Evening star., 1937-01-16
QUESTION VALUE
|. Of JACOBS REPORT
School Officials Cite SCant
Attention Paid Problems
Peculiar to Capital.

Finding the Jacobs Fiscal Relations
Committee paid but scant attention
to many problems peculiar to the
National Capital and not found else
where, school authorities today queS-
toned the value of the committees
appraisal of the District school system.
This reaction developed particularly
as to the committees conclusions that
the total school expenses here are
considerably higher" than in sup
posedly comparable cities; that while
the enrolment is considerably greater.
the teaching force is about average"
While not contesting individual de-
tails offered in committee statistics,
school officials were doubtful as to the
picture presented. The report said
the number" of schools was relatively
large, but school officials say the pres
ent inadequate plant would be merely
brought up to capacity needs should
their 5-year s30,000,000 building
program be accomplished by 1912.
The Jacobs committee was not dealing
with that problem.
Must In0erStan0 SHudtiOn.
To give an accurate and fair picture
of the District school system, its costs
and operation, according to school
officials, it is essential that the unique
characteristics of the National Capital
be understood and explained. A mere
comparison of statistical counts alone
is not fair.
This point was held Of vital impor-
tance because these special conditions
all affect costs and methods. Formal
comment on the report was withheld,
however, to permit further study OF
the document.
The committee found that the cost
of the Districts day schools per stu
dent in the 1934-5 school year was
$Il8.48, whereas the average for such
costs in Is of the cities with which
the District was otherwise compared
was but sl00.62. Total school ex-
penses for the District" it concluded.
"are considerably higher than in other
cities. Most of the excess arises from
higher instruction costs and higher
school plant costs"
There are many reasons for these
conditions, officials were quick to say.
Some of them were cited by DR.. Frank
w. Ballou, superintendent Of schools.
when he appeared at a public session
of the committee some weeks ago.
At that time, 1t was recalled, the
committee was advised that costs are
higher here, for one reason, because
all schools are constructed as fire.
proof structures. This Is held wise
because of the added safety to pupils.
Another element of cost is the SAL
ary scales prevailing here under acts
of Congress regulating Federal pay.
Although the teacher salary schedules
here are not among the highest among
cities, the committee was informed
that in many other places teachers
suffered a greater pay cut during the
depression than in the District, and
they were not restored as promptly.
Another reason, officials say, is that
the District traditionally has main
tanned q dual school system, for white
and colored, requiring duplication OF
many positions and increased outlays
for buildings, maintenance and opera
ton.
More Pupils Enrolled.
The school enrolment in all schools
in the District, the Jacobs committee
reported. is considerably higher than
the average enrolment elsewhere.
However" it added, the teaching
force is about average, since the higher
enrolment Is Offset by more children
per member of the teaching force"
The effect Of this is seen in calcu-
lations that teachers here have charge
of an average of 38.4 pupils. whereas
in the other cities the average is 34.5.
This condition Is more strikingly
shown in the committee report on
Junior and senior high schools, COM
bined. District teachers in these
schools have charge of an average of
40.2 pupils, whereas In the other cities
the average Is but 29.<.
Educators argue that the size of
class should not be greater than 28
for senior high schools or 80 for junior
highs.
Just why the teaching force for