Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
Confusion Threatens Start Of
New Session, School Of
ficers Declare.
PROBLEM IN NAMING
WILSON COLLEGE HEAD
Education Beard, Meeting Septem-
Der 10, to Get Advice
On Both Issues.

for the establishment of a definite policy
for the administration of the kinder
gartens, it became known at the Frank
lin Administration Building yesterday.
The officers who could be reached as
their vacations were ending admitted
frankly that confusion attends the COM
ing opening of schools on September %
as far as the kindergartenS are con-
cerned, due largely to the bitter dis
cuSsions which conferred about this
branch of the public school system dur
ing the hearings on the Districts 1881
appropriation bill last Winter and
Spring.
At the same time, the school heads
are confronted with the selection of a
president for the Wilson Teachers Col
lege to succeed, in all probability, Miss
Anna d. Halberg, principal Of the in
stltlon in its old status as a normal
school.
The first meeting of the Board of
Education is slated for September 10.
School officers are expected to make
every effort to present definite recon-
mendations on both these ma or ques-
tionS at that meeting, although DIR.
Ballou probably will not return from
his belated vacation in Maine until the
end of this week Meanwhile, discus
sionS between DR.. Ballou and his staff
r1ed on through correspondence.
Afternoon Sessions Question.
The question of kindergarten opera
ton during the coming year centers
about the possibility of operating after
noon as well as morning sessions. Dur
ing the recent District bill hearings
Representative Robert @. Simmons con-
demned District school officials for
ha rJo he I,,A IIxy
and inefficiently small kindergarten
classes while the first three years of
elementary school suffered from serious
congestion.
He demanded that the number of
kindergarten teachers be reduced by
setting up afternoon classes SO that each
teacher would be given two classes a
day. The kindergarten teachers we're
to be made legally eligible to teach
In the elementary grades and the sur
plus teachers were to be transferred
to the higher classes When the bill
finally was passed, however, the trans
fer of the kindergarten teachers to
elementary grades was made optional
at the discretion of the school heads.
School officers who could be reached
In the city yesterday said that they did
not know how the kindergartens would
be maintained this year
Meanwhile, the situation regarding
the teaching personnel generally is apt
to reach the acute stage. Only IL new
salaries were granted in the 1881 ap-
preparation bill and these were speci-
fed, with nine to be used in the Eliot
Junior High School when that new
building becomes available about Feb
ruary l, and two assigned to the Blu
chanan School annex. Stephen E.
Kramer. first assistant superintendent
in charge of high schools, admitted yes
terday that the lack of new teaching
positions viii mean that all senior and
Junior high school classes will be larger
this year.
Restrictions to Continue.
The restrictions that were estab-
lished last year on student entries at
Western High School and the Gordon
Junior High School will remain in force
this year, Mr. Kramer said. No new
pupils living east of Connecticut ave-
nue. will be admitted to Western and
no new nonresident pupils will be adT
mitted to the Gordon Junior High
School Maryland and Virginia pupils
living within the territory formerly adj
mitted to Western will be allowed to
apply for admission there this year on
the third school day of the year. If
resident children will be admitted
It became known yesterday that no
candidate for the presidency of the
Wilson Teachers College is in view.
At the close of the 1929-30 academic
year, it was made fairly plain by both
the school board and the school system
officers that Miss Halberg would be Of
fered the professorship of education in
the school which she headed while 1t
was normal school At the same time
1t was made clear that the school heads
proposed to seek president for the
Wilson College elsewhere. As professor
of education, Miss Halberg would be
virtually dean Of the college, it was
pointed out.
The officers are proceeding with the
opening of schools September %. The
teachers win hold their initial meetings
of the year at 1890 o'clock Friday
morning. September 10. The senior
and Junior high school teachers will
assemble, in their respective buildings,
while the elementary school teachers
will meet with their respective super
vising principals.
Aspirants to Appear.
Prospective high school students who
hail from out of town or from private
and parochial schools are to present
themselves to the high school board Of
admissions at the Franklin Administra-
ton Building. Thirteenth and K streets.
September 10 and 20. The question of
their eligibility will be established
largely by the credentials they bring
with them from their former schools
while those who lack evidence of their
right to proceed with the District high
school course will be required to take
entrance examinations.
Elementary school children are to re-
port to the school buildings nearest
their homes
The plan under which third-year
junior high school pupils and those OF
the four years of senior high school are
to receive their books under the pro-
visions Of the free textbook law was
revealed at Franklin yesterday follow
ing its perfection. AS pupils enter
their classes for the first time, their
teachers viii present them with printed
cards for each volume they are to- re-
ceiye. The cards are TO be signed by
both parent and pupil in acknowled-
ment by them of responsibility for the
books in event of loss or damage. When
signed, the cards will be taken back tc
the teachers who issued them and there
they will be exchanged for the neces-
Bary books.
The signatures under the agreement
to become responsible for the loaned
books constitute the first and only time
in history that the District mas hac
any definite means of collecting dam.
ages from parents for destruction OF
loss. Previously, when only elementar,
school books were loaned TO pupils thu
law provided no means of holding tn,
children or their parents responsible
for the books The present free tex
book law applies the same responsible
ity clause to elementary school text
that it holds against the high schoo
books.
The coming year will be OUTSTANDING
in the amount OF proposed school nous