Evening star., 1923-07-10
URGESPLAYGROUND
|. FOR EVERY SCHOOL
Peyser Stresses Need for
RecreationaI Facilities for
Children.

"a playground for every school,"
was the slogan suggested by Julius
/. Peyser of the District Public
School Association. at a hearing be-
fore Commissioner Oyster today on
the need for more recreational ia
cilities for the children OF Wash
ington.
The conference was attended by a
score of women representing the
Mothers and Parent-Teachers' asso-
Citations Of the city. After they had
presented their views to Commits
sioner oyster. the delegates ad-
journed to another room, where Mrs.
Susie Root Rhodes. supervisor of
Fairgrounds. went over the entire
playground situation with them.
Stresses other Needs.
Commissioner oyster told his callers
that the Commissioners are as keen
Iy interested as any one in obtain
ing an adequate number of play
spaces so that it will not be neces-
sary for boys and girls to play in
the path of traffic.
He reminded them, however, that
the estimates of the District gov
ernment are restricted TO a certain
amount each year and the needs OF
the community for fire and police
protection. for new streets and ror
given consideration in determining
what should be requested for play
grounds
Urges Use for Summer.
Mrs Giles Scott Rafter laid stress
upon the necessity for throwing
open at all times especially in sum-
mer. all of the eighty-four school
yards that are equipped for organ
lied recreation.
Capt. oyster explained that with
the $4,000 APPROPRIATED by Congress
for the current fiscal year Mrs.
Rhodes has opened thirty Of the
MRS. Rhodes stands ready to
open every other school yard as a
playground If you good ladies and
the people Of Washington generally
will assist in raising the contribu-
workers that are needed" said the
Commissioner.
Need Private Funds.
Until larger annual appropria-
ton can be obtained from Congress
the balance of the school play
grounds can only be opened by the
sources. the Commissioner explained,
Referring to the appeal for con-
tributions he issued Sunday, Capt
Oyster told the gathering that the
first response was from the parents
1884 and offered the services of three
volunteers.
Mr.. Peyser commended Commits
sioner Oyster for his public spirited
ness in appealing for private funds
to open more Fairgrounds, but added
while that Is very commendable
1t seems a shame that here in the
nations capital we must go begging
for funds with which to give our
boys and girls places to play in
safety"
Seeks Data on Estimates.
Mr.. Peyser renewed before the
Commissioner the effort recently
made to have the board of education
show its estimates for next year
to the civic organizations of the city.
Mr.. Peyser said he was satisfied
that under existing Jaw the Commits
sioners cannot make public the esti-
mates as revised by them. He de-
clared. however. that he saw nothing
in the law to prevent a branch Of
the District government, such as the
school system, from revealing the
estimates they proposed to submit
to the Commissioners.
Commissioner Oyster told Mr.. Pey-
ser he did not believe the Commits
sioners could make known to him the
contents of the board of education's s
estimates.
Others who attended the meeting
were MRS. L. B. Castell. Mrs. Albert
Baggs. Mrs. c. M. Bell, Mrs. A. s.
Castell. Mrs. r. M. Allan, Mrs. Lille
Nicholas. Mrs. G. S. Fraser and Mrs
Joseph Sanders.