The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-04
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
The Following is Published by the Boart
OF Education.

The Following is Published by the Board
OF Education.
The board of education at special
meeting held on yesterday afternoon to
consider the matter of closing the public
schools decided against the proposition to
close. The president of the board the
superintendent of schools and Rev. j. B.
Thomas were appointed a committee to
make statement for the board of edu-
cation to be given to the public as the
expression of the views of the board on
the question of closing the schools. The
following is the statement of the boards
committees:
On yesterday afternoon the board of
education met in special session to con-
slider the matter of the decreased attend
auce in the public schools due to the
diphtheria scare now prevalent in the
citys There were present: Shaw Priddy,
Miller, Wilson, Squires, Powell, Wester-
field. Thomas, and Beck. In addition to
the board of education, Drs. Mitchell,
Grubbs and Lindsay, composing the en-
tire board of health of the city, were
present on invitation. The superintend-
ent made report as to the total number
enrolled and the total number of pupils
absent from the schools.
He also gave an outline of the pre-
cautionary methods now being enforced
in all of our schools to prevent the
spread of contagious disease and to
maintain the health of our pupils in our
schools. In view of the fact of the
large decrease in attendance as shown
by the report of the superintendent the
board at once took up the question as to
the advisabiiity of closing the schools.
The secretary of the board of health was
called upon for a statement as to the con-
dition Of the public health of the city with
reference to contagious diseases. His
report showed that there are twenty cases
now under his jurisdiction, two OF these
being outside of the city limits. He ex-
pressed it as his opinion that the schools
ought not to close, viewing the question
from the side of pnblic health; that the
children were far better off so far as the
propagation of contagion is concerned,
in the schools than when turned out on
the streets. And that IL addition
to this the school organization
had been, and could still be, of great ser
vice to the board of health in its effort 10
stamp out the disease. He stated that
from the medical side he believed it pos
sible to control the disease better with
the entire school attendance present in
the schools than would be possible were
the schools clCsed.
Drs. Grubbs and Lindsay, the other
members Oh LH8 OOarQ OF health,
were also present and expressed
themselves emphatically on the propo-
sition against the closing of the schools.
They emphasized all that the secretary
of the board of he aith had said. In view of
the united recommendation of the board
of health that the schools be not closed.
the board of education gave it as their
unanimous opinion that the schools ought
not to close. Every precautionary meas
ure is being taken by the board of educa-
tion to prevent the spread of contagion.
The rooms in Harrison, Clay and Sumner
buildings which had had the slightest
exposure, were thoroughly fumigated
by the board of health last night and
were in readiness for school this morning
at 9 o'clock.
1t has been the policy of the board of
education for long number of years to
act under the advice aud direction of
the board of health in all matters per-
tainiug TO contag ious disease in our
public schools. We have alwa,ts co-opera-
ted with the board of health and
have given them every assistance
in our power. The history of the
control and stamping out of contagious
diseases in our midst in the past has
shown the correctness of this policy on
the part of the board of education and
the wisdom of such CO operation
JESSE SHAW, Pres. Bd Education.
w. NJ. DAVIDSON, Supt of Schools,
J. B. THoNAs,