Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-09
COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

IN reply 20 numerous inquiries we
have to say that the latest laws Of Utah
-lSg9 place the authority 20 regulate
an matters IN relation 10 the preserya-
ton Of the health OF children attending
the schools OF this State. In the local
boards Of health a former law gave
the State board coordinate powers
with every local board In making rules
and regulations, not contrary to iaw.
for the preservation of the public
health generally But the later statute
places the duty Of exercising jur.sdIc-
lion over these matters as they AFFECT
the schools solely upon the local boards
Of health.
But this Jurisdiction Is specified very
plainly to extend 10 these two partlcu-
lar functions, namely;
() To exclude from said schools any
person including teachers. suffering
with any contagious or infectious dis
ease. whether acute or chronic, or liable
20 convey such disease 10 those In at
tendance, (2) To make regular inspec-
lions OF all school buildings and prem
ises as TO their hygienlo condition, ana
10 report on forms that shall be fur
nlshed by the state board OF health, the
result OF such Inspections, etc.
II will be seen that there Is no power
granted by the law. either to one state
official or even TO the State board, to
interfere In the matter OF attendance at
The public schools. And that the au-
'1orlty given TO the local boards does
not empower them 20 shut out from at
tendance, children or teachers who are
not suffering from contagious disease
and are not liable TO convey such dis
ease to others.
The boards OF education and school
trustees need not fear the threats made,
by persons who assume to issue orders
and edlcts as to the admission Of pupils
to the schools There is no civil or
criminal statute that viii put them In
Jeopardy IN the manner pretended. The
local boards OF health may take their
own measures N attempting to enforce
their regulations; that IL their affair.
II the board Of health in this city
really desires to carry out the law con-
cerning its duties, let its members ex-
anime and inspect the hygienic condi-
tion Of portions OF this city to which
their attention has been repeatedly d.
rected in vain. That would do more to
stamp out" contagious disorders than
all their absurd attempts to prevent
healthy children from going to school.
In the neighborhood Of the Lincoln
school there Is an awful stencil. arising
from conditions which are lawfully un.
der the direction OF the board Of health
and which penetrates to the school
rooms and endangers the health Of the
teachers and pupils Let the board car
~ It's nose around there and near the
block east Of the Sixth ward meeting
house In the evening and then trace out
the cause Of the offensive ehluylum. and
see that the nuisance IL removed. That
is the district where there is larger
number Of victims to the prevalent dis
order than any other part Of the city.
Perhaps a little pure lymph" might
be applied with some effect upon that
source Of complaint
When officials are rampant about en-
forcing regulations Of doubtful author
ity. 1t is time that they are urged TO
attend to duties imposed upon them by
law. And Il is also time that persons
threatened by despotic and would-be |
autocrats learned their rights and stood
up for their maintenance Obey the law, |
but resist oppression.