Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-05


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Taxpayers Tell District What 10 Put il
Budoet. Pose AIS
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before the Commissioners to urge
quick approval Of new teacher
hiring plans.
School requests drew the prin-
cipal spotlight at the city heads
day long budget hearing. Soma
witnesses not only backed present
expansion moves. but voiced im-
patience with them as too
modest.
The Board of Education has
asked for more than go addi-
tional teachers next year, 1853 OF
them as the first installment Ia
Ia three-year program to reduce
the average elementary class size
from SO to 80 pupils. More spe.
lcial teachers for mentally re.
itarded pupils and other purposes
also are sought.
Faster Action Urged
John B. Gillilland. president Of
the 26. 000-member District Con-
gress Of Parents and Teachers.
was one Of those who urged an
even more rapid teacher buildup.
Referring to the School Board
proposal to add 489 regular ele-
1mentary teachers in three years.
Mr.. Gillilland told the hearing:
I'VE feel it is high time we do
all we can to establish the 40
lto-l ratio now, not three years
from now.
The PTA leader added that
lack of enough classroorns would
prevent immediate realization Of
THE goal on a city-wide basis.
hut he said that wherever we
have space it should be done
now"
| Individual PTA spokesman
lined up solidly behind tho
teacher expansion move, some
echoing Mr.. Gillilland's plea for
Ia speed-up.
Other Posts Asked
Numerous pleas also were made
for elementary school clerks, as
isistant principals and increased
school construction and repair
funds.
| Mr.. Gillilland announced that
Ills PTA members from nearly
40 schools attended the hearing.
la substantial majority of the ap-
1 proximately 30 witnesses who
j appeared Endorsed school budget
items, including some spokesman
from nonschool organizations.
Mrs. Earl B. Barnes. president
of the Hardy Elementary Home
and School Association, made
one Of the most vigorous teacher
requests.
Pointing out that Hardy
opened this fall hort-handed
because Of last-minute teacher
shortage, Mrs. Barnes submitted
"a petition bearing $50 names
calling for immediate provision
lof enough teachers for 30-to-1
in the shortest possible time"
Separate Budget Asked
The Hardy petition also urged
Ibudgeting schools separately
from the rest of the city gov
Iernment.
Mrs. Barnes took issue with
Inon-school witnesses who called
for a check on city spending,
declaring:
I'VE believe that people are
willing to pay taxes which will
definitely benefit our children"
Other speakers chided the
Commissioners for past cutbacks
i'm the school budget and urged
that a greater share of city
spending 60 to schools.
Mrs. Max j. Fischer of Oyster
IPTA. asserted:
1.-THE school budget has been
forced to take a back seat for
too long, and this practice has
brought it TO the sorry plight
lit is In today"
Mrs. Sterling Green of Key
IPTA and other speakers cited
recent disclosures of a city-wide
achievement lag as evidence Of
the need for smaller classes.
Standards In Question
How can we expect q child in
q classroom Of over 40 pupils to
lachieve up to standard in read
ling and arithmetic?" Mrs. Green
asked.
Another parent. Mrs. Lillian
Weyrnan Of the PTA at Truesdell
Laboratory School, noted that
seven Of this Misunderstanding
schools classes have two grades,
adding:
For every dollar saved by this
kind Of skimping, we'll have to
spend S. in a few years for
neglect"
Several speakers criticized an.
nounced plans of school officials
TO shift some secondary school
teacher salaries to relieve the
elementary teacher shortage.
They asserted more secondary
teachers are needed. instead.
No Teachers Sought
Witnesses pointed out that the
school system had not asked for
any more regular teachers this
year or next year, even though
enrolment is growing. Several
labeled this a mistake on the
part Of school officials.
Peter Barash, president Of the
Wilson High School Student
Council. and Miss Sunny Thorn
Jas. student council president at
Deal Junior High. appeared to
urge development of a swimming
pool and recreation facilities at
Fort Reno.
Among other specific projects
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