Evening star., 1927-11-10
Woodbridge SCHOOL
DEDICATED IN DARK
Presentation Made with Lam
tern and Candles When
Electric Lights Go OFF.

While dim light fiickered from q
smoky out.of doors farm lantern and
a half-dozen tallow candles Of assorted
lengths, ranged irregularly upon the
top of a piano. 700 men, women and
including District OF Colum
bia and school officials, parents. teach
ers and pupils, last night crowded IN
a gayly decorated corridor and Its ad-
jacent classrooms and stairways to
dedicate one of washington's newest
and most modernly equipped schooI
buildings, the Woodbridge Elementary
School, at Central avenue and Vista
street northeast.
An elaborate program OF speeches
and music had been arranged to mark
the formal presentation by the Dis
trict of the recently completed build
ing to the school officials and its sub
sequent dedication. Scarcely had the
proceedings gotten under way when
the electric current supplying light
was cut of somewhere outside the
building.
Police Of the twelfth precinct dis
covered the cause of the electricity
failure in the burning of a transformer
mounted on nearby telephone pole.
Frank II. Funk, former Representa-
tive from Illinois, scheduled speaker
on the dedicatory program, was called
from the meeting to move his automo-
bile from beneath the dripping hot
wax which fell from the burning
box.
DR.. II. Barrett Learned, member Of
the Board of Education, was beginning
his speech of acceptance following the
to him Of the buildings
keys by A. L. Harris, municipal archi-
tect of the District, when darkness en-
veloped the audience assembled in the
corridors and nearby rooms in the alb
sence of an auditorium. DIR. Learned
stopped talking in the belief that the
lights would be switched on in a mo-
ment, but as darkness prevailed and
mounted, the teachers Of
the school burst into the singing Of
Joined by the entire assembly, thereby
the possibility Of confusion at
its inception.
Light Celebration Recalled.
Another old song. sweet Alice, Ben
Bolt" followed "Swanee River" and
the impromptu program was com.
pleted with "Old Black Joe'' before it
was apparent that the lights were out
to stay. in accordance, Il seemed to
those present. with the usual fate Of
affairs at Woodbridge.
similar light failure. It was recalled.
accompanied the dedication several
years ago Of the John Burroughs
School, and when some 10000 persons
gathered to witness the turning on OF
q ~
Island avenue northeast last Summer
the current again left the celebrants
to dance in darkness.
The program was opened with q
concert by a section of the Marine
Band Orchestra, under Henry G. Ste.
phan. conductor. after which M. G..
Wilson, president Of the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association. a joint
sponsor with the Woodbridge Parent.
Teacher Association Of the dedication,
introduced Mr.. Harris.
Seating Capacity. 1850.
Reviewing the progress OF the school
system under the five.year building
told the audience that since 1921 292
classrooms. with u seating capacity
Of 1850. had been provided. He de.
clared that Tampa. Fla. sets aside
acres OF ground for each elementary
school building. 10 acres for a Junior
high school and 20 acres for senior
high school building. and he urged
those present to lend their co-opera-
ton in attaining for the District
standard of at least one block for an
elementary building in the future. Mr..
Harris explained that Maj. l.. +. At.
kins, Assistant Engineer Commission.
er, was to have represented the Dis
trict Commissioners. but owing to that
officers illness he had been requested
to take his place. He then presented
= large brass symbolical key to DIR.
Learned in making the formal gift to
the school system.
DR.. Learned accepted the key and
had begun q tribute to the ability of
MIR. Harris, whom he said need have
made no apology for representing any
one OF the District governmental sys.
tenn, when the lights failed. This oc.
Cured at $50 o'clock. and In Is min.
utes the farm lantern and the candles
we're in pace to serve for the remain.
der of the program. In the feeble
light DR.. Learned turned the key over
to Mrs. NJ. s. Conway. principal of
the school. with glowing tribute to
teachers, whom he characterized as
men and women touched with nobil-
ty" in their willing labors at small
salaries for the education Of Wash
ngton's children.
Mrs. Conway accepted the key gra-
ciously. after which DIR. Frank w. Bal.
ou. superintendent Of schools. was in.
troduced by Mr.. wilson.
Bailou Urges Cooperation.
Reminding his audience that "Edu-.
ration week" Is being celebrated
throughout the Nation, DIR. Ballou con
tended that since every week 10 educa.
lion week with parents and teachers,
he necessity OF special week OF edu.
observance might well be
Questioned. The stability Of democ
'acy depends upon an enlightened citi-
.enry. he asserted. and he said that
while schools cannot alone prepare
as we'll as the home can,
gradual evolution in the transfers
Ii that burden from the home to the
chools necessitates closer than ever
% operation between the two institu.
ions. Education week. DIR. Ballou
Is time set aside for con.
liberation by all persons interested in
ducation Of the duties confronting
hem and how well those duties are
eing performed.
Former Representative Funk, who
vas chairman Of the House sub.
ommittee on District appropriations
which recommended the appropria.
or the purchase Of the Woodbridge
chool site. was the next speaker. He
the residents of that
ommunity on the possession Of the
ew school and he congratulated Mr..
iarris for his design Of the buildins,