The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-14
ORDER FOR VACCINATION
SERIOUS CONDITION Is CONFRONT
ING THE SCHOOL BOARD.
Father of n Child Sent Away from
School Threatens Suit-SchOol
Board Affairs.

Inc School Board is In Quandary over
the vaccination question. Monday was the
day the Board of Healths order relating to
children being vaccinated went into effect.
For several days prior to Monday the
Board of Health had physicians stationed
at the different schools prepared to admin
lister vaccination to the children and many
OF them took advantage of the opportunity
to comply with the order. According to the
requirements of the board any child that on
Monday could not produce n certificate
showing vaccination in the last three years
must either submit to the operation or re-
main away from school.
Thus far only one protest against the or
der has reached the ears of Superintendent
Kendall. This was at school No. TO- where
two children declined to obey the order
der instructions of their parents, of course.
and were not admitted to school. Since
then the father of the children has threat
ened to go into court and test the School
Boards right to enforce this kind of an
der. The superintendent does not know
how many cases of this kind there are that
nave not been brought to his attention.
The question with the board Is whether or
not II will be justified in paying the ex-
penses of case of this kind in court The
brought, and If Ii Is brought will pay the
costs, If the boards attorney advises that
TINS be done. 1t Is pointed out that one
dlfhculty In the way of the School Board
enforcing this law is the peculiar wording
| of certain section of the state truancy
! law which is at variance with the city law.
The truancy law practically says that no
child in good physical and mental condition
| shall be excluded from the schools because
| of refusal TO be vaccinated. The section
the meaning is plain. 1t is asserted that
member of the Legislature whowas opposed
| to vaccination had something to do with
making this truancy law, and at the last
! moment before Ii was enacted slipped this
| provision in where it was readily discov-
| cred by the enemies of vaccination. The
father OF the children excluded from school
| Monday is opposed to vaccination because
| he believes it is harmful, having already
| had experience with 1t in his family. He
| knew about this particular section of the
| truancy law and quoted it to the superin-
tendent, who was also aware Of its exist
ence.
PIANOS IN SCHOOLS.
The question of the use of pianos in the
schools was discussed at some length. 1t
| is the opinion of the board that each
| building should be supplied with piano,
but it is realized that this would be
rather expensive luxury. Superintendent
Kendall favors the idea of buying as many
pianos the board thinks it can afford.
He holds that the piano is part of the
| Commissioner MOores, the business director
was authorized TO purchase piano at once
for the Robert Gould Shaw School and TO
negotiate for pianos for all of the recently
completed school buildings. While the
board will make no attempt now to place
pianos in all the buildings 1T is the
plan TO buy instruments for the new build
ings as fast as they are constructed. Some
| day it Is hoped to have piano in every
| building in the city.
The date for the dedication of the Robert
| Could Shaw school building at Senate
| nue. and Walnut street, was fixed for Thurs
day of next week. This is new colored
held this week. but 1t was found necessary
| to postpone them. President Butler, of
| Butler College will deliver the address.
The board selected name for colored
| school No. %, Missouri and Thirteenth
| streets. The name Charles Sumner" was
given the school at the request Of the pa
irons of the district.
| Superintendent Kendall recommended the
following appointments:
Mabel Schmidt, teacher in departmental
position at the Harrison School, appoint
| ment dating from Oct. 8.
Julia Hobbs. part time teacher in Manual
| Training High School
Mary Shawan teacher at school No. 50.
| Frank Il. Wade, teacher of chemistry
in Shortridge High School in place of
| Dumont Lotz resigned.
Walter w. Baker, teacher of physics in
Shortridge High School in place of Neil
III. Williams, resigned.
The superintendent recommended that
Hattie Taylor be placed on the substitute
list with substitutes pay, to begin Monday,
| Oct 5. The superintendent said that Mr..
Lott had resigned on account of i'll health
and Mr.. Williams leaves to accept po-
sition in Rose Polytechnic Institute. Mr..
Kendall further announced the adoption of
| Muzzarellis French grammar in the two
high schools.
The board last night arranged for the
| purchase of some new sites for school
| buildings. The business director in
structed to purchase two acres of ground
aud ctr at NM m
| acre. The land is purchased of Joseph
F1ack, who sells to the board on the agree
ment that a saloon is not to be started
| there. This clause in the agreement was
the cause of numerous facetitious remarks
from members OF the board. The director
was also given authority to purchase four
north of Michigan, adjoining school No. A..
This property Is badly needed a play
| ground for the school. No. has the largest
attendance of any school in the city, it is
| stated. The director will also purchase
| property adjoining school No. IL, at Capitol
avenue and Thirteenth street. for $4,000.
COOKING KITCHEN.
The board arranged to establish a "cook-
ing kitchen" at school No. IL. One Of these
kitchens has been in operation at No. II
and has been so successful that the board
wants to try the experiment in other places.
The question of the Indianapolis schools
| making a special exhibit at the ST. Louis
| exposition was discussed and the project
was abandoned when the superintendent
| announced that 1t would require s., 500 to
| make the proper showing. The schools
| will take part in the regular Indiana ex-
| hibit but will do nothing else in this line.
| On the recommendation of the supern-
| tendent the sum OF 81, 200 was appropriated
for carrying on night schools this winter.
The board took an active interest in the
| election returns and sat about a table with
| large maps of the city spread out. A mes
| senger brought bulletins to the board every
half hour Commissioner Taylor, a candi-
date for reelection, had a pocketful of