The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-02-12
ORDERS SCHOOL
RET PAIRED
Continued from Page I'D

lC0nt1nueus from rage I01
fair is the way John Fl, Bethune,
president Of the Home and School
Association Of the Western High
School today characterized the
failure Of school authorities to
make safe the stage Of the audi
forum in the 100000 new addi-
ton to the school.
Menace to Lives
1T is menace to the lives OF
the students In it's present cordi.
ton, Mr.. Bethune said, coi1lnleRk.
Ing on the article in The Washing.
ton Times yesterday, which re-
vealed the danger OF falling cur
tains and other heavy overhead
stage fixtures, which had compelled
school authorities to prohibit use
Of the stage.
Il heartily approve the action Of
the faculty of the school In pro-
hibiting the use of the stage until
said. The situation not only calls
for something to be done by tho
school authorities. but it demands
that something should be done at
once. The stage should be made
safe without moments delay.
There has been too much delay
already
Addition Poorly Built
S. Duncan Bradley former presi.
dent OF the association, and long
active in behalf OF the school, de.
clared today that, while he had no
exact knowledge Of conditions con-
corning the stage equipment. s.tlle
whole addition Is poorly built and
there have been entirely unneces-
sary and inexcusable delays In its
construction.
A private corporation building
the same building, could have com
pIeted it probably in nine months,
3 or In q year at the outside, Mr..
Bradley said. Ground was broken
for the addition In 1923, and II
isn't complete yet Congress has
every right to criticize appeals for
additional funds to complete the
building.
Dr.. Il. w. Ballou, superintendent
of schools, denied today published
statement that he had expressed the
belief that the stage was safe. Il
did not say ii was safe, Superint sn.
dent BalIou said. ..Nor did say
it was unsafe. know the general
condition OF things there, and !
know proper steps have been taken
/ for their correction. All matters
complained Of will be corrected"
Safe Says WiInartll
IN the face of the declaration yes
terday. made to The Times by Ray
mond O. Wilmarth. assistant super
intendent in charge of business at
fairs at the school. and ID direct
charge Of completion of the stage,
that he considered the stage safe
and that there was no need to pro-
nibit its use, 1t developed today that
parents OF a. number OF the stu.
dents lave forbidden them to take
part In dramatics until the stage
equipment has been repaired or re.
lbuilt.
The father OF one OF the student
members OF the dramatic club said
he had forbidden his daughter to
take part I'm any activities that
would compel her presence on the
Stage. 1T Is undoubtedly a men.
aee" he said. and why it has not
been corrected before this, in $780,.
900 new building, lis hard to under.
stand.
Others Protest
It is understood that d. number of
other parents have taken similar
a"tion, The ban on the use of the
stage by the school faculty was
placed. it us understood, without
instruction from higher school au-
thorities. but simply as necessity
when appeals for elimination Of the
danger brought no response.
Publication Of facts concerning
the dangerous condition has led,
II is understood. to renewed requests
fson school authorities to the New
York Studios, Inc, contractors for
the equipment. to repair the cables
and their supports and thus elm
mate the principal danger. No dc3i,
mite statement on this, however.
was forthcoming from school au-
thorities, other than DIR. Ballou,s
statement that the conditions com,
planned of would be corrected rs
soon as possible"
! q