Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-23
SCHOOLS HAVE BEST
EXPANSION YEAR
BaHOu Shows Record for Ad-
ditionaI Housing and
other Progress.


constituting an accounting Of the
stewardship Of the school administra-
ton, Is contained in the first section Of
the annual report of the Board of Edu-
cation, as prepared by DR.. Frank w.
Ballou, superintendent of schools. This
section, made public yesterday, includes
the developments that have taken place
in the school year 1929-30, together with
corresponding changes that have taken
place through September 80 of this year.
The school year 1929-30 witnessed the
opening of more additional Schoolhouse
accommodations for public school pupils
than any other school year in the his
tory Of the public school system Of
Washington, according to the report.
A total Of 102 elementary class rooms
and accommodations for 325 high
school pupils were made available.
Through the opening Of these accom-
modations, the use of eight portable
was discontinued, leaving SO portables
In use at the close of the school year.
During the same season the rental Of
land in the vicinity Of the Wilson
School and the use Of three rented
rooms for cooking and sewing at 2806
Twentieth street northeast were diScon-
tinued.
In discussing steps to create recrea-
ton system for the District of Column
S. Grant, Sd, director of Public Build
ings and Public Parke, the report re-
calls that Stephen E. Kramer, first
assistant superintendent of schools;
Miss Sibyl Baker, director of commu-
nifty center departments, and DR.. H.
Barrett Learned, vice president Of the
Board Of Education, were members OF
the committee which undertook the
task. The committee, on which the
school people serve, is to recommend a
co-ordinated program Of land acquisi-
tons, method Of administrative con-
troll over lands acquired under such a
program when the interests of more
than one authority are involved, and q
bill or bills for presentation to Con-
gress to carry out the recommendations.
Scholarships Available.
The report lists IA scholarships avail
able TO graduates Of white high schools,
81 which are awarded annually to one
candidate from the District Of Column
bia and open to all high schools, eight
awarded in national or. regional COM
petitions, and seven awarded yearly to
the graduates Of the colored high
schools These scholarships were &C
cepted by the Board of Education after
due study.
The report mentions the installation
Of electric lights In 26 portable schools.
With one or two exceptions, 1t points
electrified previously, only those located
long distances from electric current be-
ing excepted.
Showing efforts Of the local school au-
thorities to provide educational facilities
for the Districts crippled children, the
report cites the opening of the Weight
man and the Magruder Schools for Grip
piles. Tribute is paid to Dr.. Joseph A.
Murphy assistant District health officer
for valuable assistance given school off, |
cials In determining the proper adapta- |
ton Of regular class rooms for the |
needs Of the crippled youngsters. Ac-
cording to the report, these schools |
were opened November "a, 1924, after |
the class rooms had been sufficiently |
equipped and bus transportation plans |
had been worked out. Thirty children
were enrolled in each school,
The compilation Of school laws by
Education from 1904 to 1929, Is men
toned In the report, as Is the passage
Of the free text book law, the operation
Of which already is widely understood.
Refers TO Red Scare.
Considerable space is devoted in the
report TO the Communist scare which
swept the schools last year. The order
which Dr.. Ballou sent to the schools re-
curing the salute to the flag on every |
formal occasion is cited, as is the report |
Of the special committee Of School |
Board members on their findings re- |
gnrding Communism In the public |
schools. That report, setting forth that |
The committee found mo sound evidence |
indicating that o large portion Of our |
students have either knowledge or inter- |
est" in the Communist movement. was |
signed by Mrs. Lenore w. Smith, chair
man; Mrs. Mary A. Mcneil and DR.. |
Learned.
Recognizing the existence Of "honest |
differences Of opinion" on the introduce |
ton of the teaching of social hygiene |
IN the public schools, DR.. Ballou has in |
cluded in his report the complete report |
which he presented on this subject to |
the School Board meeting of April z. |
That report includes q statement from |
Mr.. Kramer, who attended many con- |
ferences with social hygiene and parent |
teacher organizations on sex education. |
II includes also statements Of common |
cations from various civic groups on the |
proposal to include sex instruction In |
regular school curriculum. No definite |
steps to establish sex courses are men |
toned In the report.
The report cites the opening OF the |
Wilson and Miner Normal Schools as
teacher colleges. Efforts of the school
authorities to organize the Park View
School so that sit will exemplify the
best in platoon school organizations and
thereby institute an experiment for the
purpose of determining the merits Of a
platoon school type of organization"
also Is revealed in detail. This develop
ment In the school system began with
DR.. Ballou's suggestion that the once
Of Education Of the Interior Department
be requested to make study Of the
Park View School with a view to recon-
mending an organization for It and con-