Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

Responsible for a crisis approach
ing in education is the large increase
in the number of babies born during
the war and postwar years. War
psychology was not entirely re-
sponsible; better employment condi-
tons played their part.
Educators Make Plans
The FIRST OF the babies Of the war
period are now reaching the age Tor
entering the first grade. Last Sep
TENDER the schools Of the Nation
began to find the enrolment OF
beginners increasing. Next Sep
TENDER 1t will increase again and
also in September, 1919.
Then there will be recession Tor
a couple of years, after which the
schools will meet the onslaught OF
the second wave. In 1858 first-grade
enrollments will exceed those OF
1910 by more than IS per cent.
Project these conditions farther
into the future. Add six years to
the age of a child entering elemen-
tary school and he should be ready
for junior high school. Three more
years and he is ready for senior high
school, whether or not that school
is ready for him. Another three years
and he may be entering college
or trying to.
School men have been taking stock
and making plans to meet the de-
mands they see will be made on the
Nations school system. For several
years they have been coping with a
shortage Of teachers. With this
bumper crop of babies coming on
more teachers than ever before will
be needed. There will have to be
schools built and equipped.
Data on the number of children
approaching the age for school or in
school naturally start with the birth
rate. The number of births was
increasing In the late 1930s after
the decline during the depression
years.
Experts Wrong About 1947
Also by the end Of the 1s3Os the
World War I crop of children was
finishing school. Because Of these
children and because of the fewer
employment opportunities, high
school enrolment reached its peak
in 1899 and then began to slump.
Births in 1910 numbered 1858, 400
according to Census Bureau figures
The next year-men were being
called for military training and the
industrial program for defense was
under way-there was a substantial
increase in the number OF births
In l942-the first war year-the
number of babies born was 3,003,-
357.
There was another increase the
following year and then, in 1914 and
1915, with millions of men overseas,
there was a decrease. The war
over, there were 3,470,00O births in
1916, a number more than half a
million greater than for the pre-
ceding year and IS per cent greater
than in 1910.
Most experts figured that was the
peak; that last years births would
show a decline. They did not. The
Census Bureaus provisional figure
for 1947 is 100000. This is more
than so per cent above the 1916
figure.
In the two years 1916 and l947
a total of 100000 babies were born
That number exceeds the total fol
1910 and 1941 by more than 2,000,-
COO In 1852 and 1858 those chill
dren will be toddling of by theil
mothers sides to be enrolled In
elementary school.
The number by then will have
declined to about 100000, but still
will be about 100000 more than the
total entering school last year ano
the year before. In 1858 and 1858
they will be reaching junior high
school, in 1861 and 1862 senior high
school.
No Standard Pattern
AS they 60 along on their school
careers teachers must be ready for
them, classrooms and equipment
provided.
Public and private school enroll
ment this year Is estimated at 49,
100000, with 22,620,0OO in elementary
schools and $500 900 in secondary
schools. In 1866 it is estimated
the total will be 35,8O0,0OO, with 49,
100000 elementary school pupils and
100000 in the high schools.
The national ratio of the increases
In births cannot be applied to indi-
cate the need for more school facil-
tiles evenly throughout the country.
It does not follow that district
which had 100 classrooms and 100
teachers in 1916 must have $50 OF
each in 1852.
There will be some areas which
will be able to absorb the increases
as they come along. Other areas
with schools already taxed by war
time shifts in population even now
are seeing the need for more teach
ers and additional schools.
Washington is in the latter cate
CORY. School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing has submitted to the School
Board study showing that in 1852
enrolment in the white elementary
schools will be 60 per cent above the
present enrolment. In the colored
elementary schools the increase will
be 80 per cent.
Two new schools are planned fol-
Southeast Washington at cost OF
$l,70O,0O0.
But let us look at the need in thu
Nation &c q whole of more teacher,