Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-04
D. c. GROUP SCHOOL
. ISBADLY CROWDED
Church and Portable Use in
Garnet-Pa Patterson-PheIps
Section Required.

Fifty children quartered in rooms in
tended to accommodate a maximum of
forty, class in f1imsy portable
church are results of overcrowded
conditions at the Garnet-Patterson-
Phelps group school. This institution
today has an enrolment Of 1,515 pu-
pills. the largest. perhaps. Of any of
the elementary schools In Washing
ton.
Tho Garnet-Patterson-P Phelps School
|is q group Of three buildings, all in
the vicinity Of 10th and q streets. The
4arnet is a twelye-room structure,
|the Fatteren and Phelps hAying tight
rooms each. making a total OF twen-
kty-eight
There are thirty-five classes in the
asfs gsi saelPes NJ. 1ast ts sf Sc tss
|xopfns, however, IL ueed by children
attending an atyptcal school, makiny
the group Institution short exactly
BIZ rooms, necessary to isure seats
for Its large enrolment.
Two-skift Pr6sbects.
BY sending. third grade class of
forty-hve pupils to q portable build
ing and Kindergarten class of sew
enty-two children to a Bptist church
in the .neighborhood, school officiAls
have been able to provide accommoda-
ttons for the heavy registration. Any
increase in the enrolment in the near
future. 1t is believed, will cause some
shift SYSTEM. one Of the commonest
methods used in many of the schools
to relieve congested conditions.
1t was pointed out that some Of the
children enrolled at the Garnet-Pat-
|terson-Phelps group school have been
transferred to other institutions, de-
ferring for the present the institution
CT a two-shift system.
Congress has appropriated funds
for the erection Of a new building in
the neighborhood of the Garnet-Pat.
terson-Phelps group. which school Of
ncials say Is designed as an industrial
institution. It is the hope of school
authorities to quarter some Of the
overflow classes in the news building
when 1t is erected. thereby providing
relief from .overcrowding.
Need of, playground Space.
Among the most essential of needs
Of the group school. in addition to
classroom accommodations, is ade-
quate playground space. The institu-
tion has virtually no play space for
its 1,515 pupils, who are necessarily
forced to exercise in streets in which
vehicular traffic is heavy throughout
the day. A car line runs in front of
one Of the buildings, and teachers at
this structure say that often their
pupils have narrowly escaped being
injured while dashing to and fro
across the street.
Modern schoolroom equipment also
is badly needed at the Garnet-Patter-
son-Phelps group institution. Several
chairs in the buildings have broken
backs and arms, while the furniture
is said to be almost as old as the
buildings. Children in the sixth grade
class are using furniture made for
pupils in the first grade.
Proper heating and lighting facili-
ties are among the other needs in the
three buildings. The heating plant in
the Phelps building is virtually worn
ont. while the one in the Garnet ID
said to be in a bad condition. Installa-
tion of electric lights is desired in
All thebufldings. Numerous minor re-
pairs on the buildings. officials be-
iieve. should be made Immediately to
make them habitab1e during the win
ter.