Evening star., 1938-04-05
TRAINING SCHOOL
STACKS OPPOSED
A. A. U. W. and Women
Voters DepIore Plan for
Blue Plains BUILDINGS.

Blue Plains Buildings.
Opposition to building temporary
shacks In Blue Plains for the housing
OF present inmates of the National
Training School for Girls pending de-
velopment of a permanent program
was voiced last night by the Voteless
D. c. League Of Women Voters at a
joint meeting with the American Asso-
citation of University Women in the
associations clubhouse.
At the same time the group indorsed
the Copeland bill providing for the
examination Of recent studies pertain
ing to children's institutions in the
District.
The resolution as adopted expressed
the leagues opposition to the Budget
Bureau granting deficiency appro-
priation to build the temporary shacks
at Blue Plains.
Both groups jointly considered re-
ports of their educational committees
on the District school system and
generally concluded that congressional
control Of District schools is too COM
plete and that the Board of Education
Is working under handicap in this
respect.
Powers Whitfield Away.
Mrs. Robert E. OfeSen, chairman Of
the A. A. U. w. Committee read the
joint report. 1t pointed out that the
powers Of the Board OF Education
have been whitfield away since 1906
by three general means: legislation
that nullifies the powers Of the board :;
authority vested in the Commissioners,
the director of the budget and in the
committees Of both Houses of Con-
gress to set aside recommendations
Of the board; power over the executive
functions of the board exercised by
citizens groups in congressional hear
ings."
Summarizing present conditions Of
the schools as seen by the public,
the report found that:
l. The building program is not
keeping pace with the developing
school program.
2. Appropriations for maintenance
are not increasing with the increase
in building.
3. The teaching staff is not in
creasing in proper ratio to the in
crease in enrolment.
4. The total expenditure for schools
Is not in proper ratio to the other
expenditures for the District budget.
S. The board finds it difficult or i'm
possible to provide the special services
generally recognized as functions OF
a progressive school system.
Blame Put on Citizens,
Placing the blame for some of these
conditions on citizens group activi-
ties, the report gave specific instances
in which money had been appropriated
for buildings irrespective of board rec
concentrations; construction had been
delayed because of citizens; the health
and recreational programs had been
confused; the curriculum affected and
the need for teachers not adequately
met.
The core Of the difficulty is that
the Board Of Education has been shorn
OF its powers" the report states, "and
in the fact Of the peculiar relationship
that exists between the District of Co.
lumbia and the Congress of the United
States. Until that relationship has
been adjusted so as to permit the ad-
ministration of the schools in accord
ance with sound business principles.
the schools will continue to be in a
mess
A resume of the report Of the Presi-
dents Advisory Committee on Educa-
ton was presented by Mrs. Bennet H.
Schauff1er Of the League of Women
Voters. She stresses the objective
character Of the committee and called
attention to the fact that findings in
respect to the District of Columbia CO.
lnclde with the conclusions of the
league and the A. A. U. w. commit
tees.
Mrs. Savin Presides.
Mrs. William H. Savin, chairman
OF the Education Committee of the
League of Women Voters, presided
during discussion period. DR.. Paul
T. David, who served as secretary of
the Presidents Committee, urged that
the District be allowed to share in
the Federal grants for elementary
schools. adult education, teacher
preparation, building, building and
reorganization programs. He urged
sound" relations between govern
ment and education and deplored the
excessive control by Congress of the
District of Columbia schools.
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent of the Board of Education
spoke briefly on the common wish
OF all present for better schools and
for giving children proper advan-
tages.
The panel for the meeting included:
DR.. David, DR.. j. Orin Powers, who as
sisted in the study made by the Pres
ldent's committee; DR.. William H.
Brlstow, who represented the PIT. A.;
w. A. Alves of the Federal Office of Ed
ucation; Miss Charl Williams, Field
Secretary OF the National Education
Association, and Miss BERTHE Backus
OF the public schools. Guests of honor
were Mrs. Doyle, Mrs. Philip Sidney
Smith, Mrs. Walter B. Frye, president
OF the Parent-Teacher Association;
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
OF schools, and DR.. Chester w. Holmes