Evening star., 1920-10-07
DECLARES MONROE
SCHOOL REQUIRES
4.ROOM ADDITION
R. L. Haycock in Effort to Sc
cure Better Conditions for
600 Children.

Deplorable conditions exist today
in many of washington's public
schools, of which officials are well
aware. But they point out in their
former campaigns for improvements
Congress failed to make the neces-
sary appropriations to meet them, all.
There is one school-the Monroe, on
Columbia road between Georgia and
Sherman avenues-which all officials
agree should be improved Immediate
" If the health of nearly 600 chill
Edren is not to be ipnpaired This
school not only is oyerJroWded, but
is vitality in need Of adequate heating
and lighting systems.
The school at present hes no light
Ing system to speak Of. There are
no lights in the classroofns; the only
ones being six gas lights leading
through corridor from the old per-
manent building to a four-room ad-
dition which was erected about eight
days, 1T Is said, children in the class
rooms can hardly discern objects
about them. causing strain on their
eyesight.
been requested.
Heating System Inadequate.
The heating system is Inadequate.
In winter some rooms are too cold
and others too warm. Last winter
on several occasions various classes
were excused for several hours be-
cause sufficient heat could not be OBJ
tained in their respective rooms. A
new furnace has been requested, but
it is regarded as problematical SO far
as obtaining it is concerned.
The Monroe School is twelve-room
structure, with sixteen classes. The
enrolment today totals $40, but is
expected to reach 500 in the near
could not be provided for the present
registration, and a portable building
was pressed into use, which now is
quartering a third-grade class
playground space at the school;
well equipped. however, is badly in
need of resurfacing. A draining sys-
tenn for the playground also is vitality
needed
On rainy days pool of water re-
mains in the center of the playground.
If the transforms last for any time
the water from the playground floods
the basement of the school building.
1t is reported that during the sum-
mer water at times stood sixteen
inches high in some parts of the base
ment. For years officials have asked
for a proper draining system for the
school playground.
To relieve the overcrowded condi-
|
l. Haycock, supervising principal of
the third division, in which this
school is located. has asked school
authorities to include in their esti-
mates for the next fiscal year, an
appropriation sufficient to erect a
four-room addition to this institution
Mr. Haycock pointed out that when
the four-room addition to the West
school was erected it was planned
by the architect with a view to max
ing it eventually an eight-room unit
An assembly hall also has been re-
quested.
Congested conditions are so bad at
this school that between forty-five
and forty -eight children are occupying
seats in some of the rooms. In
fourth grade there are forty-eight
children enrolled, while in e second
grade forty-five pupils are lstending
Because of the lack of Sfoom,
seventh grade class was transferred
bodily last February to the Park View
School.
The third division is one of
the sections of the city in which
eight new schools are vitally needed.
Supervising Principal Haycock al
ready has outlined the sections in
which the new buildings are neces-
Sary.