Evening star., 1938-08-07
thus forcing the schools to change
their pay schedules accordingly. re-
gardless Of the length OF service or ex-
perience OF the school librarians.

thus forcing the schools to change
their pay schedules accordingly. re-
gardless Of the length Of service or ex-
perience Of the school librarians.
Fuel Rider" Assailed.
In previous hearings before Congress,
school officials insisted there are few.
II any, school librarians who perform
work similar to that in the Public Lii
brary School librarians, they argued,
should have teaching qualifications
and background.
Another rider" in the current ap-
preparation act which the School
Board seeks to repeal is one under
which the appropriations for fuel, gas
and electric light must be spportioned
over the fiscal year. This rider" was
sponsored by the House District SUBJ
committee on Appropriations on the
theory school custodians were inef-
ficient. Coupled with this provision
was q slice of s25 900 from school ap-
preparations for fuel for this year.
Should the boards plan for a new
high school for colored pupils at
Twenty-third street and Benning
road NE. be approved, Armstrong
High School may be converted into an
institution devoted entirely to voca-
tional subjects, according to program
proposed by Garnet c. Wilkinson, first
assistant superintendent of schools.
DR.. Wilkinson has pointed out that
the three colored senior high schools
are all located in a central area. and
that the new high school would af-
ford desirable decentralization of pu-
pills. At present. vocational schools
have but Junior high status.
Poliev Called Costly.
Arguments that the District actu-
ally is losing money by the policy of
past years In denying funds for early
purchases of school sites were outlined
by DR.. Ballou. In support of the
boards request for a large land pur-
chase item, he said
When 1t became necessary to build
q junior high school for colored pupils
in the vicinity OF Georgia avenue and
Euclid streets. no reasonably adequate
site was available that could be pur-
chased with any reasonable sum OF
money. AS result. negotiations were
entered into with District officials and
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, and 1t was agreed
that the Banneker Junior High School
might be located on the land pur-
chased for the recreational center"
(The school estimates carry a re-
quest for 100000 to buy land in that
portion OF the recreation area con-
verted to school uses)
When an appropriation had been
secured for an elementary school in
North Petworth. the site which was
available when the estimate was pre-
pared was no longer available ls
months later when the money was ap-
propriated for the purchase. As re-
suit it became necessary to locate q
school building on part of the site
purchased for a recreation center in
that area.
Suitable Site Needed.
There Is urgent need for a suitable
site for a junior high school in the
vicinity Of Gallatin street and Kansas
avenue. Up to date. no suitable site
has been found in that general area
and 1t may be necessary to condemn
recently improved property in order to
secure needed site in that area Such
procedure inevitably increases substan-
TALLY the cost Of acquisition.
"Schoo. officials feel that the Dis
trict government should have just as
well-planned a program for the acqui-
sition of land for District purposes
as has the National Capital Park and
Plannin. Commission. The policy Of
the Federal agency in acquiring va
cant land before it Is improved Is
highly commendable. 1t does, how