Evening star., 1953-11-11
P|dyCenter
Shut al School,;
Riff Feared
Recreation OfficiuI
Objects to Action at
Logan Elementary
By james 6. Deone

- POAANJ 0AOPAOS SSOWSSAA A)Ao-
trict recreation and school Of
ficials threatened today over the
closing of a pre-school playroom
at Logan Elementary School de-
spite parents protests.
Mrs. Alice C. Hunter, recrea-
tion board secretary, charged
yesterday that school officials
closed the play center when they
didn't need to. She also as
serted that school officials "uSu-
ally. in crowded situations, take
over our space" and said recrea-
ton leaders ought to go to the
board of education about it.
School officials quickly took is
sue with Mrs. Hunters version of
the Logan matter.
Miss Edith A. Lyons, associate
superintendent, said today a
fourth grade needed the play
area because no other space was
available at the colored school.
Parents to Confer.
Miss Lyons promised to take
another look at the pupil shuf-
fling. She didn't appear very
hopeful, however, about counter
manding the order, although she
disclosed a pre-school parents
group is coming to talk to her
about 1t Monday.
Mrs. Hunter, who admitted she
hadn't had time to give the mat
ter full study, submitted letter
sent her by parents to her recre-
alton board colleagues yesterday
The letter charged that the
fourth graders could have been
put in the schools library or a
research office" instead of evict-
ing the preschool group from the
basement recreation room.
The pre-school group numbers
50 children who, until the center
shut down yesterday, met from
10 5 PIN. DAILY.
Mrs. Hunter asserted that
school officials are encroaching
on accepted recreation space. and
she said the recreation board
ought to discontinue putting ia
cilities in school buildings if it
was not to have a right to use
them.
Informal Agreement.
Under an informal agreement.
all schools built in recent years
have included large playrooms.
which customarily are shared
with the recreation department.
Mrs. Hunters complaint drew
objections from West A. Hamil-
ton, board of education repre-
sentative at yesterdays meet
ing, who said he couldn't see
"where the recreation depart
ment should be in competition
with us in school hours"
you're practically running a
kindergarten" Mr.. Hamilton
told Mrs. Hunter, adding:
There's policy question
here"
Mrs. Hunter denied there is
any competition. She agreed
there is a policy question, how
ever.
Board Chairman Henry Gich-
ner also agreed, asserting:
Il wish when they built
schools, they could deed part
over to us and say, This is
yours" Mr.. Gichner persuaded
the board to defer any action.
however, after Milo christensen
recreation director. disclosed he
already had written School Supt.
Hobart M. Corning to ask for a
conference.
Other Schools Involved.
Mr.. Christensen told reporters
there are several other schools
where crowding problems are
threatening to invade play space.
There are about 40 schools, he
said, where pre-school groups are
sponsored by the department.
All meet during school hours.
Recreation rooms - many OF
which have offices, waShrooms
and other facilities specifically
allotted to Mr.. ChriStianSen'S de-
partment-also are used by aft
er--school groups. but on this
there is no conflict.
Logan'S pre-school group was
started last year.
Miss Lyons said today Logan's
library is not big enough for the
fourth-grade class. She also
pointed out there is no research
Office in the building. The only
Office belongs to the director Of
elementary education, and other
school employees said it is not
suitable for classroom use.