Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-18
1949 School Study
Used Corning Says
Lack of Funds
Blocking Plans,
Stennis Told
BY JAMES G. DEANE

School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing today made public a letter
to Senator Stennis, Democrat of
Mississippi, declaring that the
1919 Strayer Report on the Dis
trict school system hasn't been
ignored.
The school superintendent told
reporters he was speaking only
for the school system, however.
He said the schools haven't been
able to carry out major Strayer
proposals because the District
hasn't provided the funds.
DR.. Corning two days ago sent
Senator StenniS an 11-page
summary of the Strayer report
and what has been done to fol-
low it up. The summary was
prepared in answer to an in
quiry by the Senator at a public
hearing last week.
Senator Stennis, chairman Of
the Senate District Appropria-
lions Subcommittee, made the
inquiry after Mrs. Max Fischer,
Oyster Elementary School par
ent, charged that the city had
allowed the Strayer report to
gather dust"
Parents Urge Funds
Major focus at the hearing
was a plea from parents for
more teacher funds to reduce
class sizes.
DR.. Corning's letter listed
smaller classes as one of the
major Strayer recommendations.
The report urged a maximum OF
80 pupils in elementary classes.
No action has been taken on
setting the maximum, but the
school system is now trying to
get more elementary teacher
funds in order to make some
small beginnings" toward cut
ting class-size averages, DR..
Corning pointed out.
The Stennis subcommittee is
considering a Board of Educa-
ton request for 1870 more ele-
mentary teachers.
Lack of Funds Stressed
The Corning summary also
said a Strayer proposal to reduce
Junior and senior high class
sizes had been partially blocked
by budget limitations.
1 Some children are still on
kindergarten waiting lists, the
letter also noted.
The school superintendent said
lack of funds has blocked rec
commended expansion of the
school systems curriculum de-
partment. hampered improve
ment of the vocational program
and retarded the proper de-
velopment" of special teaching
for mentally backward children.
Most of DR.. Corning's sum-
mary was devoted to ADMINISTERS.
tive revamping, some of it car.
ried out as a result of integra-
ton.
Among accomplishments since
the Strayer survey, he listed re-
vision of the teacher salary
schedule. the hiring of more
school clerks. improvement in
health services and physical ed
ucation. and reorganization Of
the program for backward chill
dren and other special groups.
Construction Carried Out
The summary said most of the
Strayer proposals for school con-
struction had been completed or
are included in the city's pro-
posed public works program, ex-
cept for some dropped because
of changed conditions.
On equalization of teacher
staff in white and colored schools
"a strong Strayer recommended
tion-Dr. Corning said "all pos
Sible steps" were taken prior to
desegregation. He also pointed
out 20 white school buildings
were transferred to colored use.
The Strayer report resulted
from years survey of the Dis
trict schools under DR.. George
ID. Strayer, formerly of Columbia
University. The survey was
made, at a 100000 cost, for the
Senate and House Appropria-
lions Committees.
Dr.. Corning told Senator Stem
mis- it had proved "a most valu-
able aid"