Evening star., 1922-02-22
PETW0RTH SCHOOL
PLAYGROUND URGED
Citizens Association Told Of
Other Needs by Community
Secretary.

Urgent recommendation that $4,000
be appropriated for the purchase of
a playground site adjoining the Pet
worth School was made to the Pet
worth Citizens Association last night
at it's meeting in the Wallace Me-
mortal Presbyterian Church, Georgia
avenue and Randolph street north
west.
Mrs. r. ]. F. McElroy, community
secretary, presented to the associa-
tion and asked that it be referred to
the school committee for action a
strong program for the Improvement
of the Petworth School facilities. She
pointed out that the matters had been
discussed by the school committee OF
the Petworth Women's Club, and that
organization had decided on the pro-
gram and that 1t should be the poiicy
of the citizens association to push It.
In presenting her appeal, Mrs. NC
Elroy called attention to the point
that the estimates for 1924 are usual
ly made up in May, and therefore
now was the proper time to be con-
made by the Petworth section.
The estimate for the playground
space covers the cost Of the purchase
Of a house and church building
west of the present school site.
Would Complete Auditorium.
Completion of the auditorium of the
school was urged by the speaker:
She pointed out that only part OF
the work is done. and additions!
plete it. The school population OF
the section has grown by leaps and
bounds, Mrs. McElroy told the as
sociation, and the auditorium will be
needed for a study hall and for other
purposes Next year the school VIII
portable building should be disposed
of as a part of the program, the
speaker pointing out that 1t had been
condemned for the past three years.
At the present time there Is urgent
need at the school for another sec
special request that the school com
mittee take this matter up immedi-
ately with the board of education,
pointing out that there were 149
second grade pupils in the Petworth
School at the present time. The pres
present teachers, she said. In this
connection she pointed out that the
completion of the auditorium would
provide room for additional teachers
The Park View School has thirty
five teachers now for school popu-
Petworth School, which has only
twenty-five teachers. with the num-
bers of children increasing in the
latter section.
Equipment IL Needed.
Equipment of the domestic science
and manual training rooms In the
new building were pointed to as
necessity. Not only would 1t save a
large amount Of car fare Of the chill
the Wilson Normal School, but the
domestic science room would provide
place where hot cocoa or coup could
be provided for the pupils who dc
not go home to their lunches.
A number Of women of the Pet.
to the school daily and prepare cocoa
and soup for these children of people
who work or who live too far from
| the building to enable them to make
| the trip home during the noon re-
cess. Such warm food would prop
erly nourish the children and en-
able them to more satisfactorily carry
on thei rstudies during the Afternoon
period. The soup and cocoa would
cost but a few pennies, she said.
Additional janitors are needed al
the school. she said, and she asked thai
the police and fire committee OF the
association take up with the police
officials the continuous violations OF
the street closing signs put up dur
ing the recess periods OF the pupils
She said that constantly automobiles
proceed along Shepherd street dur
signs announcing the temporary
closing of the street. an dthat re-
Gently a child was knocked down by
an automobile during the recess Pc
riod.
The association indorsed the plea
60 he tYov q q
assignment of another second grade
teacher, and the matter was given to
the committee on, schools to take
up with the board of education. The
other recommendations of Mrs. Nc
Elroy were referred to the schools
committee for consideration.
Lights Are Urged.
Lights in both the old and new
parts of the school were urged: She
wired, but that no lights have been
provided, and that the old building
should be wired for lights.
The association went on record as
indorsing the Senate bill establish
ing requirements for the practice OF
trict The resolution was introduced
by F. A. Fernald, and action came
after lengthy debate, during which
efforts were made to refer the whole
matter to a committee for consid-
Grafton on the ground that the assocla-
tion did not have sufficient inforr1atlon
on which it could pass judgment last
night. A motion to send the resolution
to committee was voted down, and as
introduced it was adopted.
The association referred to the
committee on schools motion OF
organization on record as opposed to
the action of the board of education
in authorizing the use of branch
public libraries in the white schools
by colored pupils. and vice versa. w.
S. Dey made the motion to send the
resolution to committee, which was
adopted after long debate.
Would Limit Dues.
The association. on motion of w. L.
vote in favor of amending the con-
stitution of the Federation of Citizens
Associations to provide for any ac-
credited member of constituent as
sociation to represent 1t at the fedora
ton in the absence of the delegates,
constituent bodies 10 cents per capita,
or not less than $40 or more than SIS as
the annual dues.
The association rejected a motion
to indorse the appointment of Maj.
Daniel Sullivan as major and super
intendent of metropolitan police. Dur
ing the debate Frank j. Beuchert and
Mr.. Marshall praised in high terms
the new chief of police, and their
laudations were loudly applauded.
On motion of Oliver F. Jones the
association decided to urge the Senate
subcommittee on District appropria-
tions to provide for the paving of
Upshur street from I'd to 4th streets.
An item in the present bill provides
for the paving of this street from
New Hampshire avenue to 4th street,