Evening star., 1946-01-03
Letters to The Star
Argues for Thirty-Seventh Street
Site for Junior High

Hh hSuCS lOI iii ItysOCNC1tH otrcet
Site for Junior High
To the Editor Of The Star:
.s president of the forth Randle
Community Citizens Association, I can
not let go unanswered the remarks
of Supt. Irving c. Root, published De-
cember 20, regarding the site of the pro-
posed John Philip Sousa Junior High
School
He charges the Board of Education
with lack Of foresight in not selecting
five to ten years ago the site now de-
sired by the citizens of the commu-
nifty for the new junior high school.
How could the Board of Education real
ize that community that had devel-
oped very slowly would suddenly be
built up in a period of emergency?
When I purchased my present home
in this area six years ago, Minnesota
avenue was a dirt road through our
community and the bus route was along
Anacostia road. which still is coun-
try lane.
With these conditions existing six
years ago, does Mr.. Root believe the
Board Of Education could foresee the
need of junior high school to care
for 1000 pupils?
The National Capital Parks has been
given complete freedom in the use of
its annual appropriation for park sites
in the District Of Columbia and has
honored Southeast Washington by pur-
chasing a great amount of land, much
OF which it has not yet developed into
uSable parks. The three acres or more
of land at Thirty-seventh street and Ely
place Sc, now desired for a junior
high school belongs to the National
Capital Parks and has been designated
by 1T as section of a proposed golf
course. Is the recreation of our busi-
nessmen more important than the edu-
cation of the children?
Unlike the National Capital Parks,
the Board of Education must present
to the Budget Committee of Congress
proof of the absolute need for school
IN particular vicinity before the ap-
preparation for that school is granted.
The combined efforts of the Board of
Education and community organiza-
tions were necessary to secure the pres
ent inadequate Kimball School and
again to receive the promise of an
additional wing that now is needed
If children in eight classes are to be
given full-time instruction.
If we are to be foresighted in our
plans for schools in Southeast WASH
ington, would suggest that the Ridge
road site favored by Mr.. Root be kept
and Junior high school built on the
site in another five years. Estimated
figures show that 10 per cent of the
pupils to be enrolled in the John Philip
Sousa Junior High School live in the
vicinity of the Thirty-seventh street
and Ely place site and that the school
Will have a maximum enrolment of
1000 its first semester. Does 1t not
stand to reason then that an addi-
tlonal junior high school will be needed
at the Ridge road site as further de-
Velopment of that area is made?
The mothers and fathers living in
the North Randle community are not
trying to be obstinate in their choice
OF the Thirty street site for
the new school, but as tax-paying citi
zens they feel they have the right to
express their opinions and to fight for
the best facilities possible for the edu-
cation of their children.
EDWARD, L. MERzEREAu,
President, North Randle Coy,n,,n,+y
Citizens Association.