Evening star., 1933-04-10
ould eliminate this unsatisfactory

would eliminate this unsatisfactory
condition.
Likewise. severe crowding at the
Browne Junior High School-which was
| opened for the first time only last veal
was to be relieved by the erection o1
an addition.
But the House of Representatives de-
clined to vote the money which would
have provided penalized children with
adequate educational facilities and un-
employed men with projects on which
to work
In his reference to the school ac-
commodations and the inevitable in
crease in congestion which even one
year halt in school house construction
would produce. DR.. Ballou referred to the
progress made in reducing congestion
through the building program OF recent
years. Aeadway has been made
through the operation of the now
famous five-year school building act
which DR.. Ballou fought for several
years to secure. 1t was this building
program act which gave official recog-
milton to the sorry plight of the Ma
tional Capitals public schools and
their dire needs, and which placed
Congress on record as admitting that
for years Washington schools had not
The progress which the five-year
building program act produced is best
illustrated by congestion figures. In
1920 there was a shortage of 487 class
rooms for elementary grades. BY the
first semester of this year (the latest
period covered in school house &C
commodations survey the elementary
school needs had been reduced to 176
classrooms. In 1920 there were 78
one-room frame portable schools in
use: now there are 25. Part time was
reduced from $50 classroom needs to 38
rooms in 1882.
Situation More Involved.
The senior high school situation over
the last dozen years is more involved
In 1920 the total senior high school
capacity was $500, while the enroll
ments then totaled 1904 Through the
opening of new institutions, the con-
struction of additions and requirements
of smaller buildings, the capacity has
been increased so that today it is
1892 However, the enrollments have
more than kept pace with construction
so that total of 1854 pupils are be-
ing accommodated in these buildings
today.
The building by building record shows
that in 1920 Central had a capacity of
2 400 and an enrolment of 2,837. while
today the capacity is officially stated as
$500 with an enrolment of 1908
Eastern in its old building in 1920 had
a capacity of $50 and an enrolment
of 661, while today the new building,
with capacity of 1000 has an enroll
ment of 2,743. Western had a capacity
in 1920 of $50 and an enrolment then
of 760. The construction of an addi-
ton gives the present capacity as 1850,
while the enrolment has climbed to
/ ,796. In it's old building in 1920, Nc
enrolment of 1928. The new building
has an official capacity of 1900, while
the rolls carry 2,720 students. Busi-
ness High School had a capacity in
1920 of 900 and an enrolment of 2,103.
The new Roosevelt High School, which
replaced Business, has capacity OF
l 500 but an enrolment of 1853. Dun
bars capacity in 1920 of 1900 accom-
modated 1,402 students. The same
building today is housing 1852 stu
dents. Armstrong, with a capacity OF
800 in 1920, was accommodating 638:
Since then new addition has raised
the capacity to 1900, but the enroll
ment has gone to 1852.
The Cardozo High School, established
In the old Business High building, has
$40 students, but since the building is
a combination senior high school and
school, with much OF its
space taken up by the younger children,
of whom there are 385, the total enroll
ment in that building today is l,02o.
Much Congestion Remains.
And so it is clearly evident that
while progress was made toward elimi-
mating the disgraceful conditions that
prevailed a dozen years ago, there still
remains much actual congestion. The
exclamation, of course, is almost too
simple. When the five-year school
building act was being framed. 1t was
based on the accumulated shortage OF
school accommodations up to that time.
Thus. when the act became operative
m 1925 all it authorized was construc-
ion which would reduce the needs up
10 that wear, and no consideration
whatever was given the annual increase
n school population during the course
IF the programs functioning. In the
last few years, the average annual IN
crease in school enrollments has Deen
nearly 5000 pupils, and all the wnne
were being made not 10
provide Tor these cnllOTeu, put W CaLSn
up on the neglect afforded prior to 1928:
If washington is to keep abreast OF
It's school needs as they develop, the
school authorities estimate, the follow
ing rate Of construction must be main
tanned:
Elementary Schools Thirty-two class
rooms must be built every year, either
in units of four-room buildings, eight
room buildings, or a combination OF
four and eight room structures, &C
cording to the trend in school popuia-
ton in various sections of the city.
Junior High Schools-Two new junior
high schools should be built every
three years.
Senior High Schools-One new build
ing should be made available every
three years.
Obviously, this rate of construction
which is based on normal annual IN
creases in the number Of children to
be provided for, is not being even
And yet, the House Of Representa-
tives has declined to appropriate a SIN
gle dollar for school house construction
during the fiscal wear of 1884.