Evening star., 1945-08-26
Welfare Board
Plans Study Of
Juvenile Home
Group Seeking Change
In Conditions Plans
To Watch Results
By JULIA EDWARDS.

ny JULIA Ell wv hnDS.
Wearied by months of delay,
leaders in the fight to remedy
conditions at the Industrial Home
School, 2453 Wisconsin avenue NV,
said last night they would watch
for some concrete results from a
special meeting of the Board of
Welfare Friday.
Edgar Morris, chairman of the
board, called the meeting yester-
day to consider recommendations
by the boards subcommittee on
institutions.
His action followed discovery by
The Star that the board had can
celled its August meeting because
some members were on vacations.
Mr.. Morris promised August / that
the board would act to remedy con-
ditions under criticism at the school
at its regular monthly meeting "or
sooner"
Inquiry Started in January.
The District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs began an investigation
OF the home last January and re-
ported in March on substandard
personnel, unsanitary practices and
neglect of children, Mrs. Ernest
William Howard, acting chairman
of the department OF legislation,
pointed out.
The authorities are always going
to study it. Actually conditions have
been bad out there for as long as Is
years. We have yellowed newspaper
clippings on our fight for improve
ment. And nothing has been done
yet"
A Star reporter after visiting the
institution wrote on April 20 that
tits dark, dirty, infested with rats
and roaches," lacking in staff and
vocational guidance.
House Group Hears Complaints.
A House appropriations subcom-
mittee holding hearings on the Dis
trict's 1946 appropriation bill listened
to complaints on the school from
civic organizations May II and H.
The Georgetown Committee on
Child Activity pleaded for funds to
finance reclassiflcation of posi-
tions at the school which would raise
salaries and attract better personnel
They were told the Redistribution
would have to be completed first.
In June the District Congress OF
Parents-Teachers found that the
schools educational program was
very poor" and urged that an edu-
cational program be established
under the Board of Education this
fall.
A joint committee of the Council
OF Social Agencies stimulated the
tagging campaign July 26 by a report
describing the schools general at
mosphere of hopelessness" and call
ing for immediate action to improve
program and personnel.
Study is Completed.
A. j. Driscoll, head of the board s
subcommittee on institutions, an
nounced last night his committee
mas completed study of this report
and has drawn up list of recon-
mendations. He said he could not
discuss them before he presents his
report to the board.
Asked if any of the suggested
improvements have been made Mr..
Morris said, I'VE don't do business
that way. Important matters have
to come before the board"
Raymond F. Clapp, assistant d.
rector Of public welfare, said he un-
derstood Redistribution plan was
lin the hopper" but he could not
say what action has been taken.
I'VE always are improving per-
sonnet" said Mr.. Morris.
School Is to Be Moved.
Il am very sick OF a lot of talking
I wish they would do something,
commented Mrs. Arthur C. Watkins,
president Of the Parents Teachers
Congress.
The school is to be moved tenn
porarily in November to the building
now occupied by the National Train
ing School for Girls on Macarthur
boulevard. The ultimate goal is
to replace 1t with a children's CEN
ter at Laurel, Md. Meanwhile, the
board has cited the hampering effect
Of inadequate facilities.
With children, you just can't
stand back and wait" said Mrs.
Howard. You have got to impro-
wise with what you have. At least,
they won't be able to blame every
thing on the war now"
She suggested that experienced
personnel should be recruited be-
fore trained social workers now
being released from the armed forces
get settled in other jobs
Exposes of that school have been
going off like wet f1recrackers," she
said This is the boards oppor-
tunity to show its good faith"