Evening star., 1952-10-10
Southeast 10 Gel
New Junior Hiqh
Plans for Study
Assurance Follows
Protests of Move
To Trim Facilities

Southeast citizens will be per-
mitted to stud. plans for a new
$2.5 million Junior high school at
Fourth street and Mississippi ave-
nue. Sc. before the Board of Edu-
cation acts on them.
Board members gave this assur-
ance yesterday. after hearing four
spokesmen for. civic and parent
groups oppose any move to trim
facilities in the building.
The board engaged in a spirited
argument over the plans, after
Mrs. Frank S. Phillips, buildings
and grounds chairman, proposed
several economies. No money has
been appropriated for the building
yet.
Mrs. Phillips suggestions drew
opposition from Municipal Archi-
tect Merrel A. Coe and Supt. Ho-
bart M. Corning. Mr.. Coe said
he doubted that one SUGGESTION
for squaring up the building
would save money. DR.. Corning
said another-to change the ratio
OF regular and special classrooms-
would go counter to accepted edu-
cational philosophy.
False Economy Seen.
The four Southeast spokesmen
presented their viewpoint in brief
speeches at the start of the meet
ing.
Charles w. Price, education
chairman of the Washington
Highlands Citizens Association,
said Southeast citizens would rise
as one man to oppose "elimina-
ton Of essential school facilities
under the false guise of economy"
Criticizing the concept of a l.
school as -four red brick walls"
he said, well-rounded activities in /
modern buildings cost far less
than dealing with juvenile delin-
quency.
DR.. Otis R. Farley. first vice
president of the Eastern Branch,
KiwaniS Club of Washington, said |,
education consists of more than
teaching the three RS and said
citizens are quite alarmed" that
the school system might suffer
from economy efforts.
Desire for Frills Denied.
Maj. j. P. Ramsay of the Simon
PTA said:
1--WE don't seek frills. We only
want what experience has deter +,
mined is essential"
Mrs. w. j. Hudgins, president (,
of the Walter B. Patterson PTA.
said deleting any part of the pro-
posed Junior high plans would
not make better citizens"
Mrs. Phillips urged eliminating
a setback design for one wing of
the school, squaring up the ends
of the wings and reducing the
number of shops and special class
rooms. She said this would cut out
needless corners and provide extra
regular class space.
Mr. Coe said he doesn't consider
the wing setback design expensive
and he also objected to a change
from a design standpoint. Squar-
ing up the ends would provide
only enough more space for a
small storeroom, he added.
RepMrt Sent Along.
Several board members also op-
posed any changes, but the COM
mittee passed Mrs. Phillips re-
port on to the full board for ac-
ton next week. Mr.. Coe agreed
to see the Southeast citizens,
meanwhile. to go over the plans.
The Athletics Committee in ,
dorsed a proposal by DR.. Corning
to work out an insurance program
for football players.
DR.. Corning asked the board to
rescind decision made last
March to seek legislative authority
to raise the pay of II teachers {
affected by a change in status.
The Legislation Committee put |,
the matter off until next month
to give the teachers an opportunity &
to state their views.