Evening star., 1952-06-19
Training School
Item Held Kew 10
Many Problems
Shea Sees Benefits
To Toxpoyers, Girls
And Supervisors
By William A. MiIIen

BY William A. MiIIen
An $4,000 item in the pending
District supply bill can unlock the
door to better program for the
National Training School for
Girls. with improved facilities and
staff.
Gerard M. Shea, director of the
Department of Public Welfare.
said so today when asked about
the possibilities that lie ahead,
The $50. 900 is to draw architects
plans for new buildings to be 10
Gated at the Children's Center at
Laurel, Md.
If granted. the Welfare Depart
ment can be on the way to solving
a great many problems that are
now inherent in the present obso-
lete and costly buildings at 5000
Loughboro road NV. Mr.. Shea
said. This will benefit not only
the District taxpayers. but the
children themselves and the
supervisors who work with them.
by giving them a fresh start in
the country, the director pointed
out.
Vote Expected This Week.
The Senate Appropriations
Committee has approved the $685.
600 item, and the Senate is ex-
pected to vote on the District
budget bill this week. If funds
Tor the architects plans are
granted by Congress to be used
in the coming fiscal year, begin
ming July l, construction money
will be requested for the follow
ing fiscal year.
The $4,000 represents plan
ming money for the National
Training School for Girls" said
Mr.. Shea. This means the plans
OF the Board of Public Welfare
towards realization of the Chill
dren's Center at Laurel, Md. can
be carried forward. Without the
$86,000, we would be set back one
whole year in our goal and the
whole program would be delayed.
This is what realization of the
Chlldren's Center regarding the
National Training School for Girls
means: We will be able to get a
completely fresh start in an en-
tlrely new atmosphere.
In such a setting we will be
in a position to develop the very
best by way of program for the
children in residence.
Even though in all probability
we will be on the Loughboro reser-
walton until the calendar year
1855, We will develop the best
program that is possible within
the physical limitations of the
present structures.
Not Giving Up.
I'VE are not going to give UP.
We are presuming the fiscal 1858
request will prevail. We are try
ing to recruit the best possible
staff now in the terms of indi-
viduals who have a genuine inter-
est in children and those whose
training and previous experience
will enable them to realize the
maximum in program on the pres
ent reservation.
"We will set up the best classi.
f1cation we can. So, using classifl.
cation as the basis for our treat.
ment program. we will hopeful!
develop in the girls proper atti.
tudes toward authority and a rec
ognition of the individual child
responsibility toward the develop.
ment Of proper work habits ant
their acceptance of their RESPONSE
bilitieS to society.
"The Lincoln Building, in which
approximately so per cent of th'
children will be forced to b'
housed. is antiquated.
HandicapS Supervision.
1.-THE second and first floors an,
basement have to house 40 chill
dren. That will cause overcrowd
ing. The existing small rooms ad,
to the problems of supervision AM
makes it more difficult.
"The availability of indoor rec
reation space is extremely limited
This lack, particularly in inclemen
weather. creates problem tina
could be very explosive and caus
serious trouble.
'The reservation on Loughbor
road as it now exists does no
permit adequate level areas TO
outdoor recreation. It is hill,
and to create level play space
would be costly. We have n
Softball or dodge ball grounds
And keeping these girls busy a
play and otherwise is an impor
tant part of their development
When idle, they get into mischief
1T would be waste of none
to create adequate recreations
areas now. We have to have
reasonable amount Of recreation
to develop a reasonably well
rounded program.
"The farm cottage, in which 1
children will live, was constructe
as a Superintendent'S residence.