Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-07
PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
HERE IS APPROVED
Simmons Tells School ASSo-
citation He FaV0rs Teachers
College Plan Also.
Approval of the ultimate establish

Approval of the ultimate establish
ment here not only of four-year teach
ers' college but free-tuition four-year
public university was expressed by Rep
resentative Simmons, Republican, of
Nebraska, chairman of the District sub
committee of the House committee on
appropriations, during his discussion of
the Districts school needs and school
appropriations at the meeting of the
ii-154strict of Columbia Public School
Association last night in the District
Building.
Mr.. Simmons addressed the associa-
tion primarily in defense of his proposed
$40 100000 school building program
which three hours earlier yesterday the
Board of Education had formally OPP
posed at its meeting in the Franklin
Administration Building. BY virtue of
the question and-anSwer forum he con-
Quoted with the members of the asSo-
citation, however, he expressed his views
on most of the pertinent factors in
Washington's school system today.
Denies Teacher Elimination.
Besides declaring his approval of the
four-year teachers college and the four
year public university, Mr. Simmons ex-
pressed mild opposition of the platoon
system Of elementary education, a plan
which the Public School Association and
other citizen groups has heartily in
dorsed Commenting upon his commit
tees action on the 1880 school appro-
priation, Mr.. Simmons denied that that
body had eliminated a single elementary
classroom teacher and declared that the
Is teachers cut from the estimates of
the Board of Education included for
the most part what term auxiliary
or supplemental teachers"
Mr.. Simmons declared his proposed
$10,000,000 building bill provides the
elements which make the original FIVE
year school building program act and
the proposed second five-year program
unwise. While the two five-year pro-
| grams authorize definite construction at
definite sites, all of which must OF
necessity be determined more than five
years in advance of the actual needs,
Mr.. Simmons said his bill specifies no
| specific items and no special time for
| the building. Such program. he con-
| tended, would permit the District to I'M
| dertake to build its schools when and
where the actual need developed instead
of where it was estimated earlier-per-
| haps incorrectly, in the face of the
city's actual Developments as the five-
year period unfolds-particular struc-
| lures should be erected.
Mr.. Simmons told the association
that when appropriations are asked for
school buildings nowadays, the school
officials advance as the reason for their
erection the fact that they are author
lied in the Swear school building pro-
| gram act.
Opposes 5-Year Principle.
"The reason why a building should
be built is that need for it exists
and not simply that the 5-year program
| says 1t is to be built" Mr.. Simmons
said.
He opposed the principle of the S.
year program scheme on the ground
that the present Board of Education
should not be permitted to "tie the
hands" of future Boards of Education
in the matter of schoolhouse conStruc-
ton, and that the present Congress
should not restrict future Congresses
to specific buildings which now may
appear to be wise. He explained that
his proposed bill simply authorized the
expenditure of $10,000,000 when and
how and where it is actually needed
when that real need becomes apparent.
When he offered to answer questions
pertaining to the public school business
Mr.. Simmons was Queried Immediately
as to justification for his committees
action in attaching rider to the bill
cutting the priority extended to normal
school graduates in appointment to 25
per cent of the class. Mr.. Simmons said
the sole reason was that your children
and lmine-and I have two in your
schools-can have the best qualified in
structors that money can hire" by cor
recting the existing legislation, under
which the normal school graduate who
barely attains a passing grade could be
given a position, while the most bril-
liant college degree holder who might
!. be willing to teach here at the lowest
salary is barred completely.
Agrees to College Plan.
, Asked then If he did not believe the
; District Normal School course should
; be extended to four years so that local
/; young men and women could receive
/; training which would place them on a
:. par with State school prepared gradu-
|, ates, Mr.. Simmons declared that he
was In entire agreement with that con-
tention. Going further, he said he
:. favored a public university where Dis
education without being obliged to pay
= high buttons. Asked if he referred tt
junior college offering a two-yeal
e course, Mr.. Simmons declared emphati-
:, cally that he meant full four-yeal
n course. The institution of such 6
e school, however, he said, should come
}: through legislative procedure and per.
I haps should be introduced in stages Sc
n that the ultimate four-year public uni
= verSity would have been in turn {
= teachers college and junior college.
: Asked If he did not favor the platoon
p system as means of greater economy
Mr.. Simmons said that while he ma.
be sensible Of some economic advan
0 tages in the plan, he is mot certain