The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-17

u
Mercer, President of the Board of
Education, on the proposed fire drill
ordinance.
IF an ordinance requiring fire
drills in the Savannah public schools
is passed by the City Council, l for
one shall pay no attention to it.
such an ordinance will be abso-
Lltely ineffective. Furthermore ut
would be a useless, ridiculous, and
foolish usurpation on the part of the
city"
In the above manner Col. George A.
Mercer, president of the Board of Ed
ucation. expressed his opinion of the
proposed ordinance requiring fire drills
IN the city schools and other institu-
tions. Continuing, Col. Mercer said:
Il see in the Morning News they are
TO consult Col Garrard, the city at
torney. on the matter. 1 do not be-
lieve he will advise them to pass the
ordinance, for even should it be pass
ed, il would be absolutely ineffective.
The Board of Education, a close cor
poration, is not subject to the city in
what it does regarding the school
management, and 1 for one will never
yield to the city in these matters.
Power without Limit.
IF the city can regulate the fire
drills" continued Col. Mercer, there
is no limit to their power. If the fire
chief can order us to do certain things,
the health officer also can, so can the
Mayor, so can every city official. There
can be no limit to their powers.
IF the fire chief can say, I think
fire drills necessary. Devote so much
time to them daily, the health officer,
were he so minded, could take SINH
lar privileges. What would there be
to prevent him from saying, I think
bathing the most important thing.
Geography in the schools must be
abandoned and the entire hour given
over to bathing
THE worst thing that can befall any
school system is TO have it come I'M
der the control Of the politicians. What
class of men would be elected to the
school board if the Savannah poll
ticians controlled? The thought is suf-
ficient to make any one smile. | do
not know what the other members of
the board may do. for my part, how
ever, l shall never submit to city rule.
No Need of Drills.
Furthermore" continued Col. Mer-
Ger, lat present there is no necessity
for the drills. Supt. Ashmore tells me
that the children are out of the build
ings after the signal to leave has been
given. What more does any one want.
School room fires, of any great ex-
tent, are rare. A fire in the daytime is
easily detected, and the alarm can be
given before the flames spread. This
will give the children plenty of time
to leave the buildings. The alarm
over our buildings is entirely uncaled
for, and this fire drill business is sim
ply the entering wedge of politics.
1T makes no difference to me
whether the city passes such an ordi-
nance or not, for if they do 1 will
pay absolutely no attention to il. The
city cannot control us. and l do not
mind telling the aldermen so.
Mayor on Both sides.
Mayor Myers occupies a peculiar po-
sition in regard to the proposed fire
drill ordinance, being a member of the
Board of Education as well as the pre-
siding officer of Council. Until he in
Vestigates the question the Mayor will
not express any opinion.
1t is very probable that there will be
some clash between the city and the
Board of Education in regard to the
ordinance. The Mayor being on both
sides may have some trouble in COM
ing to a conclusion about the matter,
and before he makes up his mind he