Evening star., 1935-09-08

the resultant double Shifts" do not
give the pupil . proper school day of
classroom instruction interspersed
with appropriate physical exercise and
extracurricular activities. Some Of
our school buildings, long since de-
clared too old and UNIT for use,
should be replaced, especially where
heating and toilet facilities are in
adequate. Population trends should be
closely followed, In order that new
schools may be planned with an eye
to providing educational facilities in
line with the growth Of our city.
Definite Program Urged.
In the interests Of economy and
efficiency, 1t would be well to consider
at this time renewed attempts to
obtain from Congress legislation for a
definite school, building program for
the schools, based upon the periodical
surveys Of school officials. The first
legislation Of this kind was passed in
1925. and was known as "the five-
year building program act" Although
attempts have been made to bring
about another planned long-range
building program for our schools, no
further legislation Of that nature has
been passed. This is unfortunate.
More teachers are urgently needed
in our schools. Throughout the de-
preston, greatly decreased appropria-
tions have resulted in larger classes
and increased teaching hours. Nat
urally the school children have suf-
fered, in consequence, through less
individual instruction and fewer op-
portunities for extracurricular activi-
ties. The increase in the school
population during the last two years
has been about 5000 pupils, with no
appreciable increase in the number of
teachers. The results of this condi-
ton are obvious.
educational opportunities are pro-
vided in our schools for many types
of handicapped children; the crippled.
the blind, the deaf, the tubercular, the
atypical, and others are receiving in
struction specially provided for them.
There are, however, many children
capable of benefiting from instruction
who cannot, for one reason or another,
attend any Of these schools. There
are also children who because Of op-
erations or long illnesses are neces-
sarily out Of school for several months.
Instruction can be brought to such
children by periodic visits from
special teacher. and they can thereby
have some of the educational advan-
tages to which they are entitled.
Children who return to school after
such home instruction can keep up
with their classes and will not have to
repeat grade. Most large cities
have this educational service, which
entails q relatively small expenditure,
merely the salaries Of half-a-dozen
teachers, and brings inordinate re-
turns in terms Of hope and confidence
to child and parents alike. Our
schools should at once
provide this extension of their edu-
service to the community.
Vocational Education Needed.
For many years citizens Of Wash
ington have been actively interested
in increased opportunities for voca-
tional education in the public schools.
Never was this so important as now,
when so many young people are forced
TO remain in school because no jobs
are available. Certainly these young
people ought to be encouraged to i'm
prove themselves by developing their
talents rather than permit them to
through idleness, with all
Its consequences to the individual and
to the community. Greater and better
facilities for this work, as well Is