The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
Public Inquisitors Practically
Told to Mind Their Own
Business.
FIGURES AND FACTS GIVEN
A Modification of Recommendations
Asked For in the Final Report.
of the Jury.


body just how the School Directors feel
regarding interference in educational mat
ters. Some time ago the project of tear
ing down the Webster Primary School
was decided on by majority in the board
and special meeting was called to carry
the matter through.
At that meeting, before the business for
which it was called could be concluded,
co ommunication from the Grand Jury pro-
testing against the proposed destruction
was read, the effect being that the board
decided to defer the matter for the time
being.
The reply was as follows:
OFFICE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
SAN FRANCISCO, Angus z, 1896.
To the Grand Jury Of the City and County OF
San Frhncisco-G GENTLEMEN: On the 31st OF
July communication from your honorable
body was forwarded to the Board of Educa-
ton, in which you earnestly protested against
the closing OF the Webster Primary School
Although we were fully aware OF our right to
proceed in the matter without regard to your
protest and though we were not convinced
that you were right and we we're wrong, we
felt that courtesy to coordinate branch OF
the government demanded that your commu-
nication should be treated with respectful
consideration. The Grand Jury is q body
whose recommendation should have weight,
and we would not detractfro Its dignity and
ever, feel that we owe 1t to ourselves and TO
the community to briefly state the reasons
that actuated us in the contemplated action,
a. your summary proceedings, taken without
consulting any OF us, or giving us an oppor-
tunity of explaining the situation, might be
considered reflection on our discretion. or an
intimation that we were Influenced by motives
other than the best interests of the schools.
The buildings accommodating the Webster
Primary School are situated in the rear of the
Lincoln School building. On the south the
lot abuts against the back yards of a number
of small residences on Jessie street. Against
the rear of the lot the brick walls of the Par
rott building tower high in the air, completely
shutting off the eastern sun. On the north the
disrepuIabie backs of the offensive lodging
houses and saloons that stretch from the Par
rott building to Fifth street present a pano-
rama OF ugliness and decentralization that no
child Mould be forced to face. The shut-in
YARD is covered by well-worn planks and the
general appearance Is one OF dilapidat1on.
There are three shabby buildings, perhaps not
worse than the average of those that the parsi-
mony of San Francisco compels us to blush
for. The entrance to the lot is through the
comparatively narrow passage at the north
and south of the Lincoln School building.
More than one Grand Jury has referred to the
danger of life and limb and has recommended
that some other provision be made for the
school That it is an improper and dangerous
location has been matter of not0riety for many
years, and is admitted by all exec pting those
interested in maintaining existing conditions.
The San Francisco School Department is for
tunate in having retained the magnificent
property on the southeast corner of Market
and Fifth streets with 275 feet frontage on
each street. It is the finest unimproved lot of
its size in the City, and the possibilities in
way of income ere very great. At present the
north 100 feet covered by cheap buildings, all,
excepting one, of wood, brings annual in
come of about $4,000. Ii the 175 by 275 feet
now occupied by the Lincoln and the Webster
schools could be cleared of buildings and the
whole property could be leased for, say fifty
years enabling the lessees TO erect buildings
appropriate to the lot and the location,
rental could be received that would largely
pay the City's proportion OF the amount re-
ouired to support our schools, or that if ap-
propriated to the erection of school buildings
to replace the poor structures that now dis
grace us would soon bring San Francisco to an
equal rank with most of the villages in the
State.
1t is the duty of the proper authorities to
lease this property at the earliest moment
Consistent with the best in terests of the pupils
now attending the two schools. and the pro-
posed closing OF the Webster School was the
first step in that direction. This lot is too
valuable to be used as school site, and at the
same time from its location in the heart of
business activity is unfit for such use. The
Lincoln School must eventually be located
elsewhere, and If necessary lot most be pur-
chased for i, but one school can be provided
for with half the difficulty of two, and it is
therefore evident that if the Webster School
can withou hardship or injustice be now dis
continued the final step will be much easier.
The present enrolment of the Webster
School is 763. OF this number 243 live nearer
these schools in any event they may be left
out of the calculation.
Within a reasonable radius of the Webs ter
School ara the following vacant classroomS to
which its pupils might be sent:
Lincoln (excludlng in basement), 2; Whit
tier. distant 2700 feet, 3; Harrison, distant
Cleveland, 3. Capacity of 18 rooms 900
pupils.
These distances are from building to build
ing, and are in excess of the average distance
N ha 70 Qc a Of fho
pupils live south of the Webster and nearer to
the other schools. If, as would appear from
the above statement, the pupils can without
hardship be accommodated in these vacant
rooms, we submit that on the score of economy
alone it is our duty to close the school, since it
would effect saving in salary OF about $4,000
The action proposed is such as any sensible
man would follow in his own business, look
ing to economy, and is especially necessary in
view OF the fact that the Board of Supervisors
do not recognize the constantly increasing
necessary cost OF conducting our schools, but
confine us to an inadequate appropriation.
The Finance Committee oil the Board of
Supervisors recently intimated that 1t IS our
duty to reduce expenses and assist in lower
ing the levy by consolidating classes or
schools. Your honorable body has likewise
urged economy and care in the disbursement
of public funds.
While the Board of Education has by the
provisions of the consolidation act an uDques-
toned right to abolish school without re-
gard to the interest of its teachers, dismissing
the principal or assigning her to the position
of class teacher with corresponding de-
crease of salary, it would not willingly do So
IN the present instance the principal has sue
cessfully conducted one OF our largest schools
for many years and is entitled 10 our con-
sideration. 1t would be serious blow TO re-
mand her to the ranks, and we considered our
selves fortunate in an opportunity TO close the
school without injury or loss TO her.
II is very rarely that principal resigns,
giving us this privilege, but at present there
is vacancy through the resignation OF Miss
Robertson of the Conte Primary. II was pro-
posed to transfer this school to Miss Murphy of
the Jefferson, and to assign Miss Manning to
the principalship of the latter school, but six
blocks distant from the Webster. II is brick
building in good condition, containing six
teen class-rooms and large assembly hall.
The yard is sunny and well planked. 1t is our
belief that Miss Manning would fill this build
ing and speedily bring the school to an equal
rank with the Webster. The resolution direct
ing the transfer ordered the superintendent to
do all in his power to build up the school to
It's full capacity, and to this end he was di-
reeted to allow her to retain the fifth grade
heretofore sent to grammar school. and to
freely grant any applications for attendance
orfc 3 .x.nse H. 41-r n 49,