Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-07
BALLOU OUTLINES
NEEDS OF SCHOOLS
Increase in Amount of voca-
tionaI and Trade EduCa-
ton First, He Says.

The eight ma jor needs Of the Dis.
trict Of Columbia public school sys.
tenn, as he sees them, were named
by DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintend.
ent of schools, in a brief sketch OF
The School Situation in Washing.
ton" delivered before the City Club
weekly forum luncheon yesterday ait.
ernoon.
First on his list. DR.. Ballou placed
n need for an increase in the amount
Of vocational and trade education
such as Is found in the Mckinley and
Armstrong Technical High Schools.
the Abbott and Phelps Vocational
Schools for Boys and the Dennison
and Margaret Murray Washington
Vocational School for Girls"
other needs were cited. as follows:
IAN enlarged statistical Office TO
gather, organize. digest and dis.
tribute accurate, up-to-date and
worthwhile statistics regarding all
aspects Of the school system.
Adequate Clerical Help.
adequate clerical help to relieve
higher paid officials and teachers Of
doing what $1,000 clerk can do
better.
THE employment Of sufficient
number Of properly qualified teach.
ers, so that classes may be kept Of
such size as to make 1t possible for
each teacher to give systematic
attention TO the varying individual
needs. capacities and interests Of the
boys and girls Of her class.
"A better treatment Of our school
grounds. both from the standpoint Of
landscaping and architectural effect
and from the standpoint Of increased
usefulness for the play Of children.
"A general rehabilitation Of our
older school buildings, involving bet.
ter toilet facilities and heating plants
the replacement Of obsolete and worm
out school furniture for pupils with
modern, up.to-date equipment, new
window shades and systematic paint
ing every five or six years.
THE completion Of the present Ave.
year building program as speedily as
the resources Of the District of Co.
lumhia will permit.
THE early preparation and enact.
ment of legislation covering a second
five-year building program for Wash.
ington."
Figures Are Cited.
In his sketch" Of the school sys.
tenn. DR.. Ballou told the forum that
there are engaged in the system
1855 teachers. 1873 superintendent
supervising principals. directors of
special subjects and principals Of
various types of schools: IS attend.
ance officers and census inspectors,
10 school librarians and "a annual
substitutes caring for a total enroll
ment Of pupils last year of 1864.
There are 1917 buildings, ranging from
typical one.room rural school to
school the size of Central High
School. for the care Of which Sill en-.
gineers. janitors. electricians. me-
chanics. laborers. night watchmen and
matrons are required.
In conclusion. DR.. Ballou paid trih.
ute to the present Board OF Education
a nd his staff OF officers and teachers,
who. he said. ARE deyoting them.
selves intellectually to the develop.
ment of a system Of progressive edu.
Referring to the needs Of
the system as he had already de.
scribed them. DR.. Ballou said "the
extent to which the ideal set up
few years ago of making the public
school system of the Nations Capital
A model for the Nation shah be fully
realized in the future. depends on the
progressive efficiency of the school
organization and systematic under.
standing Of the school needs by the
people OF Washington"