Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-09
TUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Question of Sufficient Room Being
Provided Still Uppermost.

The Question of Sufficient Room Bein g
Provided Still Uppermost.
The question of making provision for the
accommodation of children of scholastic
age, and the extension of the hours from
three to six as a days work, IS still topic
of more than ordinary interest. There
seems TO Be general belief that the
school officials desire to afford sufficient
school room, aud are unable to do SO. The
following interviews upon the question
will doubtless prov of considerable inter
est TO all concerned:
T. T. d. Andrews said that if It was a
fact that the schools were so badly crowded
as had been stated he thought it ought to
be remedied, aud that at once, or as soon
as practicable TO do So If the failure to
provide sufficiently for Fort Worth's school
children WAS an economic move on the part
of those who nave the power TO do so, he
certainly thought 1t poor policy. He was
not prepared to say just who was to blame,
and did not wish 10 cenSure any person or
persons He thought ii should be the first
consideration of the municipal government
Of any city 10 provide properly for its
school children. II went further toward
demonstrating to the world at large the
progressivenesS of g city when proper pro-
visions were made for educating its youths,
and Fort Worth certainly ought to stand
at the top of the list as an educational
point in Texas. He would be pleased to see
handsome brick structures for school pur-
poses in every ward in the city, and an
other high school building On the north
side of the Texas and Pacific tracks. This
was, Of course, out of the question at pres
ent, but he thought thatin Il little while this
could and should be done. In the present
emergency ne advocated additions to the
ward buildings sufficient to give every child
an equal chance in obtaining proper edu-
cation.
Alderman Orr being approached said: 81
did not know the schools We're SO badly
crowded, and thought all the scholars were
receiving equal attention. The school COM
mittee, as | understand it, had instructions
10 provide adequate room in all the wards,
and if this has not been done, there is some
hitch the nature Of which | am not aware
Of. l can see how this came about, this
oyercrowded business. These new wards
that have been added have furnished per-
haps a greater number OF children than was
anticipated. No, there is not sufficient
money in the school fund &c make necessary
Improvements in the School buildings, and
the money expended in making the little
improvements alriady made has been taken
from the general fund. l think the matter
VIII be arranged soon.'
Alderman Day. chairman of the school
committee, WAS next seen, and said: 'Pro-
VISIONS have been made to seat all the pu-
PTS, lnlnk. lWO auQlIlCn1l rooms nave
been provided at the old Baptist church in
addition to the one now in use. These
would have been occupied only for the fact
that the furniture has not arrived. This
here, / believe, there viii he sufficient
room. II the buildings are still crowded,
then provisions will be made 10 seat them
ALL
Alderman Ryan, member OF the school
committee, was next approached. He said
Capt. Day had the matter in hand. and he
had been informed arrangements had been
made to take care of All the children. 1.-The
people must remember, however, that there
has been an increase in the number of chill
dreu enrolled this year of over 800. Now
this was little anticipated until after it was
too late to make necessary provisions for
them before the schools opened. am con-
fident the evil will be remedied as soon as
it is practicable to do so.''
j. p. Nicks, eX-alderman, and who was
member of the school committee during his
term of Office. said: at is the duty of the
school board to state to the school COM
mittec what is needed, and 1t is the duty of
the committee to recommend that these
needs be supplied. And think and have
always advocated the council should attend
to this III preference TO all other matters.
for do think there is nothing gives better
returns for the taxes we pay than to have
good schools and adequate facilities.''