The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22

the evening, and until then the matter
will not be agitated.
Bright and early yesterday morning
Health Officer Lovelace, Inspector Stout
and stalwart policeman appeared at the
school and after posting notices on the
door to the effect that the school was
closed sent the pupils VINO appeared to at
tend classes home again. The workmen
who were engaged in repairing the vaults
that have caused all the trouble were or
dered to cease work.
Though the closing of the school had
been consented to by Superintendent Bah
cock and President Dodge of the Board of
Education, this proceeding rather nettled
the former and he sent the following COM
munlcatlon to President Dodge during the
day:
Hon Henry L. Dodge, President Board of Ed,t-
cdtl0R-MY DEAR MR.. DODGE: After our con-
ference with Dr. Lovelace, the Health officer,
yesterday afternoon he caused notices to be
posted on the entrance to the Longfellow
School declaring the school closed by order of
the Board of Health. This morning he ap-
peared at the school with one other officer of
the Board OF Health and police officer to see
that the school was closed. He also ordered
the workmen who had been sent to the school
to repair the Objectionable closet to stop work
in compliance with which order suggested to
the superintendent of Buildings that he send
the men to other work.
Permit me to suggest in this connection tn
unti! the meeting OF the Board of Education
on Wednesday we accept the situation: and
since the Board of Health has assumed con troll
OF that school, res spectfully turn the whole
m after of the repairs over to the Board of
Health. do not see what else there is left for
you and for me 10 do. Certainly if the Board
OF Health haYe authority to close the school,
as they have done. and to order the workmen
to stop, they must have authority to repair the
building. 1t is my very positive opinion thai
they should have all the credit that attaches
to closing the school and the privilege of put
ting 1t in such condition as may meet with
their approval.
The parents of the $50 children who attend
that school will certainly recognize the fact
that the Board of Education has done what it
could to keep the children off the street. and
give the Board of Health the credit that at
taches to the summary action of that body
Respecting the epidemic of scarlet fever, or
scarlatina, referred 10 in the communication OF
the Board OF Health, permit me to say that to
date the only cases of which the principal of
the school or this Office have any official notice
are one on the 21st day of January, one on the
3oth OF January and one on the 5th of
February.
In this connection permit me to saw that th q
superintendent of Buildings informed me this
morning that as late as yesterday a private
sewer, that for the last five or six months has
been emptying into the schoolyard of the
Irving School, was continuing to discharge its
yours, MADISON BARcocK
Then to learn the legal status of the
matter Mr.. Babcock addressed the follow
ing letter to City and County Attorney
Creswell, incIosing the notices served on
him by the Health officers:
Hon, Harry 7. Crestoeu City and County Attor.
tiers that explain themselves. kindly inform
me what the duty of the Board of Education
| Is respecting such notices from the Board Of
{ Health. II in any case the Board of Educs
ton should not close a school when notified
Whatremedy under the law has the Board of
Health? Have the members, officers or agents
any authority under the law, to issue orders tn
teachers, principals or schooichildren respect,
Ing the conduct or discontinuance of a school ?
An early answer will oblige. very respectfuIiv v
yours, MADISON BABCoCK
Superintendent of Common Schools
The attitude which will be maintained
! by the Board of Health in the matter wa q
illustrated at an informal meeting held on
Thursday evening. The subject Voc
thoughtfully discussed by the mem hers
and Health Officer Lovelace, and the con.
clusion was reached that in view of the
threatened epidemic of scarlet fever in the
Longfellow School, no hallway course can
be pursued by the board.
1t was determined to keep the school
closed until the sanitary arrangements are
thoroughly Overkauled and to cause tho
arrest of any and all persons interferino
WI tn the carving out of the utIarapt;ra -