Evening star., 1945-06-16
Letters to The Star
DR.. Cannon Tells Schools Need
for Additional Funds
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial of June l3. indorsine
the Senate Committee amendment pro-
viding an item of $25. 900 for the SUD-
port of the National Symphony Or
chestra Association, deserves the serious
attention of Congress.
Praise and encouragement should 20
TO the orchestra which is doing so
much for Washington music lovers, and
financial support by the citizens of
Washington, and by the Congress
should be supplied in adequate amount,
Inc orchestra is doing public serv-
ice and any contribution by the Con-
gress should come from the public funds.
There Is movement in operation to
attach this $4,000 to the budget of
the public school system, because the
orchestra gives series of concerts to
the school children. But the school
budget cannot afford to carry this item.
and l am writing this letter in the
hope that somebody on the Hill will
read 1t and will agree with me that it
should not be attached to the school
budget.
The public school system constantly
Is IN need for more funds than are
appropriated each year by Congress and
the psychological effect of a $25 o0O
ADDITION to the school funds, for paw
ment to the orchestra, will be detri-
mental to the interests of the schools,
Assume that the schools ask for 5000, =
ooo for necessary expenses: The added
amount Will come to $225 900, and the
economically minded committeeman
Will be inclined to draw his pencil
through the amount and make II an
even 100000, thus depriving the schools
OF $25,o0o for legitimate expenses.
Inc school board must look ahead
and watch the trend OF city growth
and purchase property for future sta
logically placed schools 1t must add
10 existing schools and build new
schools when additional population re-
quires them.
Inc board now controls approximately
So0,00O,O0o worth OF school buildings
which need constant repair but which
are deteriorating at this time because
the funds are not sufficient.
The board is hoping that the Congress
Will correct the underpayment of
school personnel, which Is far below
many other cities which compare in
size with Washington. A school teacher
is a professional person who underpoes
long preparation for a degree which
Will make her eligible to teach. Wash
mgton starts her on an annual salary
OF LAO The Government EMPLOYS
many half-educated misspellers at
$500.
Because OF a lack OF funds, teachers
each year purchase out of their measer
salaries such equipment as pencils, cur
tains, window shades, flower boxes, etc
1t Is admitted that good music is
cultural, but so is rhythmic dancing,
sculpture, painting, etc. If cultural
music is added to the school budget, how
can we deny similar demands by the
opponents OF the other arts?
What we need Is more money to nav
more teachers, so that our students will
leave our schools carrying with them
the fundamentals of education. If our
graduates can discuss Brahms and
Strauss but cannot pass college en-
trance examinations because their pen
manship is illegible or their spelling is
atrocious, the fault will not lie excIu-
sively with them, but with those who
failed to put the proper emphasis on
read1n Writin', and 'rithmetic"
JAMES A. CANNON,
Chairman, Finance Committee,
Board Of Education.