Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
3 Senators Inspect
Schools Urge Relief
See Crowding
And SHORTAGE
OF Teachers
BY JAMES G. DEANE

4WO hCy 0CIldIOIo IOudy SdlQ
they found serious shortages Of
space and teachers on a surprise
inspection trip of Washington
public schools.
Senators Stennis. Democrat Of
Mississippi. and Beall. Republic
can of Maryland. both said they
found confirmation of parental
complaints about school short
ages on a visit to three elemen-
Itary schools yesterday.
Senator Stennis declared:
Il feel something must be
done"
Senator Bible. Democrat Of
Nevada, also went on the unan-
Inounced trip. He could not be
reached Immediately for COM
lment, but he also repeatedly re-
acted the same way as Senator's
IStennis and Beall.
The three Senators. all MEM
oers of the Senate District APP
preparations Subcommittee spent
three hours on the inspection.
They were accompanied by
Harold Merrick. subcommittee
clerk, and Charles N. Zellers,
deputy school superintendent.
Three Schools Inspected
The party visited three elemen-
Itary schoolS-Thomson, Twelfth
and L streets NV; Kingsman,
Fourteenth and E streeteS NE,
and Young. Twenty-fourth street
and Benning road NE.
The inspection trip was ar
ranged by Mr.. Merrick late Mon
day at the request of Senator
IStennis. subcommittee chairman.
The Senator. who recently
presided over three days of public
hearings mostly devoted to school
needs. said he was tremendously
Impressed" with the testimony
of parents regarding shortages
of classrooms and teachers.
He added. however, that zone
picture is worth thousand
words" and that the subcom-
mittee members had felt it their
duty to make a f1rst-hand check
into the school conditions.
Senators to Prepare Report
The subcommittee is scheduled
to meet next Monday to prepare
a report on the pending District
appropriation bill, including
school funds. the Senator said.
He added that he was not pre-
pared to discuss what the sub
committee may recommend, but
he declared:
I'VE certainly must have adj
ditional buildings"
Senator Beall also said he had
seen overcrowded conditions
that should be eliminated as
quickly as possible"
He added:
i think there's a definite need
for more teachers"
Senators Stennis and Beau
both said they are opposed to a
House-approved plan to reduce
the teacher force of the citys
lunior-senior high schools, They
did not commit themselves spe-
Officially on a school system plea
for funds for 100 additional ele-
mentary teachers. however.
OvercrOwding Observed
The three subcommittee mem
bers visited number OF class
rooms on their tour, and talked
with teachers and principals.
At Young School. where all Of
the classes visited except one
numbered in the 40s, the party
saw children being taught arith-
metic, social studies and art. The
Senators visited four rooms in A
temporary eight-room building
opened last January to house
the overflow from the regular
school.
Mrs. Martha H. Winston, prin-
cipal. said the two buildings to-
gether now are housing l,47o
children in space built for far
fewer.
At Kingsman, Miss Katherine
1hrig, principal. conducted the
Senators through temporary
classrooms converted out of a
library room, teachers lunch
room and storeroom. She told
the visitors the school needed
more teachers but had no room
for them.
The enrolment at Kingsman
is around $50, or 200 more than
its capacity.
Large Turnover Of Pupils
At Thomson the Senator's
nearo ABOUT a special maximum
berefit project" being conducted
there under auspices Of the COM
missioners' Youth Council.
Mrs. Frances Haas, principal.
explained that under the project
classes are supposed to be no
larger than 80. but they have
only just reached that point
after being bigger all year.
Teachers also are having great
difficulty because of extraordi-
nary pupil turnover. she told the
Senators. They are hoping to
have somewhat smaller classes
next fall in order to help cope
with this situation, she ex-
planned.
Mrs. Haas also pointed out the
schools lack Of a proper play
ground.