Evening star., 1952-10-16
0vercrowding
Reported in "a
District Schools
All But Eight
Are Negro, Corning
Tells Bourd
By jones 6. Deone

Tells Bourd
By jones 6. Deone
Nearly a third of the Districts
public grade schools are over
crowded this fall.
And for many no relief is in
sight for several years, although
new construction will help a few
this winter.
The situation was outlined by
school officials in a special report
to the Board of Education yes
terday.
Thirty-four elementary schools
were listed as overcrowded, out of
the city's 113. All but eight are
Negro.
The pupil surplus over normal
capacity totals 5,411-1,694 white.
3,717 Negro.
Glasses in all 26 Of the over
crowded Negro schools are over
size. In both white and colored
schools, children are being taught
in Easements, playrooms and
other emergency space.
Two on Part Time.
Only two schools Payne
and aury-h We part-time
classes. Each has four. Pupil shifts
and use of unaccustomed space
have been necessary to avert re-
duced schedules in several white
schools, however.
Supt. Hobart M. Corning made
no comment in presenting the re-
port to the Board of Education.
The situation underscores, how
ever, the Importance of the pro-
posed six-year school construction
program.
Money for only one new grade
school is available this winter. Of
f1cials hope to start at least six
more schools and additions-four
of them elementary units-next
year. But much of the crowding
will continue for four or five years
to come.
A white school-Simon, at
Fourth street and Mississippi ave-
nue. S.E.-iS the worst crowded in
terms of the number Of pupils over
normal capacity. Enrolment, in
a building built for 936, is 1850
a surplus of 414, or nearly one
half.
Relief Due in 1854.
This situation won't be relieved
until February, 1854, when a new
school is due to be opened. This
new school, at Ninth and Barna-
by streets Sc, is the one about
to be started.
The other crowded white schools
are Bunker Hill, Congress Heights,
Davis. Keene, Patterson, Shepherd
and Stanton. Stanton pupils have
overf1owed into an annex just re-
opened. Patterson relief must
wait for the Ninth and Barnaby
school. Additions to Bunker Hill,
Davis and Keene are due to open
next February.
The biggest surplus of Negro
pupils is at Young, Benning road
and Twenty fourth, street NE.
Enrolment there is 1905, or 341
over normal capacity. No relief
is expected until Phelps Voca-
tional High School is replaced
and its old building converted
perhaps in two years.
Only three of the Negro schools
have a surplus smaller than 100
however.
An addition due to be COM
pleted at Payne next spring will
help meet the Payne -Maury sit
uation and end part-time classes
there. Another addition is under
way at Richardson.
Funds Being Sought.
Funds now are being sought for
a new Southeast school to relieve
Birney, which also is overf1owing
An addition to Syphax School also
is projected soon.
Another new building proposed
for Fifty-sixth and East Capitol
streets would relieve several more
crowded schools in 1854. officials
also are considering at least two
elementary school transfers from
white to colored, one of which
would help the Payne area
further.
But many of the other schools
must wait longer. The other
crowded Negro schools are Bruce
Carver. Garrison, Giddings, Harri-
son, Hayes. Logan, Lovejoy. Madi.
son, Monroe, Morgan, Mott. Nalle
Park View, Pierce. Slowe, Smoth.
ers. Taylor, Van Ness, Webb anc
Young.
Negro schools also have 6
teacher shortage, despite recent
teacher shifts in the white school!
to make more money available
DR.. Corning told the board yes.
terday a deficiency appropriation
undoubtedly must be sought tt
meet this need, but whether it will
be obtained is unpredictable.
Transfer Sought.
The Payne-Maury PTA is seek
ing transfer of a nearby whit,
school to meet the overcrowdinl
there Immediately. The grou]
has asked for Bryan.
Mrs. Velma G. Williams yester
day called the subject to the at
tention of other board member
and asked DR.. Corning to look TO
a solution. She pointed out tn
PTA stated there are 900 surplu
seats in nearby white schools.
DR.. Corning said he had no
had an opportunity to study tn
figures, but he pointed out part
time classes will end when tn
new addition is opened. He didn'
promise any further solution, al
though he conceded this relic
won't be permanent.
DR.. Corning promised a repor
N the Negro teacher shortag
after another enrolment check o