Newspapers / The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.) / March 10, 1983, edition 1 / Page 15
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Sectkm B ^ic c View 4 - journal Marc* It. lf?3 ? Fntara ? CUM A* i J SPLINTERED ENTRANCE: Cracked paint and splintered wood are only some of the problems that exist at Turlington school. The two story building (right) houses gym classes on the upper level and the classrooms in the smaller spaces of the lower level. An Institution Deteriorating Walls, Crowded Classes, It's School As Usual At Turlington My Shuij Matthews Peeling paint, cracking plaster, loose flooring tiles, leaking ceil ings, over-crowded rooms, inade quate plumbing; all these things could describe any run down building junked alter years of use, but in this case the adjectives fit a Hoke County school building still standing and still in use. Turlington School, one of seven in the county system, stands today with these problems and many more, yet it houses some 800 children Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m until 3 p.m. The 800 children who attend this school are all fifth and sixth graders. "We are in a facility built for about 500 students, and yet we must crowd 821 students into it," Turlington Principal Emma Mims said. "It isn't fair to the students to be cramped in such a fashion." According to school Superinten dent Raz Autry, Turlington School was built in 1934 and was formerly the Raeford High School. "Turlington was the high school for the white race when the schools were segregated," Autry said. Some of the facilities other than the building itself are still remain ing from those early days, Mims said. "Our bathroom facilities are very inadequate. We have the same bathrooms that were installed in the 1930's," Mims said. "It is not unusual for us to make a call to the plumber at least once a day," Mims added. Aging plumbing is not the only problem that plagues the children and faculty at Turlington school. Classrooms are over crowded and steep steps leading to the upstairs rooms are dangerous, ac cording to Mims. "We are so cramped that we have had to place classrooms underneath the gym, and this is just not safe or fair," Mims said. Of the five classrooms underneath the gym, three have between 30 and 33 students in at tendance. "The rooms are smaller than regular classrooms, yet hold as many if not more students." Mims said. "These rooms are so crowded that children have to squeeze through the aisles and then its almost impossible to avoid touching the other students," Mims added. "Those classrooms underneath the gym are hazardous in many ways," Mims said. A major problem seems to be the distractions that go on above the children's heads during gym classes. "Generally there are two gym classes going on at once, this means that at least 66 children are doing jumping jacks at the same time the children below are at tempting to take a spelling test or hear their teacher explain a pro blem," Mims said. "This sort of thing makes learn ing very difficult." According to one student, the noise from upstairs sounds like a never ending thunderstorm raging out of control. "Teachers have to shout to be heard over the noise, and that makes paying attention a harder task." Mims said. "At that age (10-11) paying at tention is hard enough without distractions from outside the classroom." "This is a misfit school, and not a good place for children that age," Autry said. Another reason for the concern over the school is the steep stairs and fire evacuation problems they might present. "It concerns me greatly that children have to climb up and down those stairs several times each day." Autry said. "The stairs are not safe for children. The ones used every day are wooden and relatively steep, and the stairs used as fire escapes are cement and extremely steep." Mims said. There are. however, some good aspects about Turlington school. "The building is not in real bad shape because we have spent a great deal of money trying to im prove it. but it is still not a place for children." Autry said. "We have a new roof which keeps the rain from coming into the building." Mims added. "The best thing about the school, however, is its faculty. They have remained very positive and have not let the conditions keep them from attempting to give the students a good learning at mosphere." According to Autry. something can be done about the existing con ditions of Turlington. "T Autn believes there ? a may to ehnunate the "cntucal jxo*?4era" of Turlington school. "In my QfMBHMi iu\c a solu tion to the proMun in our ickIi,m Autry said. According jo the suptniKtndaH these things could t* done to eliminate the proMon * Build 13 classrooms and ex pand the lunchroom a: Scurkxt. * Build four classrooms and expand the lunchroom at West Hoke. * Build four ck^*tvms and expand the lunchroom at South Hoke. "If this ? done, these three schools can :ake care of all the fifth and sixth graders in Hoke County, and then me can ehnunate the J.W. Turlington School," Autry said. "It is my hope that a tragedy does not have to happen before something is done about the Turl ington situation." ?Xuiry Added As for the other six schools in the Hoke County School Svssem, problems are arimma). ".-Ml of the biu kirns that has been done in the East 15 years has been built ander my tenure as superintendent and mas completed by 1976." Autry said According to Autry . Hoke High has tmo nem vocational shops, a nem library artd a gymcoriunn The other schools are also in pretty good shape. "Some need a coat of paam; and others need the ceilings fixed, bui none are in the shape than Turl ington is in." \utry sard Added space seerr.^ to be The main thing that the other sax schools need "Scurlock and We-*: Hoie ^eed an all-purpose building -^here children can meet and ptay m hen u rains." Autry said. "Hoke High also ctcsvf* :o add a science, math, and mussc building to their facihites." "If these things can re done, the schools mould be in pretty good shape." Autry added As for the JA^ Turfengtoo School, it stHl stands, bu: ? re mains over cromded. m::h peeking paint, floors *heddtn? tile and mith students mho are trying to learn o\er the noise that pounds ?>n the ceiling from the iym above "I only hope that something mill be done and done \vr." Emma Mims said. 1
The News-Journal (Raeford, N.C.)
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March 10, 1983, edition 1
15
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