Evening star., 1896-04-15
IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION
Necessity for Entire Rebuilding Of the
Bowen School Building.
School Trustees Act Promptly in the
Other Business Transacted.

A regular meeting Of the board Of trus-
tees Of public schools was held at the
Franklin building yesterday afternoon. At
which were present Messrs Whelpley.
Barnard. Harries, Haxen, Cornish, Shadd
and Wilson, and Mrs. Terrell. Mr.. Barn
ard succeeded Mr.. Darlington a. trustee
from the first district, and this was his
first appearance at a board meeting.
On the recommendation Of Mr.. whelpley
the board granted permission 10 Principal
Sites Of the Eastern High School for the
holding Of an entertainment in that school.
to be provided chiefly by the pupils, to
raise funds to meet the necessary demands
of library extension. In his application
denied any Of the public funds in the pro-
vision for the library this year, and shall
therefore have to provide books by the
efforts Of the school,"
communication to the District Com
missior ers in reference to closing the col
| ored public schools on the 10th instant
Emancipation day-was referred to the
| board for consideration and action. It was
explained by Trustee Cornish that last
year all pupils who brought notes from
their parents. requesting 1t. were excused
from attendance on Emancipation day, with
out prejudice to their class standing. At
his suggestion. 1t was decided to follow the
| same course this year. and the secretary
| was instructed to advise the supervising
principals Of the colored schools accord
/ ingly.
A comm, ication was read from the COM
mittee having charge Of the inter-high
Lchool athletic meet, June next, asking
that the pupils Of the high schools be ex-
cused ut II o'clock on the day Of the meet
1t was explained that the proposition had
been approved by the supervising principal
had been found impossible to secure the
grounds fer the meet on Saturday. The
application was 81 anted.
Mrs. A. L. Barber addressed q letter to
the board strongly In favor Of the PROPOSE
| tion made by Mrc. Terrell Of having q day
set apart in the public schools In the inter-
est OF the humane treatment Of animals.
Mrs Barber said that the inculcation Of
| the lessons Of humanity to the brute crea-
| ton would tend to elevate the human race
| and Minimize crime
Trustee Hazen Of the special committee
having this question under consideration
said that the committee would be prepared
| to report at the next meeting Of the board.
The Bowen School.
Trustee Harries called attention to the
building for colored children at the corner
Of 9th and e streets southwest, and made
an earnest plea for the board to
use its utmost endeavors to induce
Congress to provide for rebuilding 1t. He
said that the members Of the committee on
buildings had made a personal examina ton
OF the building and were unanimous in the
opinion that 1t was unfit for the purpose OF
school house It was totally devoid Of
ventilation, its walls had q suspicious bulge,
and contained many cracks. and 1t was Q
frequent occurrence for the plastering to
fall from the ceilings during school hours.
It was shame that children were COM
PEELED to occupy such a dilapidated build
Ing No children, he said. were in more
need Of better school accommodations than
are those Of the oolored race. They needed
uplifting and something better than the
home life Of many Of them, and 90 far as
the Bowen building is concerned, they were
not getting it. Leaving aside the question
Of the safety Of the building, it was unfit
for the abode of children.
1t had no water and no air. and was ut
1 terly beyond repair. At his suggestion, the
building inspector had examined tho build
ing and had reported that it was in no
withstanding this view of its probable
safety. Mr. Harries said its settling walls.
falling plastering and its total lack Of
sanitary conditions made it absolutely un-
desirable as a school house. He, therefore.
moved that the committee on ways and
means be urged to press upon the district
Commissioners and the proper committees
t. the greet necessity for ap
board. for the rebuilding Of the Bowen
building and the purchase Of a small tract
OF ground adjoining for its extension to
meet tho school reeds.
Trustee Cornish indorsed all that Trus-
tee Harries had said in regard to the con-
dition Of the building. 1t was built nearly
forty years ago. ard was entirely lacking
In all the conven.enceS regarded as essen
tial in modern school houses.
he thought II the general government
knew the actual condition Of the building
would not refuse the money needed to
put 1t In proper shape. 1t was totally unfit
that such a course would deprive 400 chill
dren OF school facilities he would himself
have assumed the respor s;bi1fty Of closing
1t up. He submitted a letter from the su-
pervfsng principal Of the District saying
that the building was In . dangerous con-
dftion, and that its continued occupancy
was daily menace to the life and health
Of the children. The floors were too weak,
he said. to permit the usual health exer-
cises and the stairs were SO steep and
badly arranged that they would prove to be
q veritabls death trap in the event of q
panic.
Mrs. Terrell also gave personal testimony
to the bad condition Of the building and
expressed her conviction that there was
not trustee who would allow a child Of
his to remain in 1t.
After further remarks by Trustees WILL
son. Hazen. Barnard and Harries. the mo-
ton Of the latter looking to securing an
appropriation Of $4,000 for the building
was adopted, as was also o motion of MI.
Wilson that the Commissioners be request
ed to have the building inspector examine
a.,,e me building, IN order to guide the board 10
ing as it shall be found safe or otherwise
Other Business.
At the suggestion OF Trustee Harries the
secretary was Instructed to secure from
the supervising principals q list Of all
needed repairs to school houses. for SUBJ
mission to the COMMITTEES on schools by the
1st OF May. In order to enable 1t to make
the necessary contracts for work for the
ensuing year.
cation for appointment a. teachers Of
cooking. and William H. Thomas applied
for the position Of jaMtor Of the school
house at the corner OF 18th and c streets
southeast The applications were placed
on file.
Changes In the various divisions were an
bounced a. follows and approved by the
board:
First Division-Promote M. w. Hoover.