Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-27
vondoIized SchooIin Southeast Called Bible Backs
Landmark of Shame toAreoD weI|ers poI;ro E;ra

'Lundnn0rkO'
A Southeast Washington COM
munity was indicted today on
charges of complete apathy to-
ward the gradual wreckage Of its
elementary school.
Representative Wilson, Re-
publican of Indiana. said in q
speech prepared for delivery in
the House, that the Negro peo-
pie who live in this area are al
lowing their magnificent institu-
ton to be turned into q land
mark Of shame to them"
The landmark to which Mr..
Wilson referred is Shadd Elemen-
tary School, completed in May.
1885, at Q cost Of $677, 400, and
located at East Capitol and
Fifty-fifth street NE. Shadd
serves some 1850 children,
chiefly those from the East
Capitol Street Housing project
which lies above the school on
billy ground.
zoo Windows Broken
Shadd might have been strafed
on all sides. At least 200 windows
are broken-some with baseball
bats some with BIB guns, some
with rocks. Crude attempts at
boarding up some Of the windows
are obvious.
The wholesale vandalism i'm
pressed Mr.. Wilson who noticed
the damage on a recent ride into
his Office from his home in near
by Maryland. The school is To-
Gated beside the recently COM
Ipleted East Capitol street high
way. Mr.. Wilson said today:
This beautiful edifice is be-
ing Extraordinarily ripped to
bits by vandals and hoodlums-
while people Of the neighborhood
stand by in apparent disinterest. :"
Mr.. Wilson, appealing to
colleagues to come up with some
solution to the senseless practice,
added that mud and filth have
been hurled against the build
ing. Empty beer cans are scat
tered about the premises, piles
Of Nth lie in the doorways, out
door electrical equipment and
entrance lights are broken ana
destroyed. Obscene words and
crude drawings cover portions
of the neat little frame annex
used for kindergarten pupils"
Former Teacher
Mr.. Wilson, a former school
teacher and administrator and
ranking Republican member Of
the House District subcommittee
on appropriations. said he was
convinced "this is q shocking
example Of the lack Of adult in
terest in the schools established
for their children" He said he
was bring the matter to the at
tention Of the House because
Washington is q congressional
responsibility"
Vandalism has plagued school
officials for years. particularly
the annual damage Of broken
windows. which 10 costing more
each year-about $4,000 last
year.
There is no easy solution. &C.
cording to John Riecks, assist
ant superintendent Of schools in
charge Of buildings and grounds.
When school officials cover first
or second-fioor windows in a
given school with screens. rock
throwers aim for third floor win
dows. Even the expensive screens
are damaged. Plastic windows
are similarly the targets Of rock
throwing artists and rendered
useless.
MIR. Riecks said there is q rule
among custodians to remove the
small squares Of paper attached
to new panes Of glass signifying
the manufacturer because these
are the very panes which will be
targets again. Often new panes
are broken the night Of the day
they were put in.
Mrs. Lillian 8. Glascoe, princi-
pal at Shadd, said she has
thrown up her hands repeatedly
over the situation, a vexing,
frustrating affair.
She said the windows are
broken at night and over the
week ends by vandals who APP
parently attend other schools.
She said some Of the windows
lare broken by those trying to get
In the school at night. Yet those
who have entered, she said, have
not done too much damage to
the interior.
Easy for Vandals
Mr.. Riecks pointed out the
school lies in a wide open area,
as opposed to a heavily con-
gested area, making it easier for
vandals to operate. He said the
damage at Shadd is Of the type
that defies reason. Many times
school authorities are able To
spot window breakers by finding
the boy who takes his failures
or embarrassments out on the
school.
Capt. Howard F. Mowry, cap
tain Of No. IL Police Precinct
commented that the Shadd
school is the least Of his worries
concerning destruction in the
area. He said public housing
units are being torn up, and
he deplored the lack Of leader
ship in the community.
An ironic twist to the situa-
ton was furnished by Mrs
Glascoe. She said architects de.
sign schools of today ito brina
the outside in" through the
liberal use Of glass.
The outside comes in al
Shadd. thrown in by vandals.
Irvenne Indnven