Evening star., 1934-12-30
NEW TREND MARKS
1884 SCHOOL YEAR
Character Training Begun.
Foot Ball Controversy
Biggest News Story.

During the closing year. the District
public schools were the scene Of the
launching of the national character
education experiment, which, its pro-
ponents hope, will mark a new era
in youth training.
Sponsored by Senator Royal S.
Copeland of New York, and financed
through a special congressional ap-
preparation, the character education
program got under way in 10 schools
at the beginning of the Fall term,
attracting the interested attention OF
educators throughout the Nation.
Supt. of Schools Frank w. Ballou
has been largely responsible for set
ting up the system and directing 1t
on its course. Miss BERTHE Backus,
assistant superintendent of schools,
is in active charge of its operation.
Throughout last Summer an in
stitute for instruction of character
education workers was held by ex-
perts brought to Washington from
leading centers Of learning. All was
in readiness at the opening Of the
Fall semester, and the character edu-
cation counselors began the task of
installing the system.
Foot Ball Conflict Recalled.
Although officials are pleased with
the progress of the experiment so far,
they point out that insufficient time
has elapsed to justify definite con-
clusions.
The biggest news story Of the year
concerning the public schools was the
controversy which resulted in can
collation. of a portion of the inter-
high school foot ball series and the
student disturbances which arose in
protest Of this action.
With the foot ball series almost
over, fight among players broke out
during a game between Mckinley and
Western High School teams. Although
the fight was brief, spectators swarmed
onto the playing field of the Central
Stadium, which long had been unsat-
isfactory from the viewpoint Of crowd
control
An investigation resulted, with First
Assistant Supt. of Schools Stephen E.
Kramer calling meeting of the Board
of Principals, where the action can
ceiling the remainder of the series was
taken.
This decree later was reviewed by
the Board of Education at a public
hearing and upheld. committee,
headed by Henry I. Quinn, board
member, was appointed to investigate
the athletic system in Washington
schools. This committee has not yet
reported.
Assisted by Federal emergency re-
lief funds, local relief authorities be-
gan serving hot lunches to needed
school children last Winter and re-
sumed the service at the beginning of
| this school term.
Nursery schools were established.
School Construction Begun.
The year saw beginnings made to-
ward the projected woodrow Wilson
Senior High School and the Anacostia
Junior High School, which are ex-
pected to be ready for occupancy
next September.
Harry Hine, secretary TO the Board
of Education for many years, was re-
tired upon reaching the age of 70
years, and Charles B. Degges, re-
porter on the editorial staff of The
Star, was appointed in his place.
The total school enrolment for the
present term is approximately co.
900, the largest in the city's history
and about 1000 greater than last
year.
A strike was threatened by mothers
Of children attending the Blair School
at Seventh and I streets northeast,
because of failure of District authori-
ties to provide new heating plant
to replace the schools antiquated
system. The walkout was averted
when the District Commissioners per-
sonally visited the school and ordered
extensive repairs.
The last development of the year
was reorganization Of procedure at
Board of Education meetings which
will result in publicity being given to
hitherto closed committee discus
sions.