Evening star., 1936-06-21
SCHOOL |SSOUGHT
BY TAK0MA GROUP
Greene Appointed to Push
Plea for Building in
Walter Reed Area.

A movement has been inaugurated
by the Citizens Associated of Takoma,
d. c., for early construction of jun
for high school in the Shepherd Park
Walter Reed-Takoma Park area and
the Board of Education has been re-
quested to give the project serious
consideration in its building construc-
ton program.
The association Endorsed the propo-
sition and instructed William M.
Greene, chairman of the School Com
mlttee, to present the matter to the
school officials to stress the impor-
tance OF the need.
Greene points out this school would
receive pupils from the Takoma Park
and Shepherd schools and provide for
future expansion of the school popu-
lation. Large unimproved areas are
now available on Sixteenth street op-
posite Walter Reed Hospital and also
a tract lying between Georgia avenue
and Blair road. Unless the land is
purchased within a reasonable time
the rapidly growing sections will oc-
cupy this property.
Paul Nearest Junior High.
THE nearest junior high school,"
says Greene, Ito this area is now the
Paul Junior High School, which is
more than mile away from some Of
its pupils. A site which the school
board has in view farther south is
said to be only eight blocks from the
Paul school and about the same dis
tance from the Macfarland Junior
High School and its erection would
not relieve the congested condition
near the District line"
The early abandonment of the old
Brightwood School on Georgia ave-
nue. in Brightwood is indorsed by the
association. This school is now being
occupied as an annex to the Paul Jun
1or High School because of crowded
conditions. The construction of a
senior high school at Fifth and Sher-
1dan streets Is urged and the school
board is being requested to give this
project prominent place in the FIVE
year building program. Greene says
the building of this school is obviously
a necessity, known not only to the
citizens of the area, but to the super
intendent of schools as we'll
"A survey of all territory to be
served by senior high school at this
point will disclose that the area is
not fully built up but is being rapidly
developed as residential area" con-
tinues Greene land we fear that the
building program will not keep pace
with the rapidly increasing school
population. This statement is based
on past experiences with particular
reference to the Paul Junior High
School and the Roosevelt Senior High
School,
Greene's Appeal.
Chairman Greene, in referring to
the proposed school bill authorizing
a building program from 1887 to
1912, in his appeal to the Board of
Education said: -.v
I'VE agree in principle with the
provisions of the proposed bill, with
a few exceptions, noted above. We
do not believe, however, that necessity
and expediency should be sacrificed to
pressure on the superintendent of
the School Board either from civic
or political sources. The superinten-
dent Of schools is fully aware of the
situation existing in the Third School
Division, with particular reference to
the Takoma Park area, as regards
both Junior and senior high school
facilities. With the rapid strides be-
ing made in the growth of the COM
munity, it is foregone conclusion
that the school needs of the area will
not become less. In summarizing the
needs of the area covered by the
Citizens Association of Takoma, D. c.,
it is desired to repeat that we cannot
afford to criticize Improvements Sc
cured by other communities. Neither
can the superintendent of schools
nor the Board of Education afford
to ignore the reasonable and repeated
demands of the organized citiZenry of
so large an area as that covered by
this association and neighb0ring Or
ganizations affected in this matter.
1t Is requested therefore, that the old
Brightwood School be abandoned at
the earliest possible date; provision
be made for a site and building in
the Shepherd-Walter Reed-Takoma
Park area senior high school build
ing and stadium at Fifth and Sheridan
streets be continued in the bill and
be made matter of urgent and i'm
mediate lepislation