Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-31

sjoners, has placed the District Of
Columbia public school system in
What is probably the healthiest state
in its history. This is the view Of
the officials today as they stand with
their work on the threshold OF new
year. and it is a view Warranted by
surviving record.
Nineteen twenty-seven hrouSht us
share of disruptionS-minor for the
most part-and its criticisms and sug'
Sestions, but in the process il con-
tributed advances and improvements
TO he school system which will con-
stitute permanent assets. AMONG
these would be included reorSanized
normal school system, facilities Tor
vocational training for Sirls. me
breaking down Of old policies which
some had considered 'trite. and an
epprec liable move toward the remedy
Ing Of pupil-crowdinG conditions by
;he opening OF new building units and
the establishment OF necessary port
able building groups.
Not the least OF the Sits of 1927
to the public schools is the present
confidence which citizens as indiVid'
uals and in organizations are eVioenc'
ing in the school officials and the
apparent quietude on the part or
most of the systems virile critics.
School Survey Made.
One OF the most important develop.
ments of the school year and one OF
which the outcome is at the moment
pending is the survey of the school
system which the Bureau OF Efficiency
has conducted at the invitation OF
Senator Phipps. Colorado, chairman
Of The Senate subcommittee in charge
of District appropriations. The survey
was sought following an era or crlu'
eisYn which was instituted last year.
A elimination of charges. including
the contention that the system did not
need - teachers, which had been
sought in Appropriation petitlons pS
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools. resulted in the decision
70 investigate the administration OF
school business. The survey. vel
coined by the school authorities. was
begun March IL, and although the
Bureau of Efficiency will not report
on it's findings until some time In jan
nary. 1925. il is understood from au.
thoritative sources that the report
will be highly coT.nendatory OF the
system in general
Foremost among the Administrative
and curriculum changes which 1927
gave TO the public school system was
school courses, which came as a re-
suit of agitation begun in 1925. when
the superintendent cited unsatisfac-
tory conditions then existing in the
system. The most radical change IN
the courses offered at the Wilson Nor
NAL School and the Miner Normal
School was the extension OF the
teacher.training course to three years
from two years. as formerly required
In the reorganization, which became
effective July /. 1927. the Board OF
Education decided that the two nor
NAL schools should prepare teachers
only for the kindergarten and the ele
mentary school grades, for the pres
ent not undertaking to prepare teach
ers for the junior, senior or vocational
schools
Physical Training Encouraged.
The posrd further decided that the
Z. physical training course in the nor
NAL schools should be sufficiently
broad and intensive TO encourage
proper health habits I'm the normal
school students during their course II
training. TO provide prospective teach |
ers on graduation from the normal
schools with preparation in subject
matter and methods Of teaching as
win qualify them 20 teach health |
habits and physical training TO chill. |
Cren in kindergarten and elementary
grades" The board decided also that |
q course In home economics 30 organ. I
lied and conducted az to acquaint the
students with the sources. value and
cost Of food. clothing and shelter ma
teriais which would serve az back
ground for instruction in industrial
arts OF the pupils who would come
under them I'm their respective ciasses
should he included In the course.
New standards for entrs nee in the
normal schools we're estAbiished when
the board decided that only those stu
dents ranking in the upper half Of
their class for the last tao years 81 /
high school, should be admitted with
out examination. The physical exam. F.
ina ton under the old system continues
a. a requirement. Graduates Of high |
schools outside the District. under the
PsOrss nizstion. are admitted only b3
e1ausiDs ton
Or EaHou chsracterizes the re.
argA MIA ton 0f the normal schools AZ
the 0utsts ndinR development during
the year and he - commented in his
annual report. The reorga nization
WA brought about ct the recon-
Toendstion ~ fr. John j. TiRert.
Tinted States commissioner u educa.
ton.
r.. E. Graham Resigns.
simultaneously with the advent Of
1927. Edwin r. Graham resisned from
the presidency ~ the Board Of Eau.
cation, giving ar his reasons pressing
civic duties ia other Orga MIA tons.
which he said occupied much III his
time Mr.. Graham submitted his
sesignz ton late ia December. 1876.
q no n wss accepted by the justices Ut
fhe District Supreme Court January
z5 1877.
Isaac Cans waa appointed 10 Oh the
sscsncy eFeste0 By Mf. Grsbam's
FesiRns son ard he became member
nf the bostG February ID ~ complete
ths unsxpiTed term ~ the resigned
member On July / al the expiration
of Asr Grshs mr. term. ~. Cans WIS
rsAppolnted Following BIZ. GTshs ms
Tssig nation from the b1sTo Char lee
y EsFusl waa elsnthd president.
The year gIss closed witnessed the
usual healthy expansion Which the
~ bool systsm has enjoyed during re
cfnt sears ia the opening ~ new eis'
DJeHtsTy 10 junior high seh0oi bDilh.
jngs sn1 ia iDcrea SD enrolment. In
CrICtpey 1926 there was total ru-
poilHent ~ che elementary sn1 high
schoots of 1877 while Ia Osst1LeF ~
fbis y@sT that enrolment had reach
80 II 935 In June, 1921, the enroll
Jnen' wBr fg,is7. ~ ! 100 more tbau
ia she DcioDeT Of thst scb0oi year
Estimated On fhs 10 Sac ~ similar
increase during The schooi yssI. tbs
sntoiilasnt is JUBe of the pFeSent
s"bDel year may lie expected 10 exceed
"a 900
Fight NSw Schools Opened.
In sII. flvs junior high ssho0i blil0
ing unite sud three elementary school
units were opened after January !,
1927, These included the new francis
snd stuart JuHt0r High Schools. and