The Washington herald., 1922-10-24
Students at Western Get
81 Per Cent Training,
Says Association.
LOSE ADVANTAGES
OF CLASS STUDY
Need of Athletic Field
Also Emphasized in
Western Breeze.

Western High School students. be-
cause of crowded conditions. are re-
ceiving only 81 per cent of the in
struction that should be provided
for them
On account of the lack of athletic
facilities not more than 40 per cent
of the Western students are receiv-
ing physical training.
These startling facts are pre-
sented by the Home and School As
ISOLATION of Western High to en-
phasize the pressing need at that
school of a twenty -four-room addi-
tion and a 100000 athletic feld.
Enlist Parents In Fight.
At a meeting to be held in the
library of the school on the even
ing of Wednesday. November s, the
entire building program will be
discussed, and efforts are now be-
ing made to have the parents Of
every one of the 1,025 Western stu
dents present This meeting prob
ably will see the beginning of re-
newed fight by the parents to secure
money from Congress for the school
addition and the new athletic field.
Western was deprived of the ad-
dition and the athletic field when
the Senate committee last winter
refused to pass appropriations for
the two items. However. the Senate
did order that plans be drawn for a
twenty -four-room addition to the
school. and these plans are now
completed
Lose Classroom Advantages.
Students at Western now spend
% per cent less time in the class
rooms than they did when condi-
tions at the school were normal, ac-
cordine to statements by the Home
nd School Association. which ap-
peared in a supplement to the West
ern Breeze. a newspaper published
by the students. which makes its ap-
pearance today. This is caused
by the split" system now ID opera
tion at the school
Other deplorable conditions at
Western High are outlined in the
supplement. as follows.
No facilities for students to study
during their vacant periods.
No opportunity for pupils to con-
fer with their teachers for the
purpose of securing much needed
advice and explanations about
their studies.
Hampers Course Selections.
A chaotic schedule which forces
some of the pupils to go to both
morning and afternoon sessions in
order to take the studies they
have selected to qualify for their
college careers. and which in
many cases renders 1t impossible
for them to take the courses they
desire.
A lessening of the teachers
power to impart. and the pupils
ability to absorb. A destruction of
discipline and of the proper re-
gard for discipline in the pupils
mind: destruction of school
spirit and the creation in the stu
dent of a spirit of unrest. together
with a lack of proper respect for
government.
Athletic Field MudhoIe.
Commenting on the great need
of a new athletic field. the sup
plement states:
in the rear of the school build
ing there is a lot measuring $50
by 800 feet. This is our so-called
athletic field" a mudhOle in wet
weather. dust heap in dry
weather, and too small TO be of
any practical use at any time.
This necessitates the borrowing
of a football field from Georgetawn
University. about one-half mile to
the west of the school. After prac-
tice sixty or more boys trudge back
to school wet with perspiration. to
twenty persons and wait their turn
in one of the three shower baths
available
borrow an atheletic field. this time
Gymnasium Unsuitable.
During the basketball season we
use the Y. NJ. c. A. boys gymna-
sium when not otherwise engaged.
or the Central Coliseum. when We
,an get it.
For a gymnasium We have a room
well adapted for children of the
Spurth or fifth grades. but totally
anfit for high school students.
We have one physical instructor
10 keep more than 500 boys physic-
ally fit, whereas we need at least
three.
Forced TO Drill in Streets.
We have no drill hall and our
cadets have to drill on asphalt in
streets that are narrow and often
alled with traffic, and no matter
what the condition of the weather
nay be-
1T used to be the pride of Western
hat almost every boy. and many of
he girls. were engaged in some
Kind of physical training Today II
8 most probable that not more than
10 per ctnt of them receive such
training. With an athletic field and
With gymnasiums worthy of the
name we could send these boys and
girls home at night well exercised
md with clean wholesome interests"
IT