Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03
MAKESH|FT Barred
IN TRADE SCHOOLS
Handbags of Using Class
Rooms as Workshops
Are Revealed.

This is the ninth al a series of articles
describing the physical aspects OF Wash
fHoton's public schools. As in the pre-
oious articles, there is no attempt here
tc portray the school systems faults in
an exaggerated LIGHT. The tDo reporters
Uho Oisifed each school building are
merely presenting the conditions as thev
saw them.
The tenth and concluding article deal
nth another group of schools mill appear
tomorrow
The most glaring inadequacies and
potent examples of the makeshift in
the Washington school system were
found In the institutions for vocational
education.
In one Of these four schools the Abbot
the shops are scattered over six blocks
aho are IN four separate premises. In
the PheIpS class is working in a
former basement toilet room from which
the closet facilities never have been
removed.
The Dennison has classes of girls
working with such heat-producing
equipment as ranges and bake ovens in
rooms designed only for traditional class
purposes. Similarly, the mechanical
shops OF the two boys schools are quar-
Tered In former class rooms, working
nandlcapS In the form of poor ventila-
ton, poor light and congestion upon
the youths who are supposed to be fit
ting themselves to go out into life to
earn living withut further schooling
Also Have Their Contrasts.
But despite bad conditions in these
institutions, the vocational schools as
a class contribute their share to the
contrasts which mark the Capitals
EShool system. The Margaret Murray
- aShlngton School for colored girls is
kliodern In design and appointments
1T lacks an auditorium, lust as each of
the other three vocational schools do.
but its work rooms are designed and
well adapted to the uses to which they
are put. The furniture throughout this
school is newer, and the building itself
possesses a dignity, by virtue of its
physical adequacies, which is fitting to
an institution preparing young people
for an immediate plunge into LIES
work.
Here is what one of the reporters for
The Star found on his visit to the
-four vocational schools:
Abbot Vocational School-This insti-
sutton, providing trade and correlated
academic training for 210 white boys, is
CHARTERED in four separate premises.
The main unit of the school, including
the principals Office, four academic
class rooms, three shops and a drafting
Abbot School at New York avenue and
Sixth street. Its auto shop is located
an small rented building at ITO o
street; its electrical shop is housed in a
class room in the old Polk School at
Seventh and streets, and its print and
woodworking shops are in the Column
bia Junior High School Building at
Seventh and o streets. The scattered
con iition of the schools facilities make
E1vs - -
travel from one of the several locations
20 the other-Specihcall from its shops
IN the vicinity of Seventh and o streets
20 the main building at Sixth street and
New York avenue, distance of some
9ive or six blockS-during the school
day for the various subjects which their
courses include. The four premises viii
be treated separately.
Good for Years in 1908.
The Abbot School Building itself is
every inch dirty, cold and almost
wholly inadequate structure It was
recommended for early abandonment"
by the School House Commission in
1908, which then suggested it might be
used as site for vocational education
In making this suggestion, however. the
commission declared that this should
De the last use to which the old building
might be put, cas-" that body's report
set forth, ''the building is in such con-
dition as to give effective service for
term Of possibly five years" And that
was % years ago this month.
Briefly, the set-up there as a reporter
for The Star saw it is like this: Paint
shop in former class room has daylight
only on two opposite narrow ends;
Jacks adequate floor space for handling
materials used in decoration and for
the normal movements of classes in it.
Plumbing shop in two former class
rooms on separate floors; one teacher
has difficulty in maintaining proper SUI
pervision over two classes thus Separa-
ted; both rooms appeared crowded with
demonstration equipment so that boys
were experiencing difficulty in getting
about without obstructing one another's
progress.
Sheet metal shop, also in a class
room, was so badly adaptable to such
. shop that students themselves built
o sheet metal system of pipes and ducts
which they lead out through partially