Evening star., 1922-11-06
PLAYGROUND FUND
DECLARED TOO Low
Less Than $45 Available for
Each of 78 Plots, School
Officials Say.
UNIFIED CONTROL URGED
No Definite Policy Prevails, Says
Ballou, Citing Diff
ferences.
UNIFIED CONTROL URGED

ASASAASSSs
Suffering like other public school
departments from the lack of ade-
quate funds are the school play
grounds. Figures produced last night
by officials show that for operation
and maintenance Of the seventy-eight
school Fairgrounds in the current
scholastic year they have available an
appropriation of $4,000, or less than
Si5 for each playground.
This appropriation, according to
DR.. Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools, is entirely inadequate. 1t
permits only the making of moderate
repairs. There are no funds avail
placement of worn out apparatus or
for the purchase of additional modern
equipment which is in demand. Again,
the appropriation or the fitting up of
new Fairgrounds, DIR. Ballou points
out, cannot be used for the purchase
of any equipment which may be in
tended to be installed on one of the
Fairgrounds previously authorized
although there may be small unex-
pended balances in these equipment
appropriations which could be used
for the betterment of existing play
grounds without detriment to the
equipment of the new grounds.
Personal Differences Arise.
Undoubtedly the ridlculously small
appropriation for school Fairgrounds"
said the superintendent. lis due to the
lack of clear policy as to the future
of school Fairgrounds and municipal
MIA SprOlln6S in the District In the
past personal differences and official
differences have arisen in connec-
tion with the playground situation
in the District. By conferences, for
bearance and concessions on both
sides serious disagreements have
been avoided The situation can be
improved only through some unified
control of Fairgrounds and the play
of children"
School Fairgrounds are fitted up
operated. maintained and supervised
out of three separate funds in the
appropriation act.
l. Compensation for those who su-
pervise the school Fairgrounds comes
out of the lump sum appropriation
for vacation school and Fairgrounds.
This is the only appropriation out of
which salaries for the supervision of
Fairgrounds can be paid. There is no
appropriation for the supervision of
Fairgrounds during the school year.
The children use such Fairgrounds
until the teachers and janitors leave
the building in the afternoon. 1t has
been necessary to protect playground
equipment and other school property
from destruction by closing school
yards when teachers and janitors leave.
Use of Fund Restricted.
2. Seventy eight school yards have
been fitted up. in varying degrees.
with playground equipment and desig-
mated school Fairgrounds. The ap-
preparation for the upkeep of these
Fairgrounds reads as follows:
For maintenance and repair of
seventy-eight Fairgrounds now es-
tablished. $500"
The Interpretation placed on this
appropriation by the auditor restricts
its use to the maintenance and re-
pair of only the seventy-eight school
yards which have been equipped
through congressional appropriation.
Other rulings of the District Off
cials, Supt. Ballou said restrict the
school authorities in their efforts to
satisfy a large need with a little
money.
1T is held that the general repair
of playground equipment should be
Ballou. I'm spite of the fact that
breaks in apparatus throughout the
system become sources of danger to
the children. there is no provision
which permits school authorities to
remedy Immediately such emergency
breaks.
THE procedure followed by tho Dis
trict officials to cover repairs made
at other times than under the an
nual contract is such as to involve
a long lapse Of time between the
actual breakage of the apparatus and
its safe return to use.
of back steps and wire protection for
windows are to be done by the repair
shop, while the purchase of movable
equipment and repairs to apparatus
are looked after by a school official"
Says Cost Is justified.
3. Additional play yards are fitted up
each year for playground purposes by
an appropriation which reads:
For equipment. grading and i'm
proving six additional school yards
for the purposes of play of pupils.
grounds shall be kept open for play
purposes in accordance with the
schools maintained for Fairgrounds.
under the jurisdiction of the play
ground department"
ut would appear from the restrict
ing provision" DR.. Ballou commented.
that these school yards are fitted out
primarily for. the use of pupils dur
ing the summer months. This is an
assumption contrary to fact. These
yards are used by pupils mornings,
recess periods and after school during
the school year. In the opinion of
school officials, this expenditure of
money to fit up such yards for play
purposes is justified, even II they are
not used during the summer months.
The school officials believe. Of course,
that they should be opened and super
vised the year round"
The appropriations act for 1923
carries total appropriation for
Fairgrounds for $134,122,
charged entirely to the revenues of
the District.
Appropriation Obtained.
Without consultation with or ap-
proval of school officials or the board
of education. DR.. Ballou pointed out.
the municipal playground department
sought and obtained an appropria-
tion for 1923 as follows:
For the maintenance and contfn-
gent expenses of keeping open during
the summer months the public school
under the direction and
of the Commissioners;
for special and temporary service. d.
rectors, assistants and janitor service
during the summer vacation, and, in
the larger yards, daily after school
hours during the school term,
$4,000"