Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-01
SCHOOL HOUSING
DATA REQUESTED
Sought by Capper So That
Congress May Act on
Swear Program.


today by Chairman Capper of the Sen
ate district committee to submit full
information on the status of the school
building program, including reasons
for any delays which may nave, oc-
cured, In order that Congress may
take whatever steps are necessary. to
bring about early compliance with the
intent of the fve-year school building
act
The chairman of the District COM
mittee pointed out that while more than
four years have passed since enactment
Of the law, it would appear that the
purpose of the act has not been full
filled"
Recalling that he has been deeply
interested in the welfare of the local
public school system for 10 years, sena-
tor Capper said his letter was not writ
ten in a spirit of criticism, but for the
purpose of bringing out constructive
suggestions as to how the children Of
Washington may be given adequate ac-
commodations within the neXt year"
Proposes to Scrap Portables.
He reminds the local officials that the
declared purpose Of the five-year build
ing law was to do away with portable
structures, to provide full day OF IN"
struction for all children, and to ienOye
other shortcomings in the school hous-
newspaper reports telling that ~ port
ables are still in use and that about
5000 children are still restricted to
part-time attendance at school.
IT believe 1t would be useful to all
of us who are interested in this pro-
gram" the Senator wrote. Ito have
an authoritative statement showing the
exact status with respect to each or
the foregoing items quoted from the
thermore, we should have frank
statement of the reasons for any de-
lays in carrying out the intent OF Con-
greSs. II suficient appropriations have
not been made. if there has been adj
illustrative delay in using funds ap-
propriated because of lack of person.
mel. proper organization, or other rea-
sons; If the growth OF school popula-
ton has exceeded estimates, ETC., we
should have the facts for consideration
and early action"
Letter Sent to Carusi.
The letter was sent to Charles F.
Carusi. president of the Board of Edu-
cation and a copy of 1t was forwarded
also to Commissioner Dougherty as
president of the Board of Commission
ers The letter TO DR.. Carusi reads
as follows:
act approved February 80. 1925, au-
thorized what is known as the five
year school building program, and dl-
rected that estimates of expenditures
for buildings and grounds for school
purposes should thereafter be prepared
in accordance with that law.
I'm the act itself. the. purpose OF
Congress was declared to be
TO provide a sufficient number Of
school buildings to make 1t possible:
ITO abandon all portables:
ITO eliminate the use Of rented
buildings:
To abandon the use of undesirable
rooms; =. ssAse reg. 800 - '-.',-rs's'
TO reduce elementary school classes
to a standard Of not more than 40
pupils per class:
ITO provide a 5-hour day Of instruc-
ton for elementary school pupils.
ITO abandon all school buildings
recommended for immediate or early
abandonment in 1908;
ITO abandon other school buildings
which have become UNIT for further
use since 1908; .
ITO provide full day of instruction
for high school pupils. thereby elimi-
mating the 'double-shift' program in the
high schools;
in enrolment of pupils during said B.
year period;
And, in general. to provide in the
District of Columbia program OF
Schoolhouse construction which shall
exemplify the best in schoolhouse plan
ming SchoolhouSe construction. and
educational accommodations.
More than four years and half
have elapsed since the passage of the
act, but it would appear from press
reports, as we'll as the reports OF the
Board of Education, that the purpose
of the act has not been fulfilled.
find these statements, for instance, in
an editorial appearing recently IN
Washington newspaper. that there are
approximately 5000 Washington chill
dren attending part-time classes. be-
cause of lack of seating capacity for all
pupils; that there are still In use " OF
the so-called portable schools, some OF
them with outside, unheated lavatories,
with cold floors, chilly rooms, poor
lighting; that while rs new classrooms
will be available by February / next,
they will reduce by only "a per cent
the number of new rooms needed to
eliminate the portables, part-time
classes, undesirable rooms rented quar-
tiers, and other undesirable conditions
of school housing, including OYER
Crowding of claSSroomS.
LAS you know, I have been intensely
interested in the upbuiding of the
Washington public school system for
more than 10 years. and, of course, the
other members of the Senate District
committee have taken a deep interest
in furnishing proper facilities for the
school children of Washington.
1T seems to me that an effort should
now be made to determine why Wash
to the standard prescribed by act of
Congress, so that action may be taken
early in the next session of Congress
to remedy any deficiencies or defects
that exist.
Wants Constructive Suggestions.
"You will understand. of course, that
this letter Is not written in spirit OF
criticism, but for the purpose of elicit
ing suggestions from all those interested
to the end that the school children OF
Washington may within the next year
be furnished with adequate and proper
school facilities.
IT believe that 1t would be useful to
all of us who are interested in this
program to have an authoritative
statement showing the exact status with
respect to each Of the foregoing items
quoted from the five-year school build
ing program. Furthermore, we should
have a frank statement Of the reasons
for any delays in carrying out the
intent of Congress. II suficient APP
preparations have not been made, II
there has been administrative delay
in using funds appropriated because