The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-10
k'KINLEY SCHOOL
NEEDS 100000
With Two Additions Fin
iShed, All Cannot Be
Accommodated.
COBBLESTONES
MAKE A BEDLAM
Rooms Needed For 1900 Pupils.
Large Appropriation Should Be
Obtained From Congress.

Four hundred thousand dollars for
extensions and the removal Of the anti
quated cobblestones that have adorned
the streets adjacent for thirty years,
must be obtained before the OVerCTOwd-
Ell conditions and the noise, which
caused Miss Mary Plant to resign her
position IN the Mckinley Manual Train
ing School. can be remedied. 1t Is the
purpose of the Board of Education 10
insist upon both when the estimates
are made up two months hence.
Principal George l. Myers was armed
today with figures showing. rs claimed
by Miss Plant. that even ar-cr the pres
ent addition is completed IN September
Ra& q subsequent addition is completed
= year hence. there will probably be
three or four hundred pupils for whom
there VIII be no accommodations and
who will have 10 study in rented quar-
ters
As Mr. Myers talked 81 he difficulties
which beset the teaching force at the
Mckinley, thc rumbling OF the Passing
leans within thlri- feet Of his office
windows made me use OF a megaphone
almost imperative The Mckinley
School, for what purpose no one knows,
was erected Just as close to the side
MEah6 On 5sNcnLn SiEEEt ana GA4lOsE
Island avenue as was possible II is
the only school situated SO near public
thorOughfare.
Noise Makes Perfect Bedlam
The cobblestones and teams have
ratified for thirty years without remedy
and at times the noise, when the win
dows have to be opened, amounts to per
feet bedlam. The board has decided 10
ask the Commissioners to remove these
stones. 1 understand, and put down
asphalt" said Mr.. Myers.
Later, President oyster. OF the board,
confirmed this statement, saying that
such a request would be made and that
the board would also probably ask for
$4,000 to build additions to the McIIin-
ley school which will accommodate its
growth
According to MI Myers. 401 pupils Of
the Mckinley school we're acconmo-
dated in other buildings last year. Three
rooms were occupied in the Central
High School, four blocks distant; six
blocks distant and all poorly ventilated
and unsafe from Ere, cared for the re-
mainder. One OF these was a wholesale
liquor house. another q store, and the
others former residences
Fourteen Of the twenty-five classes
were thus provided for out Of the Nc
Kinney DullQluk- allnOuEtl ali classes nae
to go 10 this building for manual in
struction," continued Mr. Myers.
1T is these conditions that We're COM
planned OF by Miss Plant as unbearable
and on account OF which she resigned
Wednesday. Miss Plant was one OF the
hest and most praisewoIthy teachers in
The system.
Plans for Extension Drawn.
plans have been drawn for a fur
Their extension OF the building provld-
ed for in the last appropriation bill.
This addition will cover all OF the avail
able ground now belonging 10 the
school
However. Il this second addition
were ready for use when school opens
in September. we should be obliged to
seat about 200 pupils outside the build
ing. BY the time this addition is ready
the number Will probably have inCreas-
ed to 800 or 400 In fac., we shall then
be face TO face with practically the
same crowded condition which has con-
frOnted Us the past year.
In view OF this desperate need OF
the Mckinley school. It a clear thai
every possible effort should be made e
secure large appropriation from Con-
gress at its coming session, for a fur
ther. extension Of the building This ex-
tension should increase the capacity OF
the school 10 200 pupils. and should
cost, with the site, not less than 500 90.
] have asked the board 10 obtain II and
AAl'ANt SAfllAh ~4lEg y ia MANI n nav
fort to do So"
Says Teaching Is Capable.
Principal Myers. however. corrected
today any impression that might have
been gained by the publication OF Miss
Plants letter, that good teaching was
impossible at the Mckinley School. In
confirming the unfavorabIe conditions
pictured by the resigning teacher, Mr.
Myers said he did not try 70 convey,
as perhaps might be inferred by the
publication Of such confirmation, that
the teaching force was not doing capa-
bic work.
4 do not believe this" he said. Good
work. excellent work, has been done
in this school in the past and is being
done now The standing taken by our
graduates in the engineering schools at
Cornell, Lehigh. Columbia. University
OF Michigan. University of Pennsy!-
vania, and other chronological institutes
Is evidence OF this. Two OF the twenty
young men gathered from the whole
country who recently passed the reve-
nue. cutter service examination. were
from the Mckinley School.
Teachers Overcome Conditions.
Il viii agree that the best work can
not be done as we are now situated
i'm fact that much better work might
be done under ideal conditions. but I do
not grant that good work is not being
done now. The teachers are working
harder than they ought to in order TO
do It. but excellent work is being done
Notwithstanding unsatisfactory condi-
tions.
Principals and teachers Of the Nc
Kinley school believe, as Miss Plant
expressed in that part Of her letter
published exclusively in The Times. that
this is the best type Of high school for
the American boy and girl. and, be
Heving this. are working hard TO make
the Mckinley the best OF its type.
The popularity OF the school has
mace II Impossible Tor the oulIding tc
keep up with its growing attendance.
ano for this reason the appropriation
Is urgently needed
- 500 REWARD!