Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-19
SPIRITED DEBATE
OVER PLAY PLACE
Whether or Not PetWorth Shall
Have One Discussed Before
Education Board.
DECISION is IN FAVOR
OF OPENING GROUNDS
Objections Made to Transfer of
Pupils From Fillmore Building.
Changes in Schools.

| A spirited debate as to whether a school
| playground should or should not be
/ opened at Petworth School. Georgia ave-
| nue. and Shepherd street was participant
ed in by residents of that vicinity at the
meeting of the board of education yes
terday afternoon at the Franklin build
ing. Before the two delegations-one for
and one against-were dismissed by the
board 1t appeared that little neighbor-
hood row was about to be aired. And
after the residents had gone out In
groups of three, four and Ave. still argu-
ing their cases. the board considered the
matter briefly and decided that the Pet
worth School should have a playground
this year.
Some members of the board were unde-
cided for a while as to what action
should be taken.
II believe if we were to do away with
the Petworth School playground the peo-
pie in the vicinity of every school play
ground in the District would come here
to file a protest against the playground
near them said President Henry P.
Blair. Following which the board de-
cided unanimously to keep the playground
open.
Objections Enumerated.
Those from Petworth who wanted the
playground closed declared that the
grounds were not large enough for the
purpose-that at present the school had
to hold seven recesses in order to accom-
modate all the children. Also, It was
pointed out that the grounds were with
out shade and were covered with cut
stone, which was bad for the children to
play on. Several of the speakers, in
Guiding W. H. Parsons, w. L. Gutelius,
r. E. Adams and Mrs. John A. Holmes,
urged that Libby Park could be used as
playground. 1t is a recreation center
now. it was said, and many people slept
there in tents.
This was protested by Mrs. Samuel
Mooers, who declared that the park
could not be used as a playground.
serious that we had to call meeting Of
parents. I know, because I was one of
the parents at the meeting" declared
Mrs. Mooers.
Mrs. William r. Loney, who also ia
vored the playground at the school, de-
clared that those parents who do not
wish their children to use the playground
no doubt will keep them from it,
In the course Of her remarks Mrs.
Loney was questioned by one of the op-
posing ones as to what she knew about
conditions in Petworth.
Il do not live in Petworth, but near
it," she said
right into the yard of the school," said
the questioner, Mrs c. l.. Leadingham.
Mrs. Loney declared that a number
of persons near the school were in ia
vor of the playground. only one"
came a chorus of protesting voices that
drowned every other sound in the room
for moment.
Exceptions to Transfers.
People Of Petworth we're not the only
ones with grievance at the meeting
yesterday. however, for the parents Of
children Of the Fillmore School, who
were recently transferred to other
buildings to make room for the pupils
of Western High School. were also
present to register a protest. 1T was
declared by the speakers that large
number of the children who had been
transferred from the Fillmore were
had to walk more than half mile to
the nearest school, while others were
forced to travel one mile.
Unless it is found possible to accom-
modate the young children in the Fill
more School many parents will be forced
toget nearer to school, or will keep
their children out of school next winter
it was declared. The matter was left in
the hands of Supt. Ernest l.. Thurston,
with power TO act. President Blair. on
behalf of the board, promised that all
that Is possible should be done, but that
he could give no assurance as to whether
some better arrangement could be made.
Objections Voiced by Mr.. Eckloff.
James E. Eckloff. who opened the case
for the parents, declared: I'VE are not a
party Of grumblers in the Home and
School Association which / represent, but
have the best interests of the school at
heart. The children of the Fillmore
School are mostly small ones, who must
have some one accompany them to school
or stay home. The long trip which they
have to make now tires them.
AT least $50 of the Western pupils who
now use the building have to ride to the
building, so it would be no more difficult
for them to ride to another school. r
street is one-half a mile from the Curtis
and at least 100 children of the Fillmore
live on the north side of that street
Some of them live a half mile on the
other side of r street. SO that these have
a total of mile to walk
President Blair said that if the Hyde
IuTtlS OF ACQ1SOn were used for the
Western pupils the pupils transferred to
| other buildings would experience the
same difficulties the Fillmore children
| We're having.
Mrs. Carl Stodder. another parent, de-
ciared. however, that inasmuch as these
| three schools were grouped closely to-
| gether. the children of one might be dis
| tributed between the other two without
any serious Inconvenience. 1T would be
| practit ally transferring the children next
door,. said Mrs Stodder.
| Other speakers were G. y. Wilmeth. j.
J. Arnaud and Mrs. II. F. kunkel
Affects Woman Teachers.
An amendment regarding the appoint
ment of married women as teachers in
the schools was held over for fuller con-
sideration. The amendment suggested
provided that if teacher In the school
marries--and she automatically resigns
when she does so-that she should not
be allowed to be reappointed until one
| 80 r<