Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-15
Senate Help
May Be Asked
For Schools
Civic Leaders Won't
House to Restore
Teacher Fund Cut
BY JAMES G. DEANE

By JAMES G. DEANE
A plea for Senate help will be
made by school and civic leaders
If the House fails to restore full
special-teacher funds to the Dis
trict school budget.
The Senate will also be asked
to reverse House committee
slashes on school clerks and
maintenance funds, if the House
doesn't do so itself.
| School teachers cited what
they called very serious threats
to the city's educational program
in disclosing plans yesterday for
the new fund appeal.
Both parent and school spokes-
men said that they felt it urgent
that not only some of the special
teachers asked by the school sys-
tenn be provided-as recon-
mended Friday by the House APP
preparations Committee - but
that the full teacher request be
granted.
! Was Hard Blow
School officials also said the
/ clerk cutback was a hard blow,
and that the maintenance slash
would impair the condition Of
school buildings.
The House appropriations unit
on Friday approved funds for
hiring 81 teachers for retarded
and other handicapped elemen-
tary school children. This was
partial victory for parent-teach-
er groups and the Board of Edu-
cation. for the Commissioners
had deleted the teachers from
the city appropriation request.
The school board. however,
had asked for so teachers. And
leaders stressed yesterday that
the 81 so far approved would
leave many children unprovided
for.
| In February, The Star dis
closed that an estimated 1000
or more children with serious
learning problems were in ordi-
nary classes where they could
not get needed help.
No Better OF
| Yesterday. officials said these
children still are no better off
than they were in February, be-
cause of the shortage of teach
ers. Next fall. they pointed out,
less than 200, of them can be
given special instruction if the
recommended handful of extra
teachers are provided.
The appropriation bill as it
stands provides II teachers for
the retarded, four for speech cor
rection, four for remedial read
ing and two for shut-ins.
What the school board re-
quested was 81 teachers for the
retarded, seven for, speech, eight
for remedial reading and three
for shut-ins. Also asked were
three music, three art, and five
science teachers. in all of which
subjects the schools are also
seriously tinderstaffed.
Cost of all SO teachers would be
$225,155. What the House COM
mittee granted was $96,810.
Cut School Clerks
The elementary school clerks
slashed out by the committee
apparently partly in exchange for
the added teachers - numbered
IA. They would cost $41,3O0.
A large number of the city's
schools have only part-time
clerks. and officials have felt that
both money and good education
| are being sacrificed because Of
the paper work this throws onto
the principals.
AS for the maintenance funds,
the school system has been oper-
ating on the same maintenance
budget - about 81 million - for
the last five years despite a
large-scale expansion in the
number of buildings. This year
the school board asked an in
crease of $559,00O. The Com
missioners cut it to 5000 900, and
the committee chopped this to
! $55 ,000-less than 10 per cent
of the original request.
The amount approved will keep
maintenance and repairs on the
same basis as at present. officials
said. This means practically all
but emergency repairs will be
eliminated.
School officials voiced chagrin
when informed of the cuts.
Called Heartbreaking
Assistant Supt. Edith A. Lyons.
in charge of elementary schools,
said she was very happy about
the special teachers. even though
the number would not be enough.
But she called the clerical slash
lust heartbreaking"
Assistant Supt. John M.
Riecks, who was hit by the main
tenance cut, said:
This is no laughing matter.
It's terribly%Serious. Our paint
ing cycle has already been ex-
tended to eight years. Roofs are
leaking. We're having to patch
to stay in business"
The District Congress of Par
ents and Teachers is one Of the
organizations planning to make
a strong plea to the Senate for
help.
John B. Gillilland, new Con-
gress president, and Mrs. Rich
ard Radue, legislative chairman,
both voiced concern over the
special teacher shortage and