Evening star., 1955-09-22
More Teachers Are Shifted
To Cut Serious Crowdinq
DoubIing-Up
Hits Schools
Instructors Left
By JAMES G. DEANE

The District public school
system shufiled more elementary
teachers today to cut back seri.
lously crowded classes in some
schools.
The transfers-exact number
lof which officials declined to
disclose new doubling
iup Of classes in schools the
teachers left.
Some additional transfers are
PLANNED, probably by tomorrow.
Assistant Supt. Edith A. Lyons
said. Both Miss Lyons and Supt.
Hobart M. Corning. to whom she
referred further questions, said
a detailed report will be made
public after the transfers are
definitely acted on.
Forty Schools Affected
An earlier group of transfers
when schools reopened last week
caused reorganization of classes
in some 40 schools. Parent
teacher organizations in several
cases sent delegations to protest
Ito DR.. Corning about the loss Of
teachers, and PTA leaders also
are planning protest to the
Commissioners at forthcoming
budget hearings.
The elementary schools,
Through an apparent adminis-
trative mixup, opened the new
term with so fewer teachers than
had been planned on. This was
one Of the factors in last weeks
shuttle Of pupils and teachers.
One or two schools that lost
teachers a week ago are getting
them back in the new shuttle,
Miss Lyons said. She did not
disclose the names.
However, Beers School, Ala
bama avenue and Thirty-sixth
place Sc. which lost a teacher
last week. released another to-
day. She was sent to Tyler,
Tenth and G streets Sc. where
classes have been as large as
48 pupils.
DR.. Clara Pitts. Beers principal,
said the shuttle means combining
"a first and second grade. She
added. however:
Il can't complain"
More Needed
She explained that although
many of the classes will be over
standard size, Tyler was in seri-
Ious condition and needed the
teacher more. Tyler also got an
extra teacher last week.
Randle Highlands School,
Thirtieth and r streets Sc.
transferred a teacher today To
Burroughs. Eighteenth and Nom
roe streets NE. where enroll
ment also is large.
Elementary enrolment across
the city has gained more than
1000 pupils so far over a year
ago. No additional regular teach
ers were provided in the budget
to meet the increase, and the
school system has no emergency
funds that can be used to meet
the teacher shortage.
Supt. Corning last week said
he hoped to cut back the second
airy teacher force somewhat and
transfer some salaries to ele-
mentary use. Secondary admin.
Iistrators have opposed any such
move. however, claiming teachers
cannot be spared without hurt
ing the educational program.
Count 1o5,352
Assistant Supt. Lawson j.
Cantrell said today over 40 per
cent of the city's Junior high
classes have SO pupils or more,
and 10 classes, or over II per
cent, have more than 40.
The city's total enrolment at
ilast count. on Friday, was I05,-
352. a gain of 2,018 over a year
ago. The total is expected to
top l06.300 by next month.
John B. Gilliland, president of
the District Congress of Parents
and Teachers. this week sent out
q circular to the city's PTAs
urging them to appear at the
Commissioners October 4 budget
hearing to demand smaller
classes.
The school system is seeking q
large increase in the elementary
teacher force next year to estab-
lish an average class size of 80.
The present theoretical stand