Evening star., 1934-01-18
NEED Of CLOTHING
CAUSES ABSENCES
School Attendance Reduced
During Week, Report to
Board Shows.


Board Of Education was advised by DR.
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent, late
yesterday.
DR., Ballou presented = report made
By Miss Fly Bentley. director Of school
attendance and work permits. on the
basis of . survey made by her once
The report showed total OF 264 pu-
pills were out Of school during the week
ending January -. A previous survey
Of a single weeks absences disclosed
that 2ll children had been kept from
school by need Of clothing.
The 264 children absent under the
last survey. DR.. Ballous report revealed
included 2l3 in elementary schools. SO
In Junior high schools, 1 In senior hlgn
Der of absentees missed an aggregate OF
1.085 days, made up OF seven absences
of one day, Al absences Of two days, "a
of three days. 1S Of four days and l6S
Of Ave days.
Need Is SERIOUS"
Admitting that the number Of chill
dren absent during the week OF Janu-
sry II to be larger than the week COW
cred by any preceding study, DR.. Bal
lou said:
In commenting on this. Miss Bent
lev expresses the opinion that the con-
ditions are not as much worse as the
number Of pupils involved would seem
to indicate. She bases her opinion on
the belief that 1t Is altogether likely
that the report covering the week OF
January II includes practically all cases
of absences due to lack Of clothing and
shoes, and that in previous reports not
all such children were included since
the reports were largely based on opin-
ions Of teachers rather than on case
Investigations made by the attendance
officers.
Whatever may be the facts IN the
case. every one will admit that 1t IS
a matter of serious concern that 2o4
children should be absent from school
from one to five days because OF lack
Of shoes and clothing
DR.. Ballou recommended that copies
Of the report be sent to L. A. Halbert.
director Of emergency relief in the
District; George S. Wilson, director OF
the Board Of Public Welfare: Elwood
Street, director of the Community
Chest; DR.. Frederic w. Perkins, presi-
dent of the Washington Council Of So
cial Agencies: Mrs. Poseph N. Saund-
ers, president of the D. c. Congress OF
Parents and Teachers and Rev. James
d. Pair. president OF the Federation OF
Parent Teacher Associations.
In approving this recommendation
the board asked the superintendent to
place copies of the report in the hands
of each Of the school systems l65 offi-
GERS
Room Change Seen.
Replying to the request of the Powell
Junior High School Parent-Teacher
Association for assignment of the two
remaining class rooms in the John
son elementary School to the Powell
building. the board disclosed its in
tention Of assigning one of the rooms
in February and, in all probability. the
second next September. Congestion in
the Powell Junior High School and
completion Of an annex to neighbor-
ing elementary school permitted the
use of the johnson building as an an
mex" to the Junior high school. Vio-
lent protest on the part of parents OF
younger pupils, however. led the school
board to retain two of the johnson
rooms for the kindergarten and first
grades Confronted with still more
congestion in the Powell Junior High
School, the board had agreed to trans
fer the room now occupied by the first
grades to use Of the Powell and to de-
cline to enroll additional kindergarten
children In the remaining room
Invited to stage participations in the
public school buildings on January 80
in celebration Of President Roosevelt's
birthday, the Board of Education will
advise Ray Baker. chairman Of the
Committee on Arrangements for the
Roosevelt Ball, that it would be GLAD
to make its facilities available to any
organizations which might elect to
sponsor events as part of the celebra-
ton. Lack Of funds preclude the pos
sibility OF staging any strictly public
school celebrations, the board Will ex-
plain.
DR.. Ballou advised the board yeSter-
day that the public school enrolment
on January II was 1850 greater than
last year. OF this increase, the teach
ers colleges had At, junior high schools
tional schools 259. Senior high schools
recorded decrease of 320 in enroll
ment over last year.
To Ask Increase.
An increase in the 1895 budget OF
the community center department OF
the public schools will be urged upon
Congress 10 permit the opening Of
clubs for young men in public school
buildings throughout the city. it was
announced yesterday by Henry
Quinn, member of the Board of Edu-
cation and advocate of the club move
ment.
The nrst two of these clubs will be
opened Monday night In the Macfar-
land Junior High School Building, fol
white boys, and in the old M Street
High School building for colored boys
he advised the board.
Plans for establishment of the clubs
under sponsorship of the Board of Ed.
ucation were completed by Mr.. Quinn
Clark Grifith, owner of the Wash
ington base ball club; James G. Yaden
president of the Federation of Citi.
zens' Associations, and representative.
Of other civic groups Tuesday night
at the Mcfarland building, Mr.. Quinn
advised the School Board.
The clubs which will open Monday
night will utilize the facilities Of the
school gymnasium and will offer oppor-
tunities for indoor base ball, indoor ten
mis-, volley ball, boxing, wrestling. hand
icraft, mechanical arts and drama anc
music
The projects will be directed by Com.
munity Center oficials, supplemented
by workers made available by c. w. S
funds. For the present, at least, there
will be no fees or charges to the boy!
entering the clubs, which will be oper
Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday ant
Thursday nights from $50 to 10:3t
O'Clock. The limited funds available
will not permit a full weekly schedule
If Congress will make available add
tional funds under the community cen
ter department budget, Mr.. Quinn
seeks to open similar clubs for boys
all over the city. Mrs. Henry Grattar
Doyle, vice president Of the Board o.
Education, also has expressed wish
that similar clubs be set up for girls
and it is contemplated that they, too
will be established.