Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-05-18
Unfit for Primary School Purposes.

The sad accident which occurred near
the Grove street schoohouse yesterday sim
ply serves to emphasize the utter unAtness of
this building for school purposes in the pri-
mary grade. Several years ago. h regular
meeting of the village district HON.. Man
chester Haynes in an eloquent and forcible
speech, called attention to the danger of
having young children attend school in such
an exposed position. He called attention
to the fact that the street junction near
which this building is located is one of the
busiest thoroughfares of the city and that,
owing to the limited yard room the children
there had always sought play ground in
the street. The wonder was not that there
had been occasional accidents there; but
that they have not been more frequent and
severe. He expressed the opinion that it
was the duty of the district to provide
school accommodations in aplace free from
the objections attaching to those on Grove
street. If we remember correctly the cleo
trio road was not in operation at the time
Gen. Haynes directed the attention of the
di, strict, so that the dangers he then pointed
out, have, since, been largely augmented.
| Hi, remarks made deep impression
upon the voters of the district and, later, a
fine lot was purchased on Capitol street and
an appropriation was made for the erection
of new school building. The building
would, undoubtedly, have been erected and
in use today, had not the opening of the
parochial school on Cushnoc Heights so
relieved the pressure upon the Old
school buildings, as to render ad-
ditional room unnecessary. Under the
circumstances, the directors felt that it
would not be advisable to further increase
the burden of debt already borne by the
will ,ge district by the erection of a new
school building. In taking this course the
directors were undoubtedly in harmony
with the views entertained very generally
BY the voters of the district. There are
few of them who have not felt for some
years past that the location of the Grove
street schoolhouse is an exceedingly
dangerous one, but there has, al.o
been a general disinclination to increase
the debt of the district for the ers ction of a
new building when the old furnished ample
accommodations. 1t was sought 10 avoid
the possibility of accidents by forbi lding
the children to play outside the limits of
the school yard; but all those who have
occasion to pass over this street
know. from personal observation, that
this rule has been impossible of enforce
ment. 1t has been suggested that a
high fence should be built along the front
of the school yard and the children not be
permitted TO pass beyond it during school
hours. This should certainly be done but
would only be partial remedy for exist
ing evils. Even if it we're possible to keep
the children within the limits of .uch a
fence during II cess tine, they would b.
none the less exposed to the dangers
of this busy thoroushfsre in coming tc
and going from school,. What,
ever considerations have, heretofore, pr,
) vailed with the taxpayers of the district, ",
feel sure that The sad accident of yesterday
will Impress upon all the great danger o
longer continuing the Grove street schoo