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

Dy Wttilom ~. mttteH
An $4,000 item in the pending
District supply bill can unlock the
door to a 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 $4,000 is to draw architects
plans for new buildings to be To-
Gated at the Children'S Center at
Laurel. Md. 49,.
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.
900 item. and the Senate is ex-
pected to vote on the District
budget bill this week. If funds
for the architects plans are
granted by Congress to be used
i'm the coming fiscal year, Begin
ming July /, 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
$4,000, 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 q
completely fresh start in an en-
tirely new atmosphere.
I'm 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.
eve 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-
Ividuals who have 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.
1--WE will set up the best classi-
/ flcation we can. So, using classifi-
cation as the basis for our treat
ment program, we will hopefully
develop in the girls proper atti-
Itudes toward authority and a rec
ognition of the individual child'S
responsibility toward the develop
ment of proper work habits and
their acceptance of their RESPONSE
bilities to society.
"The Lincoln Building, in which
approximately so per cent of the
children will be forced to be
housed, is antiquated.
Handicaps Supervision.
'The second and first floors and
basement have to house 40 chill
dren. That will cause overcrowd-
ing. The existing small rooms add
to the problems of supervision and
makes it more difficult.
"The availability of indoor rec
reation space is extremely limited.
This lack, particularly in inclement
weather, creates a problem that
could be very explosive and cause
serious trouble.
"The reservation on Loughboro
road as it now exists does not
permit adequate level areas for
outdoor recreation. 1t is hilly
and to create level play spaces
would be costly. We have no
softball or dodge ball grounds.
And keeping these girls busy at
play and otherwise is an impor-
tant part of their development.
When idle. they get into mischief.
"It would be a waste of money
to create adequate recreational
areas now. We have to have a
reasonable amount of recreation
to develop a reasonably WELL
rounded program.
"The farm cottage, in which IS
children will live, was constructed
as a superintendent's residence"