Evening star., 1955-09-13
Outlook Dark
On Elementary
School teachers
Senior Highs, With
Larger Enrolment,
Have No Surplus
BY JAMES G. DEANE

Prospects appeared slim today
for any immediate relief for a
shortage Of so elementary teach
ers in the Districts public
schools.
Assistant Supt. Carl r. Hansen
reported an enrolment increase
lin senior high schools. appar-
emily dashing any expectation
that high schools might have a
teacher surplus.
DR.. Hansen also warned that
any move to transfer high school
salaries to grade schools would
Ijeopardize the high school pro-
gram, especially new remedial
CLASSES, for slow learners.
Were actually short of teach
ers now" he said.
Opening Is Smooth
The teacher shortage marred
an otherwise smooth opening Of
the city's schools yesterday.
School officials reported no diff
ficulties connected with racial
integration. which entered its
second year.
The Star revealed last Friday
that 40 elementary school prin-
cipals had been informed two
days earlier they would be short
handed by SO teachers.
The shortage is a money one.
E lem entary administrators
counted on having more salaries
than actually proved to be avail
able. Principals had made or
ganization plans on this basis,
and it wasn't until last week
that the miscalculation became
generally known.
Deputy Supt. Norman j. Mel
son said 1t has been hoped that
at least part of the shortage
might be made up by transfer
| ring teacher salaries from the
high school teacher level. He
said that some temporary Sec
ondary teachers might even be
released in order to make this
possible.
Deputy Supt. Charles N. Eel
lers. In charge of business af-
fairs. recommended such trans
fers. and he said today he still
feels that at least some Of them
could be made without leopard
izing the secondary program.
However, DR.. Hansen said to-
day he is strongly opposed to
any such transfers. Lawson j.
Cantrell. assistant superintend-
end in charge of Junior high
schools. also said the junior
highs need all the teachers they
have and that transfers would
impair the teaching program.
DR.. Hansen said that high
school enrolment is I'D so
far about $50 students above
the start Of school last year. Mr..
Cantrell said the junior high
total is about 300 students lower
but he ascribed this to late en-
Irollments and predicted the to-
Ital will climb significantly later.
DR.. Hansen said II the high
schools are forced to relinquish
any teachers it will mean cut
ting back or dropping plans for
special remedial programs at at
least two high schools, Mckinley
land Anacostia.
Mckinley has scheduled 10
remedial reading and arithmetic
classes and Anacostia two such
classes. DR.. Hansen said these
classes are urgently needed to
speed pupils behind in their work,
~ Speclal Glasses
Twenty new special classes for
retarded children are scheduled
in junior highs. and these also
may be jeopardized by any trans
Ifer move, according to Mr.,
lCantrell.
These special classes were or
ganized largely as part Of the
integration program. Congress
specifically appropriated funds
for q number Of them in elemen-
tary schools, but did not act on
the secondary level.
The teacher shortage has
caused doubling up of a number
of classes in elementary schools
aggravating already crowded
conditions.
Only telephone enrolment
check was made yesterday, and
no grand total is yet available
Pa pupil increase in every Level
except junior highs has beer
predicted. The expected total
by next month is expected to be
over 100000, a new record.
Z