The San Francisco call., 1896-08-14
FIVE SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Indorse the Position Taken by
the Grand
Jury.
Reasons Why the Webster Primary
School Should Not Be
Abolished.

j
Board of Education an earnest protest
against abolishing the Webster Primary
School. The communication was received
on the day the School Directors, had ap-
pointed to take action on the subject,
and when the resolution to abolish was
called up the directors indefinitely post
poned it.
Several School Directors, believing that
the Grand Jury was meddling IN affairs
which concerned only the Board of Educa-
ton, replied in a sharp letter to the jury s
communication. The substance OF this
reply was published in the newspapers.
Since then the action of the Grand Jury
has been indorsed by School Directors q.
A. Clinton, E. P. Barrett, A. Compte Jr.,
w. F. Am brose and I. R. Carew. These
directors, IN a letter bearing date August
IL and addressed 20 the Grand Jury, say
We beg to state that the communication ad-
dressed TO you was not authorized by and did
not emanate from the Board of Education q
body. We are fully in accord with the state
ment OF facts so clearly made and the conclu-
| sions reached by your honorable body. The
suggestion contained in the communication
| that me bers OF the Grand Jury are requested
| to make such inquiries they see tit regard
| ing the facts presented is one as to which we
| heartily concnr with said members signing
said communication. Such investigation con-
| Quoted by your honorable body, with the
| solemnity and safeguards that attend such in
vestlgations would In our opinion establish:
| First-That the location and surroundings
| of the Webster Primary School are not danger
Gus to life or health or morals.
Second-That it is not in the present power
| of the Board of Education of this City and
| County to secure q large income from the
| property occupied by the Webster Primary
| School buildings; that the power does not eX-
| ist to make leases of City lands for any longer
| term than ten years. Leases OF the school
| lands at the corner of Fifth and Market streets
1 were made under a special act of the Legisla-
| ture, approved March 80, 1874, five years
! prior to the adoption of our present constitu-
| ton.
| Conceding that Legislature not yet select
| ed might confer upon the Board OF Education
| the power to lease the lands and the right to
| abolish the Webster Primary School and the
| Lincoln Grammar School and the thirty-five
evening classes that are accommodated In both
/ buildings and deny reasonable school faciIi-
| ties for the territory containing the most
| thickly populated district in the City, there is
very grave question whether the power would
| exist in the Legislature to enact any statute
| especially applicable to San Francisco author
| izing the leasing of public property for any
| longer term than ten years or such term as
| may be permitted IN otner counues OF the
State.
Third-That it is necessary to continue Web
ster Primary School in order to properly Pro-
! vide for the children in this neighborhood,
| condition of which the members OF the Board
of Education have been fully advised by the
| honorable, the Deputy superintendent OF
4 s.. v. %.
Fourth-That the abolishing of the Webster
| Primary School is not called tor as necessary
measure OF economy
Fifth-That the closing of said school at this
| time could not, under the law governing the
Board of Education and the rules adopted by
| it, be accom- plished without injury TO the pr1n-
| cipal and to the teachers OF said school,
/ Sixth-That the erection of the Parrott build
ing to the northeast of said school property
| has not injuriously affected said school build
! ings and has not shut OF the sunlight from
| them, but on the contrary the erection OF said
| building has improved the condition and sur
| roundings OF said school premises.
| We desire to say further TO your honorable
| body that the enrolment OF school children,
| referred to in the communication of said
School Directors as the present enrolment OF
| the Webster Primary school Is not correct
| statement of the enrolment of the children
| at the present time. The figures stated in
their communication are from the smallest en-
| rollment of the school taken in the last week
in lime when on account of the longer school
| term this year, many children had already tenn
porarily left with their parents for the country.
| The children referred to in said report as
living without the district live in the territory
| between Seventh and Eighth streets within a.
distance of three blocks OF said school The
| dificulty and danger of sending children from
schools south of Market street to schools north
| OF Market street must be apparent not only to
Grand Jurors but to every citizen who knows
the character and amount OF travel on the
! main thoroughfare of the City.
| The Dangers of sending children from the
territory between Fourth and Seventh streets
| can he appreciated when know that
| horsecar line traverses Fifth street; that an
| electric line will shortly traverse Fourth
Street; that electric lines cross Third and Sec
ond streets. In the same territory there is the
! electric line upon Mission street and cable
| line upon Howard street
i While in some cases the power may be CON-
coded TO close schools and transfer the classes,
| the law does not contemplate that such action
| shall be taken in the case of fourishing and
| successful schools, though it might be re-
sorted to in cases where the neighborhoods
| have so changed in character, as In the case of
the Jefferson School, that the proper number
! OF pupils cannot be found within the adjacent
! school district.
Finally we would urge upon your honorable
body that the matters referred to in your
| former communication to the Board OF Educa-
| ton and in the response of certain members
| of said board addressed to you and in this
| communication, are of that grave public i'm
| portance which would warrant further and
| fuller investigation by your honorable body,
! and the undersigned are willing individually
and collectively TO afford every assistance to
your honorable body in making such investi-
| cation. Respectfully submitted,
C. 4. CLINTON,
Z. B. BARRETT,
A. CoMPrE JR.,