The San Francisco call., 1896-08-01
WON'T CLOSE WEBSTER
School Directors Table the Mat.
ter on the Grand Jury's
Action.
No Provision Had Been Made to
Accommodate the Numerous
Pupils Elsewhere.

| The Webster Primary School will not be
closed, at least at this time. The School
Directors met yesterday to consider a
proposition to close the school. When
the board came together a group OF lady
schoolteachers occupied seats in the room
and took a lively interest in the proceed
ings. The session was special, and was
brought about by petition signed by
Charles A. Murdoch, Charles III. Hawley,
II. McElroy and II. @. Henderson. The
petition proposed to discontinue and abol-
ish the Webster Primary School; also to
transfer Miss M. M. Murphy from the
principalshlp of the Jefferson Primary
School to the principalship of the LIE Conte
Primary; to transfer Miss Agnes M. Man
ming from the principalship of the Web
ster Primary School co the principalship
of the Jefferson Primary School; and to
allow the principal of the Jefferson Pri-
mary School to retain the fthgrade
classes in that school without further
orders.
Only one part of this programme re-
ceived any attention, which was the por-
tion relating to the closing of the Webster
Primary School. Just before the board
came together communication referring
to the action proposed was received from
the Grand Jury That body did not wish
to have the school tinued. The pro-
ceedings were opened by Director MUIR
dock, who offered resolution for closing
the Webster Primary, and the Director
spoke little, saying that closing must
come some time, because there is a gen.
eral agreement that this is necessary.
Now, however, he was inclined to con-
slider the suggestion and recommendation
from the Grand Jury. and ne would there
fore move that the matter be tabled.
Miss Manning became so interested dur
ing Director Murdock's remarks that she
began to speak. As Mr.. Murdoch moved
to table the resolution Miss Manning and
the other teachers OF the group passed
suddenly from gloom to happiness.
Director Carew spoke briefly. Then
the motion made by Director Murdoch
was adopted unanim ously and the board
was declared adjourned.
The communication from the Grand
Jury, which was signed by Frank Maskey
as foreman, is as follows:
The Grand Jury has learned that it is
the intention of your honorable body to
condemn as unfit and unsafe for further
school purposes the buildings now and
heretofore in use by the Webster Primary
School on Fifth street. near Market. The
condition of sundry school buildings and
adjacent premises has been called to the
attsntion of the Grand Jury since it has
been in session, and visits of inspection
have been made by jurors at various times
to the buildings and premises requiring
repairs, one of which was the Webster
Primary School.
The reports of visiting jurors in regard
to the said Webster Primary School build
ings are that they are IN comparatively
good repair, and in safe condition for use
as heretofore for school purposes. We have
been informed that between 800 and 900
children are in attendance at the said
school, and that the pupils live within the
prescribed territorial limit assigned to that
school.
Further, that there has been no greater
percentage of sickness among said pupils
than in other schools, and that danger to
life and limb from fire in the adjacent
premises has been guarded against by pre-
cautions taken to have several safe places
OF exit from said school premises.
In view of the foregoing circumstances,
and also the fact that no provision has
been made IN the appropriations asked