Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-20
WANT NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
Colored Parents Teachers Associa
ton Name Committee to Wait
on City officials in Interest
Of C3uSe


: On Sunday evening a well attended
meeting cf the colored Parents
Teachers A>sociaton" and citizens Of
Alexandria, a committee, consisting Of
Mollin Tancil, Bertha Skinner, Dr..
Albert Johnson, Rev. W. II. r. Pow
ell. Rev. j. C. Johnson. H. 7. White
and s. A. Tucker, was appointed TO
wait on the officials CT Public Schools
and City Counci! with reference to
the erection of a new School building
for the accommodation of the colored
school children of this city.
Nearly three years ago the follow
ing petition was presented to the city
school board:
Alexandria, Va, April 2S, 1916.
To the City Schoo! Board, Alexandria,
Va. atsM
Gentlemen: We, the colored patrons
and residents interested in the welfare
Of the c3lored public schools of Alex
andria. Va, in mass meeting assembl-
ed, this 2stir day Of April, 1916, under
the auspices of the Colored School I'M
provement League, beg leave to sub
nit to your honorable body. through
our superintendent. Capt VIM. H.
Sweeney, the following memoranda
and petition:
Fir.t. We wish to extend to you DUR
deep sense Of appreciation and graft
tude for the abiding interest you have
always displayed in our schools ana
the generous support you have given
them.
Second Whereas. the recent destru.
ticn, by fire. of the Snowden School
Building. in which our boys were
taught, has caused condition for
which provision must be made, and
Whereas. The Hallowcll Schoo!
Bu;ldn, in which our girls are taught
is in such a condition as to render
it practically unSuitcd for modern
schco! purposes. We. therefore, do
most respectfully and earnestly petit
ton your honorable body:
lst. That we be provided with new
modern brick structure of sufficient
size TO house our entire school popu-
lation cf girls and boys, with af as
scmbly room and rooms for our in.
GUstria departments.
2rd. That such building be located
on new site with ample play
grounds.
Since the object of this petition is
q matter of great moment to US, We
therefore, willingly offer you our as
sistance in every way possible.
This petition represented an eX-
preston from the entire colored citi-
zcnship of Alexandria and was una
n:mcusiy approved by the member
ship cf school boards ut that time. 1t
was eventually forwarded to City
Council and referred to school COM
mit:ee OF council After due considera-
ton, this committee recommended
what appeared to be splendid site
with Improvements thereon. When
this recommendation was submitted 70
coun i. it was lost by majority vote
in that body. 1t was understood that
;liis majority favored the erection OF
Il new building instead Of remode!nG
and making additions to old building
an site recommended by school COM
mittee of council, SO far we are
aware, no definite omvement has been
made in this direction since above
mentioned date.
In the meantime, the principal build
ing now used for girls, las passed
from bad to worse until it is now in
ssch dilapidated and unsanitary con-
di.ion as to cndanGcr the health and
lives of about 300 girls now in attend
ance at this building.
The object Of this committee is to
bring this serious situation to the at
,ention of school officials and coun
Ill and respectfully request that early
action he taken in petition now pend
ing before council. DR.. Albert John.
.on is chairman and H. T. White
secretary.