The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-10-18
School Fight Still On

ONNOOl I&nA OAIA OA
Though the veyear public building program hae
been in effect than year, Washngtons fight TO-
adequate school buildings has been Despite TN
program adopted Congress pledge to the people OF int
District school system is losing ground
building program adopted by Congress because
the united and untrng fight of the District citizens Ina
fight must be continued The courage and determuo
which resulted in the enactment of the program bill must pre-
vail today that program will be lost
The program of value although is not beng tooWea
1t outlines the obligation of the nation and the District toward
future the Capital The
failure of the program will be determined this winter by the
Budget Bureau the House Committee Appror atons and
Congress- of the vital Importance that progress be
made during the coming fiscal in undermining our schoo
system.
Owing to restriction placed by Congress upon the amount
expended public school it has been impossible
for the District Commissioners to purchase single one OF the
sites authorised to be acquired this year Nearly full
year must eapse before single site can be acquired and
construction buildings begin the present status
Whether there is merit the position OF Congress
that than 25 per above the assessed valuation
should be paid beside the point. The
stricton blocking the building That the
serious aspect OF the matter
The 25 per cent restriction be applied fairly land
rapidly developing Washington residential sections tax
officials values there increasing rapidly
of that made several
months ago do not true values Even with the ad
ional % per allowance District officials cannot hope to
prices which the landowners command from private
District officials declare that condemnation pro-
ceedings will Jures will not award prices less
than the restricted limit placed by Congress.
While the District Commissioners seek vanly to acquire the
lands which soon will be sorey school Sites they
are being Sold subdived and covered with buildings When
Congress does them the Will have scared
the figure for which they could be purchased
may be that the District being compelled to
much for public land. that is condition to be
remedied But school children should not be compelled
fer because that condition and District school children
suffering today.
District schools miseaby congested Pupils teachers
end school officials working under handicap Con
dtions nearly bad days although there
construction under the program This
construction been sufficient accommodate
increase in the school population Overcrowded and
unsatisfactory school buildings Condemned
hui1dn Sh0nd have
crowded their capacity Portable schools
and rented buildings in various parts OF the city
few days ago the citizens of Manor Park OF Wash
ngons many rapidly growing residential celebrated the
opening portable school, which slight relief from
the congestion there That ptfu spectacle for the Ma
ona1 Capitaczen and celebrating the opening
of drfaty cold temporary building of flsy construction
which would be scorned in villages of the neghborng States
Washington should possess the best schools and educational
facilities in the United States Our schools should be models
The school the National Capital should represent to
educators of the nation the greatest of democracy the
American school in its perfect form.
The National Education Association, in resolution
standing it's records said We look the city of Wash
supervision teaching business management and for the de
velopmen of ebaanced and progressive education
program city schools In special the schools Of the
Capital City belong to the nation.
The fveyear program would bring this hope to fruiton
followed District citizens given understand would
be followed
This program exceently planned should be followed
AS long the restriction permitted to stay the
statute books it cannot be carried out.
This which calls for the support of civic
organization business group and taxpayer in the District OF
Columbia