Evening star., 1922-09-20
CITIZENS DEPL0RE
SCHOOL ECONOMY
PetWorth Association At
tacks System as Inadequate
and lnsanitary.

school conditions in Petworth. during
which the situation was criticized
by the speakers as being discouras-
Ing and deplorable. the Petworth
Citizens Association. at meeting
last night in the Petworth School,
directed its school committee to make
survey of the schools in that section
and then to take the matter up with
the school authorities with the view
to obtaining needed relief.
Aside from being inadequate to ac-
commodate the children Of PetWorth.
the schools of that 2section OF the
city were declared to be lacking in
jauitor service, and the portable
buildings To be inSanitary and UNFIT
for occupancy. Insufficient. unclean
and obsolete text books now in use
were cenSured. 1t was the opinion
of more than one speaker that the
present state OF affairs is due to the
institution of a false economy pro-
gram.
. The motion calling for immediate
action by the school committee was
introduced by W. II. Boyd. and among
those who voiced their opinions re-
sarding the situation and described
actual conditions existing were j. IL
Iaden. chairman of the school conf
mittce; Mrs. w. A. Winklehaus,
=
Club; Raymond S. Hart. president OF
the Home and School Association:
Rev. ]. Alfred Campbell pastor Of
Wallace Memorial Presbyterian
Church. Mrs. Agnes McElroy, 4. b.
Caldwell, Charles d. Keller, II. J.
Phelps. W. II. Criswell and w. l..
Rhodes.
Yaden School Expert.
The school subject. which occupied
al
which was the first one since the
summer vacation. was opened by Mr.
iaden. who. as chairman of the
school committee, is especially well
versed on the subject not only as II
applies to Petworth but to the entire
city. After calling attention TO the
treme endouS cut in the school eStl-
mates proposed by the budget bureau,
he declared that conditions in the Ma
tional Capital are rapidly growing
worse, and that the outlook for I'M
provement is :: gloomy one
TT seems unbelievable that condi-
tions are as bad as they are" Mr..
Yaden said. From my observations
and experiences it seems almost i'm
possible to make any progress IN
bringing about better conditions. AL
though |, as Il member of the school
committee. propose to keep hammer
ing away toward obtaining relief. l
can hold out but little hope of sue
cess. However, we will protest loud
ly, and we will do the best we can
by our combined and determined ef-
forts. The proposed cut in the school
estimates will have no effect on the
building of the proposed junior high
school for our section, but Will great
1y lessen our chances of obtaining ad-
ditional school facilities. The pros
poets of our obtaining an additional
graded school building look exceed
lngly slim at present. although TINS
school building is Sorely needed. The
Petworth School ALREADY Is taxed be-
yond it's capacity in the matter of
enrolment for the coming school
year. l was Informed today that
1890 children already have enrolled
and that there are more who must
be cared for. More than twenty al
ready have been turned away for
lack OF accommodations"
Woman Makes Survey.
In deploring the conditions existing
in Petworth, Mrs. Winklelfaus said
she had just made survey of the sit
uation and therefore felt that she
could speak knowingly.
The portable schools are highly
insanitary." she said. and are dis
grace to the city. No. portable is
especially unfit. 1t is reeking in filth.
The dust in it has not been removed
for months. The woodwork and floors
and walls are disreputable. The fault
janitor service and the situation gen.
orally is most discouraging. 1t is my
opinion that in all the school system
there prevails an atmosphere OF
economy, all of which. according to my
way of thinking. is false economy
and one that will eventually prove
costly.
1--WE must not sit idly by while these
conditions exist and probably will
grow worse. We must join hands in
making a protest We should ask
the best equipment. the highest type
Of teachers and sufficient janitor serv-
ice-ili fact. we must demand every
thing that is needed to improve the
school situation in our section"
Sentiments and observations OF a
similar nature were voiced by the
various other speakers and when Mr..
Boyd's motion was offered 1t was,
after the addition of an amendment.
unanimously adopted. The school
committee, which is directed to CO.
operate with the various other organi.
cations in Petworth, in seeking relief
for the schools, will hold special
meeting tonight at o'clock in the
Petworth School. when some plan for
definite action will be adopted. Presi-
dent Carr appointed E. c. Wilbur. w.
II. Boyd and L. r. Hitchcock as addi-
tional members of the school commit
tee.
Other Business Transacted.
A, D. Sartwell read the report of
G. s. Tincher, general chairman of
the Petworth Fourth of July celebra-
ton. Mr., Sartwelrs motion calling on
TWESEJEYTSTlTS SJ[yEyVyVyVJW2