Evening star., 1933-06-21
DR.. BaIIou Announces Fur.
ther Reductions in Force
Are Not Contemplated.
TERM REGARDED AS MOST
TRYING IN LAST DECADE
Superintendent Says Usual Dates
for Opening Will Be Observed
Next Year.

The most trying school year in tht
last decade ends today for the District
Of Columbia Public School System, or
q note Of reinsurance from the super
antendent Of schools.
In closing the school buildings to
classes at pm, the school author
tties formally end school year, which
in the pronouncement Of DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent, has been
q difficult one for the employees in the
school system because the financial de-
preston has brought about a decrease
In salary and in some instances an In
crease in amount of work"
q The schools this year served total
Of 83,929 pupils In elementary, junior
and senior high schools, vocational
schools and the teachers colleges.
Reductions Not Contemplated.
II it Is relief for the boys and girls
to throw aside their books and other
paraphernalia of education, perhaps
even greater relief will be experienced
by the more than 1000 employees OF
the Board of Education when they
receive a special circular from DR..
Ballou assuring them that, despite
pressing demands for economy, the
Board Of Education does not now con-
template any further terminations OF
service"
In the circular DR.. Ballou explained
that employees whose services were TO
be terminated because OF unsatisfactory
/, ,ratings-and 1t is that group from
which the necessary reductions in per-
sonnel will be made-would be notified
of the fact before the close Of the
school year June 30. :,
"Other employees may rest assured
that the Board Of Education does not
contemplate any further terminations
OF service" DR.. Ballou has written the
employees. Employees in the service on
July 1 may enter their vacation period
during the Summer months with the
confident expectation that their serv-
ices win be needed during next year.
Work to Be Increased.
SBecause Of the reduction In the
number Of employees in nearly all
branches of the school service, the
amount Of work performed by each In
-dividual during the coming year un-
doubtedly will be somewhat increased.
This cannot be avoided. The superin-
tendent hopes that each employe will
enjoy q restful vacation period while
IN leave and that we all shall return
70 service in the next school year pre-
pared to discharge our respective duties
and responsibilities in accordance with
that fine spirit of cooperation and de-
votion to service that always has char
acterized the employees Of the Board OF
Education"
Even further reassurances will be
41A NfoI
the Board Of Education tomorrow, when
the Superintendent will present to the
board for its approval next years school
calendar. Rumors have persisted IN
recent weeks that the school year
1933-A will not open until October
80 that still further savings may be
effected In teachers salaries.
Usual Dates" to Be Kept
DR.. Ballou said today, however, that
schools will open and close on the usual
dates. next year. The actual dates
which the board probably will approve
tomorrow call for the opening Of schools
for the teachers on Friday, September
is, and for pupils on Monday, Septem-
Der le. Schools will close next year
wednesday, June 20, for the pupils, and
FRIDAY. June %, for the teachers. In
the interim the traditional holidays will
be observed, with Thursday. November
80, and Friday. December l. set aside
for Thanksgiving, and Friday, Decem-
Der %, through Monday, January !,
inclusive, for the Christmas and New
Year holiday. Other holidays will in
clude George Washington's birthday
anniversary and Easter.
In his circular to school board en-
ployes DR.. Ballou said further that the
necessary reductions in personnel forced
by the 1884 budget cuts have been
brought about in accordance with
previously established administrative
policies.
TT is a source OF qualification to the
Board Of Education and the school
oficials," Dr.. Ballou said, that 1t is not
necessary to terminate the services OF
any person who is rendering satisfac-
tory service. In achieving this result
the school officials and the Board OF
Education have been guided by the gen.
eral principle Of efficiency as well as
economy"
viii Use Efficiency as Base.
Commenting briefly on the PROPOSE
tion to reduce employment in Govern
ment service of husband and wife, DR..
Ballou assured the school employees that
1 80 far as the Board of Education has
discretion, this matter will be dealt
with ION the basis Of efficiency ana
IL the termination of the services OF
Any married person should become
necessary, the service Of those teachers
having the lowest ratings will be ter
minated first
As far as the school closing Is con-
cerned In the elementary schools, each
building is saying farewell to classes
in its own individual way. Some are
having more elaborate exercises than
others but in none is there real for
mality. The junior and senior high
schools and the teachers colleges, on
the other hand, are closing with elab-
crate graduation exercises. The names
of Junior and senior high school grad
yates. the recipients of degrees in the
teachers colleges and the night school
graduates are being printed by The
Star in reports Of individual COM
mencements. The elementary school
pupils who are being promoted from
ez6 10 high