Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-05
SCHOOL
/. STATUS DEPL0RED
Mrs. Edward B. Russ Tells of
Efforts Woman's Club
Made for Betterment.
To the Editor Of The Star:

| To the Editor Of The Star:
The subject Of school conditions In
Washington has for some time past
been Of keenest interest in all Sec
tons Of the city, but special attention
was called in your edition OF Thurs
day last to the deplorable state ex-
listing in Petworth. Now I have no
quarrel with a large part of the SUB
some OF the statements are mild as
compared with the facts. but as this
article was given so prominent
place I beg to protest the clause
which states that the residents OF
Petworth. however. are not complain
ing"
Let me assure your readers that
these residents Of Petworth are not
SO supine as that statement would i'm
ply. They are complaining most Bit
terly that they must, for even one
more day, endure existing conditions.
The school committee Of the Pet
worth Woman's Club worked all last
Iyear before the committees Of Con-
tgress, the board Of education and the
commissioners of the District urging
for the building of the addition to
the schools which is now under way
and which cannot possibly be adequate
for present needs.
Treatment Rather Cavalier.
| These women were compelled to
submit to rather cavalier treatment
from some members Of the congress
sional committees who insisted that
statements Of conditions must be ex.
aggerated. They were urged to visit
the school and see for themselves,
| and it is a matter Of record that when
they did finally make this visit Sena-
tor DillinEham stated that Of all the
schools visited thatin Petworth was
in the most deplorable condition.
AT the recent public hearing Of
civic bodies before the board Of edu-
cation the president Of the woman's
club. Mrs. w. A. Winkelhaus. spoke
for Petworth. having previously. at
the request Of the board. nled brief
incorporating some Of the needs Of
the school. This brief contained an
urgent request for the purchase OF
the entire property between the pres
ent building and Georgia avenue for
Fairgrounds; that the assembly shall be
one Of the portables (No. y be condemn.
ed as unfit for use and removed, and that
the present old building be wired for
electricity. attention being called to
lighting facilities in the building,
and on dark days the eyes of both
pupils and teachers are dangerously
strained. Now does 1t seem that the
residents of Petworth ARE not COM
planning?
Alive to Conditions.
Again. the action of the Petworth
Citizens Association in recommending
that a site be purchased north Of Pet
worth for the building Of q twenty-four-
room schoolhouse would indicate that
this association is alive to conditions
This recommendation, il complied with,
is the logical solution Of overcrowded
conditions in this vicinity and will meet
with tho hearty support Of the entire
community.
We believe that tho superintendent
Of schools and the board Of education
are doing all in their power to remedy
the disgraceful conditions in tho Dis
trict, and it is hoped that the District
Commissioners will submit to Congress
estimates as they are prepared by these
school officials.
Your article also quotes Mr.. Jesse
Suter on the subject Of school questions
in Petworth This is an error. ~ Mr..
Suter was some time ago elected to the
presidency Of the Takoma Park Citi-
citizen of Petworth. You have thus
placed both communities In rather an
anomalous position, as the president of
one community association can hardly
consistently have jurisdiction over
school matters in another community.
Of the Petworth Womans' Club and an
early date will be named for his visit
to PetWoFth, whom he will be enabled to
meet all Of our citizens and see for
himself that we are reasonable peo-
pie, but at the -same time sufficiently
comfortable. we'll lighted rooms and
plenty Of play space for our children
during their school years.
MRS. EDWARD B. RUSS.