Evening star., 1948-11-29
Cose for Borrowing

The Strayer report on local ScnoOl neeoS
is important not because 1t reveals any
conditions not already known but because
1t provides authoritative outside corrob-
grafton of the Board of Education's own
estimates of the school crisis and how
to meet it. DR.. George D. Strayer him
self comments that his findings will come
as no surprise to the members OF the
board, to Superintendent Corning, to the
District Commissioners or to the educa-
ton committee of the Board of Trade.
All of these interested parties have recog-
nized Washington's public school deflcien-
cies and have sought ways and means OF
correcting them. DR.. strayer's report,
calling for nearly $38000,000 in school
construction to remedy only current short
comings, makes 1t more than ever ap-
parent that the traditional pay-as-you-go
financing system cannot meet the need
and that borrowing is necessary
There is no news for WashingtonianS in
DR.. Strayer's findings of "overcrowded
schools, half-time education OF children,
obsolescent buildings, fire and panic haz-
ards" officials at the Franklin School,
teachers and most parents are acutely
aware of these distressing conditions. The
reports detailed analysis of school plant
defects follows closely the Board Of Edu-
cations own appraisal of the situation.
Most of the construction projects recon-
mended In the report already have been
advocated in the Commissioners long
range school building program. Many OF
them already have been started. Others
have been delayed only because OF lack OF
funds
DR.. Strayer reiterates what other compe-
tent observers have contended, namely,
that further delays in bringing the District
school system up to date should not be
tolerated Today's generation of children
will be the sufferers from continued post
ponement Of improvements needed imme-
diately. OF the $s5,ooo,oo0 recommended
for new buildings or additions, nearly
$2s, 900 is required, he said, for colored
schools Another $780, 600 Is needed for
renovation of existing buildings and ST.
100000 for a new administration .shead-
quarters All of these are projects which
should be undertaken at once, In the
opinion of DR.. strayer and his staff.
There Is only one way to carry out such
o large-scale construction program tmme-
diately. Piecemeal appropriations will not
supply the money needed, as experience
has shown. Nor could the community
stand the tax impact Of an outright single
appropriation of sufficient size to finance
even the more urgent immediate projects.
DR.. strayer agrees with others who have
studied the fiscal aspects of the problem
that the only logical solution is to borrow
for today's needs and repay the loan over
. period of years.
There are precedents for such borrow
ing A number of Treasury advances were
made to the District before World War I.
In 1880 $16000,O0 was advanced for park
purchases. The Public Works Administra-
ton lent approximately that amount in
1s41. All of these loans were repaid with
out imposing any undue burden on District
residents. A similar loan for school con-
struction would enable the city to pay its
debt at last to the young victims of past
neglect of the school system.