Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23
SCHOOLS OPENED,
WITH ESTIMATED
INCREASE OF 1000
Little Confusion Marks For.
maIities for IS, 500 Pupils,
Due to Improvements.
TELEPHONES USED
IN GUIDING PARENTS
Supt. Ballou Absent on District
Building Duties, but Work
Runs Smoothly.

Washington's public schools opened
their doors a. o'clock this morning
to receive approximately $500 boys
and girls for the 1e29-3o school year.
The same woodworking machinery
of the school systems administration
which ended the long vacation period
for so many children set about during
the irst hour of tkn day to establish
part-time classes in those schools
where the congestion is most acute.
The opening Of school marked the
termination also of one of the greatest
vacation tasks with which school Of
ficials have been c,nf-cnted in recent
years in the installation of some H.
600 pieces Of new-type furniture, with
which the earlier grades of the ele-
mentary schools are to be equipped.
Confusion Is Missing.
Much of the confusion which nor
mally attends the opening of schools
to the pupils was absent at the Frank
lin Administration Building today.
While confused and oftentime agitated
parents formerly flocked to the admin
istration offices with queries concerning
the installation of their children IN
class, these same Offices this morning
were visited by only one or two moth
ers seeking that sort of counsel. This
was due largely to the preparations
which had been made in the schools
throughout the system and to the ex-
tensive use by the various field school
officers Of telephones in seeking authori-
tative instructions from their superiors
at the Franklin Building. instead
of advising the parents to make
personal calls to the administra-
tive officers themselves. Oddly enough,
during the first few hours of school
opening DR.. Frank w. Ballou, super
intendent, was not even at his omce.
his membership on the District healing
arts licensing commission having de-
manded his presence today at the Dis
trict Building. The school chiefs
absence, however, had no effect so far
as efficiency is concerned upon the
operations of the school business at
Franklin.
According to Robert L. Haycock, as
sistant superintendent in charge of
congestion will be registered in the
Cleveland Park-Chevy Chase section.
The E. W, Brown, John Eaton and
Oyster Schools are expected to suffer
most of the overcrowding Of pupils. Two
classes have been placed on part-time
already in one Of the Broad Branch
road portableS in order to make room
for new third grade. which previously
had not been maintained for the chill
dren of that immediate locality. The
first and second grades consequently
were doubled up in part of the frame
one-room structures.
Relief Is Promised.
Whereas last year there were eight
part-time classes at the John Eaton
School, this year only six will be in
session. This reduction is made from
both through setting up Of new port
able school at the John Eaton building
in order to accommodate one Of the ad-
ditional two classes on the full-time
schedule. This portable was trans
ferred during the Summer from the
Brookland School.
The opening of new first grade in
the oyster School has neceSsitated the
placing of two classes on part time.
Relief in the section will come by
February l, with the opening of the
Ben w. Murch at Thirty-sixth and e.
licott streets. The opening of this
school will permit the transfer or the
possible abandonment of the fourt port
able schools, which have been main
tanned on what will be the new schools
playground. Further relief from conges-
ton will be afforded to Cleveland Park
Chevy Chase section during the next
two years by the new Reno Junior High
School,
Another seriously congested area this
year will be that centering on Rhode
Island avenue northeast extended. A
new class established at the Burroughs
and another at the Woodbridge School
forced the establishment of two new
part-time classes in each Of these build
ings. Relief will be given this area by
February 1, however, with the opening
of the new Langdon School with 20
community net increase of 10 class
rooms, since the II classes now housed
in the old Langdon school viii be
transferred to the new building.
The removal Of two portable schools
at Petworth will place four more classes
in that school building on part time.
Last year the Petworth school had four
which have been removed from their
station adjoining the Petworth were
two buildings which were described in
The Star during the Summer, when the
municipal architects engineers were ex-
aiming portables. as being in a par
ticularly advanced state of decay and
deterioration. These buildings have
again. Relief from congestion here may
be afforded by the middle of October
or November /, when the eight-room
addition to the Raymond School is
opened.
The furniture Of new design which
greeted approximately 800 first, second
and third grade pupils today was In
stalled since July % when the first
pieces reached the city. The $4,000 in
dividual pieces Of the equipment include
8,100 pupils chairs, $500 tables and
$500 movable desks.
No enrolment figures were available
at noon today and early this afternoon
the first of the school reports on the
number of pupils to enroll were being
received at Franklin. The estimated
total Of $500 represents an increase of
approximately 1000 over last year
first-day enrolment.