Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-23

majors Proxmire of Wisconsin
mony by Senators who, though
sympathetic, questioned him
closely on whether manage
ment rather than teacher
shortages accounted for the
unmanageable size of classes in
the public system here.
Chairman Byrd cut in on the
superintendent almost before
he was underway.
The superintendent had said
he did not believe that congress
Sional subcommittee intended
TO delay "fulfillment of their
obligations at the expense of
education of children in the
Nations Capital"
This was a reference to the
late date of Senate hearings
on the city budget, after school
opened with no more teachers
than were authorized last year.
The delay is the result of the
city'S complicated Federal-local
governmental system, DR.. Han
sen said.
Defends Committee
II do not believe that any
member of an appropriations
committee is unaware of his
obligations" Senator Byrd said.
mo member has had any
intention, has now or ever will
have, of acting in a way that
might endanger any needy
program of the District of
Columbia"
The Senator told the super
intendent he would much
prefer not to have statements
of this kind"
DR.. Hansen asked If he could
give an explanation.
There is no need for an ex-
PLANTATION" Senator Byrd said.
II believe there is, sir" DR..
Hansen insisted.
Reason Called Apparent
Chairman Byrd said the rea-
son for the delay was perfectly
apparent" He touched again on
his lack of authority to grant
permission for emergency fund
ing to hire teachers in August
before revenue was authorized
by Congress to cover costs and
before any formal budget re-
quests had been received or
justified in either the Senate
or the House.
Il can't perform the impos-
Sible," Senator Byrd said.
Supt. Hansen pressed his ex-
PLANTATION, that he wanted to
make clear his confidence in
Senator Byrd's interest "in the
face of public criticism"
Eyes, I have been made the
whipping boy on several occa-
sions, for school and for welfare
problems" the Senator said.
Il attempt to do my home
work, to get the facts and to
act on the facts.
"The record will show at the
end of these hearings that I
will have done everything I
possibly can 70 help you," the
chairman assured the super
intendent.
II don't doubt that a need
for school teachers exists. But
that need has to be developed
for me, as chairman of this
subcommittee on the basis of
testimony here, not on the ba-
sis of what we read in the
newspapers"
Then, in the most encourage
ing words on school needs
heard yet at hearings, Senator
Byrd said schools are where
you can do something about
crime. you can do something
about welfare"
yours is the most impor-
tant function in the District of
Columbia" Senator Byrd told
Supt. Hansen.
You will find me very SYM
pathetic"
EnrOllments Increase
Supporting his request for
the immediate hiring of new
teachers, DR.. Hansen said last
years enrolment caused pupil
teacher ratios to be above the
desired standard. The need
for additional teachers became
more critical with the pupil
increase this year, he added.
The superintendent said
there were 1899 more pupils in
the senior high schools, an In
crease Of nearly IL per cent.
The increase In Junior highs
and elementary schools was
$50 and 1862. respectively, he
said.
Children in overcrowded
classrooms are neglected and
become poor readers and weak
students, DR.. Hansen testified.
1T is safe to assume that
most illiterates, most school
dropouts, most criminals, most
welfare recipients suffer from
the lack Of the kind of educa-
tional opportunity that they
need" DR., Hansen told the sub
committee.
Besides making 1t difficult
for students to learn. over
crowding taxes teachers and
contributes to disciplinary prob
lens, DR.. Hansen said. II also
forces the school system to ex-
clude hundreds Of kindergarten
students and severely mentally
retarded children. he added.
DR., Hansen told the COM
mittee class sizes range as high
as SO pupils. In the senior high
schools, he reported, 432 aca-
demic classes have 40 or more
students and so others have so
or more.