The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-04
SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL
ROOMS FACES BOARD BOARD
Halliday Sessions and An
nexes the Only Promise
Held Out

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large number of pupils visiting the
office of Supt. Smith. 1t is expected
that almost $4,000 pupils will be en-
rolled during the first two days.
In the conference held with the prin-
cipals Supt. Smith secured an accurate
forecast of the conditions that will ex-
list on the opening day, and was as
Sured that the facilities will not be
adequate to meet the demands.
On the West side the failure of the
contractor to complete the addition of
eight rooms to the Douglas school on
time will result not only in an in
creased expense, but also will cause
much Inconvenience. 1t is not expect
ed that the building will be completed
before Oct. 1, although the board of
school directors served notice that the
penalty clause of the contract would
be enforced if the building was not
ready when school opened.
In the First. ward, four of the eight
rooms in the addition to the Phalen
school will be ready, the contractor in
this instance having complied with the
time limit in his contract. The other
four, it is expected, will be ready in
about three weeks. Another four rooms
in the Washington school cannot be
used for a couple of weeks. The build
ing was damaged by the cyclone, and
the heavy rains that followed added to
this, making it impossible to complete
the repairs by the opening day.
Sixteen Rooms Closed
This condition of the buildings puts
out OF use sixteen rooms that later will
accommodate in the neighborhood of
500 pupils, and will make necessary the
maintenance of a large number of an
nexes and the enforcing of halliday
sessions. Everything considered, it is
claimed by the school authorities that
the Sixth ward people will find them
selves more poorly provided with
school facilities than any other sec
ton of the city, with the First, Second
and Seventh wards close second.
In addition to the buildings and
rooms that will be out of use the heat
ing plants of the Munroe and Adams
schools have not been fully installed.
George A. KEGS, the contractor, asserts
that he has found it impossible to pur-
chase the Burns boilers, manufactured
at Green Bay, Wis, the boiler called
for in the specifications, and has ask
ed that some other boiler be substitute
ed. If the weather is cold it will be
necessary to call special meeting OF
the board of school inspectors to per-
init the change, or the buildings will
be closed.
At the instance eff the state board of
health the teachers will this year give
particular attention to tests of the eyes
of the pupils. Although simple tests,
such as are prescribed by the board,
have been made in st. Paul schools for
some years, more strict application
will be made. The tests largely con-
sist of distance reading, and includes
study of the effect on the eyes. If
defects are discovered the parents are
to be asked to furnish glasses.
More Pupils Expected
"All indications point to an increased
enrolment in the schools as compared
with year ago. said Supt. Smith,
land it will test the ingenuity of the
school department to furnish sittings
for all the pupils. Not only will six
teen rooms be out of use for some
time after the opening day, but it will
be necessary to use large number of
rooms that are not suited to the pur-
pose. had hoped that we could this
year do away with many such rooms
but according to the reports this will
be impossible
Assistant Superintendent Bond, who
has but recently returned from a trip
to Europe, spent much of the time
yesterday receiving applications for a
resistance of working permits to pupils
under the legal age. All such permits
which are given to children where the
parents can show that it is necessary,
expire Sept. 1 of each year, and there
are yet hundreds to be heard from.
| If the holders do not report within a
reasonable time they are traced,
| through the teachers, and their cases
referred to the probation officer. All
| children under sixteen years of age are
| supposed to either attend school or Sc
cure permit to work from the school
authorities. The state bureau of labor
assists in the enforcement of the law.