The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-29
THAT MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC.
Superintendent Barnard ana PROFESSOR
Atkinson Make Statements.

| Professor Frank r. barnard was seen a. MS Oh
| fee yesterday regarding the picnic 70 pc gwen
| on Memorial day, which has been made the sub
| iect of criticism, and be expressed regret that
any Misunderstanding should arse concerning
| the matter He made a statement OF the matter
which ia deserving of consideration.
aIn the first place" said the superintendent,
"the picnic 10 not general public
| school affair 1t was not q school board
matter nor was permission asked OF the
board, which body has no jurisdiction over the
affsir and no voice In the matter. The broad as
sertion therefore, made by those who compose
the Grand Army, that all the public schools are
in the affair, 10 not based on fact. The Central
school has but twenty one teachers. while the
whole system has in its work IL, with the cor
responding number of pupils.
"Sow, the whole matter resolves itself into
this" continued Professor Barnard "some
time ago Professor Richardson, principal OF the
Central school, incurred an obligation OF some
thing over 500 for books used in the library.
He did not come and ask for regular school
day, but he takes Saturday, day over when
school authorities have no direct or indirect
authority, and spends his and the childrens
time and efforts To secure funds 10 pay for books
used In the schools.
Snow the G. A. r. says the children should be
taught that patriotism is the highest virtue oil
the citizen. The very first books that Professor
Richardson bought were histories OF our noble
warriors and brave men, but we go further than
the civil war. We teach our children the his
tory OF all our national efforts, and that they
who fought 10 secure our national independence
should be honored equally with those who saved
IL, after IL had been created.
"In regard to onr children providing chorus
for Memorial day, / have this 70 say: son
Thursday, May q, Professor Darling came
TO me while / was engaged in business
conversation down town and said he would
like chorus OF 900 voices from
the public schools for Memorial day ]
said we could not provide so large chorus.
thought, because loo would have TO come from
the Central school. and that those children
would have a picnic that day. j invited
him, however. to NEE: Inc nj my Office that
afternoon, when we could talk the matter over.
have not seen the gentleman since that time.
He may have made an effort 30 see me, bat We
did not meet, nor has anyone connected with
the G. A. r. III any way asked me for e0-opera-
ton in the Grand Army observance OF the sacred
day, and the first that knew of any alleged Of
Tense was the publication OF that resosu-
ton IN the newspapers Now We cannot
get together large chorus at moments warn
ing. Think OF II, now. from the Rainier we get
% voices, from the South 100. from the Central
100, from the Minor %, from the Columbia 40,
from the Denny 20. from the Mercer 80 The
labor and expense incident 20 such an affair is
considerable. and il requires time as well Our
bill for car fare alone, for the rehearsals neces-
sary 10 get the children in trim for the Harrison
reception, was SCI The fact OF the matter Is. In
tended TO get up the chorus and had incidentally
spoken 10 Professor Pagan. OF the Mercer school,
and fully intended TO speak TO all the other
principals concerned, but Professor Darling has
not been 20 see me nor 10 perfect the necessary
arrangements, and so the matter has hung fire.
without any intention on the part of anyone 10
do disrespect TO that day OF all days that should
be reverently held by all sons of America In
all the years of my service in the schools, where
soever have been. have enthusiastically and
earnestly co-operated with the 6. A. r. in
any movement calculated TO evoke popular
patriotism I still hold the same view and
would regret any misunderstanding of my
position"
Professor ]. d. Atkinson, principal of the
South school, states that he does not wish the
public 70 labor under the impression that the
public schools In general intend to go on pic
mic on Memorial day. He knows nothing of it,
was not invited, and would not encourage the
selection of such day. He further said that
in conversation with him Professor Jones' of
the Denny, and Professor Pagan. of the Mercer
school. expressed similar opinion.