Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-20
DENIES COMMUNITY =.
CENTER ACTIVITIES
ARE MISC0NDUCTED
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read her reply, to the. committee In
which she refuted the charges made
by Mr.. Wilkinson. She insisted that
the dances at Dunbar High School had
the approval of the community. and
that the only criticism that had ever
been heard came from meeting OF
teachers called by Principal Wilkin-
son.
Discussion Of school Dances.
|. She said that the. attendance Of
school children at the dances should
be handled by the principal
Senator Walsh read question
which was handed to him from one
Of the persons at the hearing, asking
Miss Norton II she knew that there
had been dancing after a rehearsal Of
a play in Dunbar High School last
Sunday. She said she knew nothing
Of it.
Senator Walsh said that 1t was the
opinion Of himself and Senator Dll-
bingham that the government should
not say to parents that 1t was going
to undertake to give public danGe6. Z
night in public school buildings at
which the boys and, girls would be
amply safeguarded.
Miss Norton replied that she had
frequently been told by mothers how
much more satisfied they wera 70
know that their girls Were &fenuing
the community center dances than 70
know they were out at some pubic
anaif.
Senator Dillingham; said the law IN
Vermont prohib ited the use OF school
buildings for dancing at night
wherehpon Miss Norton produced a
telegram from Burlington. Vt. which
stated that community center dances
were being given in the school houses
there
Senator Dillingham; said that either
the law must have been amended or
must have fallen into disuse. and MISS
Norton replied that the community
center activities constituted new
movement. growing up in many cities.
The witness s7id that the name OF
changed, and she thought It was
proper to make the change. although
the name had been started because OF
the soft hats which were worn by
members of the club during the war.
She recommended that the principal
Of tho Dunbar High School should
find time to confer with the secretary
Of the community center and that he
should be invited to become q member
of the executive committee Of the CEN
,Aer. She insisted that Mr.. Wilkinson
q the past had not conferred with the
s.scretary.
wfuch one-half Of The net receipts Of
the, dances given by outside organi-
cations goes to the community center
and the other half to the organiza-
tion. Miss Norton said the charges
were, made SO low that they usually
Maid little moro than the expenses OF
~ he
couples had ever wandered OF into
charged, and also said tho janito,
who had reported that crap game
had been started during one OF the
dances at Dunbar said the game had
been started by a pupil OF the scnoo
and not an outsider. as the committee
might have been led to infer. If there
was any damage done to property
during the community center actiV'
ltty. she said, the matter should be
promptly taken up with the com
munity center officials.
| Mrs. Gabriel Pelham q witness.
| Mrs. Gabriel Pelham. supervisor ant
lorganizer of colored community cen.
fters, also took the stand and den ne
enthusiastically the charges which mac
,Seen made by Principal Wilkinson.
~ do not know of a dance in any
co immunity center that has not beer
properly chaperoned or controileo.
sai,I Mrs. Pelham She insisted ina.
such as might be found in so-caliec
.TheS school buildings are good
enough. for the best In the commun'
itv." she said, land they are not TOT
se spa i insisted that few school pupils
attended the dances. .-s
Mrs. Raeter F'avsrs School Dances.
Mira Giles Scott Rafter. a member Of
the Distri ct Congress of Mothers ant
Parent TIE achers' Association. told thu
committee that she was strongly il
favor of. tie schoolhouses being uset
nv the community centers, and tina
she approye of dances being given IL
them She said that the parents in thu
| District do lsot intend to let the dances
degenerate ilr the schools. She urset
upon the. committee having one heat
In the District government responsible
ifor education. the Juvenile Court ant
the public piaygrounds: TINS nea 20. s =,
these activities,
senator Walssh suggested that tn
President OF the United States Is at tn
head Of the Di.strict government, ant
OF all these activities.
IT happened to know personally tina
| the President said he could not run tn
District Of Columbia, that he had t
mn the United States" said Mrs. Raj
ter
| other witnesses appearing befor'
the committee to-day included Mfs
Anna Evans Murray. representing tn
Parents League: DR.. James L. Pfnn
pastor of the First Baptist Church
! Dr.. William H. Wilson, representing
r a colored physicians club. and w
Calvin Chase.
i The hearing will be continued to-
morrow at 10 o'clock. and the com
mittee eEpects to conclude the inves
ltfgation before adjournment. Snow
don Ashford. nnunict bal archttect. ma,
appaAr to rive skafisftcG Regarding
the ap2reQE1ataons for school build
the board Of eAuea4ton, has asked II
be heard tor thirty mfnutea -