Evening star., 1940-09-23
$4,000 Pupils
Return 10 Public
Schools Here
Weather May Be
Too Good for Big
Enrolment

WlldI lHe opening udy cIIOIlHleIlL
would be.
At least 10000 were expected,
however, i1 view of the opening day
registration last September Of So
487, which rose to some 10000 by the
end of the first week. The late
opening date this year. it was
thought. might favor heavy en-
rollment, but the weather.
Maybe it's too good" said an
employe in the statistical Office
meaningly.
1t was routine enrolment at
most of the schools but pupils en-
tering the new schools opening for
the first time could not restrain
their curiosity in exploring their
surroundings Calvin Coolidge Sen
ior High, Fifth and Sheridan streets
NV, and Thomas Jefferson Junior
High, Eighth and H streets S.W,
we're opening their doors for the
first time. and crippled children
reported for classes for the first
time at the made-over Allison street
Health School.
Schoolboy safety patrols were out
as usual in the interest of the
safety of their schoolmates. Most
of the patrol boys were veterans of
last year or had been trained in
special patrol work at Camp Ernest
w. Brown during the summer.
At Franklin School-headquarters
for the Board of Education and the
top school neutrality-suspicious.
were made for volume of questions
but most of the officials felt they
had had their share of the heavy
work last week and that the bulk
now would be on those in the field at
the various schools.
The switchboard at Franklin,
however, was still buzzing away,
many of the queries, of all things.
being How soon will school let out
today?"
Other inquiries were directed to
employees of the various depart
ments, most of them wondering
what school their children should
attend or requesting transfers.
Special Assemblies Held.
Special assemblies celebrated the
opening of the new Coolidge and
jefferson Schools. At the former
those participating included Mrs,
Henry Grattan Doyle, president Of
the Board of Education; Supt. of
Schools Frank w. Ballou, First As
sistant Supt. Robert L. Haycock and
Assistant Supt. Chester w. Holmes.
Principal Thomas J. Holmes, BEAM
ing with pride, was sure he has the
finest school in Washington If not
in the whole country. He anticipated
an enrolment of $50 by the end Of
the week.
There was plenty of enthusiasm
and feeling at the opening assembly
at Jefferson as Principal Hugh
Smith, who has been working for
years in support of new school
for the southwest area. presided.
The theatrical lighting system in
the new auditorium was given full
play during the program.
Asst. Supt. Lawson j. Cantrell
told the children they are now
housed in a building "as fine as
there is in the city" and empha-
sized the responsibilities of the chill
dred for keeping it that way.
Mrs. Ellis Cook. president of the
Parent-Teacher Association at the
old jefferson, said there were "a lot
of happy parents" too. as result
of the opening of the new structure.
Others participating included the
Rev. Harry V. Porter, Mrs. J. E.
Allison, president of the parent
teacher group of the new school;
Miss Mary Stewart. a retired teach
er: Bernard Gillian, a new teacher;
Alvin Gheen, an alumnuS; Retha
Ferrell. president of the student
council, and Abraham Lyon, an
alumnus.
Allison School Inspection.
Both assemblies emphasized
patriotic angle with the singing Of
patriotic songs.
At the Allison Street Health School
the crippled children made delighted
inspection of their new quarters
under the direction of Mrs. Beulah
j. Drake, their teacher. The classes,
previously held in special rooms at
the Langdon School, are now in the
larger rooms of the remodeled
Health School abandoned last year
as a special school for pupils with
positive tuberculin reaction.
The new quarters have been
equipped with a special dining
room for the crippled youngsters
and gently declining ramps to its
rose gardens and transportation
ledge. The school has been COM
bined with the West School as the
Health-West School under Miss
Katherine Doonan, administrative
principal.
At the Thomson School, typical
elementary school. the children and
their mothers milled about in the
lower corridor as Principal Robert
w. Eaves wandered about answer
ing questions and steering the
youngsters into classrooms.
The children were dressed for the
most part in their Sunday best and
PlouQ HlOIilClo cOlONC NdlldllIly W
preserve the traces of a part or an
unruly forelock.
Additional national defense voca-
tional courses are scheduled to get
under way this evening at o'clock
for persons employed during the
daytime. Hitherto the special train
ing courses running from midnight
to 8 am. have been restricted to un-
employed w. p A. enrollees and
others from public employment
service registers.
Registration for the regular night
school courses was to be held to-
night, Wednesday and Thursday
from $50 to 9:5l o'clock at Gen.
trsl, Mckinley, Roosevelt and West
ern High Schools. the Abbot and
Chamberlain Vocational Schools and
the Hine Junior High and Webster
Americanization School for the
white students. Registration for
colored night school courses will be
at the same times at Cardozo and
Armstrong High Schools, Phelps and