou, superintend-
ent of schools. as president of the Ma
tional Education Association, was the
guiding spirit of the gigantic educa-
tional conference and received en-
thusiastic commentator from civic
leaders on the manner In which. he
handled the great educational event
On Washington's birthday the mem
bers of the department of superin-
tendence were addressed by President
Coolidge.
a distinct loss to the school system
occurred on May 80, 1926, when DR.
Hosmer NJ. Johnson, supervising
principal of the seventh division, died
after 35 years meritorious service in
the school system. A notable retire
ment of the year was that of Miss
Annie NJ. Wilson, director of music
on June 16, after 80 years service
Two other outstanding reirements
were those of Miss Marion Z. Shadd
assistant superintendent of schools,
and j. c. Male. supervising principal.
Outstanding appointments of school
officials during the year We're: Miss
Sibyl Baker, director of community
center work: A. H. Johnson. director
of music; Miss Ethel Bray, director of
drawing; Miss Elizabeth A. Hummer.