The Washington times., 1928-01-25
Tuition for NONRESIDENT Pupils
in District Public Schools

the Cramton bill passes Congress the public schools of
the District will be closed to ALL nonresident pupils unless
they pay tuition fees fixed by school authorities
Looked at wholly financial matter the bill may be
justified Looked at shutting our splendid SCHOOLS TO
large numbers Of children whose parents are our close
neghbors afford pay tuoS fees the bill has
little commend it. It is not in keeping with the cry OF
educators that American youth should be given every opor
tunity for schooling
The various District appropriation bills years past have
carried certain exemptions from tuition ices In our SCHOOLS
The principal exemption has been that OF children OF Govern
ment employees, and working in washington
spending their here identified in every way with the
life of this city except in actual residence
The majority of these Government workers are underpad
They would be unable to meet tuition charges for their
children Especially would children in the
Junior and high schools the tuition fees in which would
be from $13 to $83 per Not only that these children
living near Washington have no high of their
to attend They would be deprived of useful education
The average enrolment in District about
$4,000 year. Of this number there 1852 nonresident
pupils and 81 Of these pay tuition Theoretically their
average the District something less than $500
year, or total of approximately $200,00O
That however, is guess work these pupils were shut
from schools altogether the saving would not be
thing like 100000 year The number of teachers employed
would be practically the for most teachers are now
nsucng classes far above the number of pupils they should
have.
There might be saving in school books and in few
minor items
washington is the nucleus of that Greater Capital City
talk much about, and which will some day become a
reality of that Greater Washington will be
the territory from which the vast majority Of these nonres
dent pupils The parents of these children
nearly all workers in this city and spend their money here
The Cramton bill should not affect pupils living within
Of three to five miles of the District line and whose
parents guardians employed here These are virtually
District children.
There are nonresident pupils parents
identified with the District They pay
here spend money here In the of of
these pupils they States distance away from
Washington They reside with relatives board with friends
They should pay tuition.
The District may few dollars by the Cramton BILL
but win shut the doors of education to many but de-
serving children.
Citizens Advisory Council has endorsed the Cramton
bill but proposes amendment that nonresident pupils
whose parents pay in the District shall be credited
sutton bills to the amount Of local taxes paid This fair
proper The payment Of here indicates that the
parents are probably identified with the District
Representative Zhman did good work in defeating this
proposition in the last session Of Congress Virginia
and Maryland Senators and Representatives should join with
him defeating this Cramton bill in amending it in
eonable manner.