Geauga record. [volume] (Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio) 1952-1962, 1956-05-03

'l90, 10000 issue.
Der of usable periods by sched-
uling both boys and girls clas-
ses at the same time. A divid-
ing curtain will seperate the
large room into two classified
units for inStructional purposes.
At the request of members of
the Board of Education, the fol-
lowing statements were prepar-
ed by Aatos Nikkila physical
education director, Rex Thorn
burgh, high school principal,
and Ira A Garfield, superinten-
dent, in Qualification of the need
for and uses Of the new addi-
ton.
AS our school system be-
comes more urban in popula-
ton and more crowded, the need
for organized recreational acti-
vities becomes more and more
important. Every student in
school except the physically
handicapped, excused by doc
tors permit, uses the physical
education department. This a.
rea is probably used more con-
stantly and for longer hours
than most class rooms. Students
use the area before school in
the morning and continuously
through the day, sometimes un-
til five and six PM. In addi-
ton to this. many evening acti-
vities are scheduled. If the pres
ent rate of growth continues,
by the time these rooms are
completed there will be six hun
dred students in high school,
necessitating twenty gym class
es, meeting a total of forty per-
iods each week. Ohio High
School Standards say: "All
high schools shall schedule at
least two periods of physical ed
ucation for all pupils each
week"
The old gymnasium uptown
is now carrying crowded sched-
ule of elementary and junior
high school classes all day and
is booked for some kind of &C
tivitv almost every night. BaS-
ket ball, the only varsity sport
carried on indoors, has been
scheduled at the uptown gym
and uses the space from one
and one half to two hours per
day during the season. This Ii
mits the junior high program
somewhat, but could be contin-
ued if necessary. The new area
at the high school is not being
asked for primarily for compe-
titive sports use. The real pres
sure and demand for this space
comes from the need to supply
within the school day, curricu-
lar (class) need for a place to
| work.
Modern schools, elementary
and junior high as well as high
school, all inclde physical ed
ucation buildings. The activi-
ties of this department are re-
cognized in educational circles
as integral parts of a good
school system The present re-
creation room at the high school
served as a stop-gap for the
past few years when funds were
found TO be insufficient to build
a complete unit. This space is
no wtotally inadequate for both
class work and assemblies. The
new addition would provide
seating for the entire student
body and teachers at one time
for assemblies, lectures, films,
rails and chapel service. The
new space would allow for the
expansion of health and physi-
cal education courses and en-
courage badly-needed intra-
mural program. In addition to
the large gymnasium floor, two
other class room spaces will be
provided for smaller class and
group work
Recent information from the
state department indicates that
Chardon School District cannot
expect building aid in 1856. How
ever, specific instructions were
issued to re-apply for aid after
the bond issue is passed and
the high school program is on
its way to completion. We now
have a definite directive from
the state department school
4 building section to pass the
bond issue and complete the
high school unit first. Then the
program will be taken into con.
Sideration.
Continued M