Evening star., 1942-09-22
Congested Area
Schools 10 Get
More Teachers
BoIIou Moves to
Relieve Strain on
Crowded Districts

A plan for transfer of teachers
from less crowded areas to congested
ones, with more individual attention
for all students through smaller
classes, vas promised for the public
school system today by Supt. Frank
W. Ballou as drop in enrolment
was reported by the Districts It's
schools.
The total of 1913 students en-
rolled when the schools opened yes
terday represented drop of more
than 5000 from last years opening
day total. according to School
Statistician Boise Bristor. officials
and principals all over the city at
tributed the decrease mainly to
widespread wartime employment
among secondary school students.
The reduction is not uniform
throughout the system" explained
DR.. Ballou, land that raises the
question of reorganizing the system
to transfer teachers to congested
areas"
1T is entirely possible" he con-
tlnued, that the entire system then
Will be able to benefit from smaller
classes and from more Individual
attention for the students"
Registration of Jewish students
today will not make up for the en-
rollment drop, DR.. Ballou explained,
because the schools opened last year
during the celebration of Yom
kippur.
Enrolment of Wilson Teachers
College, according to the official fig
ures, dropped from 808 last year to
.4So this year; the senior high schools
from 14,7l3 to 1882, and the voca-
uonal schools from 9O2 to TT
The Jackson Elementary School
reopened by the Board of Education
With the stipulation that its last
years enrolment of 120 pupils must
increase to warrant classes there,
reported instead a drop to 95 pupils.
Colored Schools Gain.
The only schools showing marked
increase were the colored elemen-
tary schools in the eastern section
OF the city. Their enrolment of
1882 showed a jump of $50 over
last year. The 2-year-old Coolidge
senior High School, which started
last year with 910 pupils, this year
reported 1,037.
Roosevelt, on the other hand
dropped from 1905 to 1851: Wilson
from 1858 to 1,486 and Central from
l,254 to o68. '''
The decrease in high school on.
foiment is attributed by high school
principals to the high salaries being
onered youthful mechanics and typ
lsts who ordinarily would be in the
Junior and senior classes.
A low birth rate in the 1930s is
considered to have affected elemen-
Larry school totals. These schools
however, dropped only 1858 below
tnelr ls41 total of 44012 and an in
crease Is expected next year as a re-
suit OF q higher birth rate which
began here in 1886 and 1897.
Jacks0ns Lowest In City,
Jackson's enrolment of 95 pupils
was the lowest reported anywhere
IN the city. This school was closed
two weeks ago by school officials
because its last years enrolment
OF 120 pupils was considered too low
IN the face of teacher need in the
Anacostla area. The board reopened
1t in special meeting, however, with
the comment that the parents had
not been given enough notice of the
change, and that construction in the
area might increase the enrolment
during the trial reopening period of
six months.
I'm fairness to the community"
said First Assistant Superintendent
Of Schools Robert L. Haycock, who
first proposed the closing, 'it must
be stated that a factor in the low en-
rollment is the possible illness of
some OF the Jackson pupils with
measles, chicken pox, or other child
hood diseases. But at present. it is
true that only 95 pupils are en-
rolled"
The Jewish religious holiday would
have little effect on the total at
the Jackson, commented Miss Mar
garet Patterson, principal. Though
its enrolment is one-third less than
caHacity, half the capacity quota
OF eight teachers is still assigned
there.
Books and desks missing from the
new temporary Beers and Kim
ball Elementary Schools yesterday
had been supplied this morning
according to Jere c. Crane. superin-
tendent of schools. They had been
stored in other schools pending a
determination Of the need for
them.