The San Francisco call., 1905-08-08

BERKELEY, Aug. THE school viii
come to order" said Mrs. Mary T. VIII
son at o'clock this morning, as she
faced the pupils who represent the pro-
test Of Berkeley people who oppose the
vaccination of children, and with those
words the machinery of a unique project
was put into motion.
In Golden Sheaf Hall, on Addison
street, the t-Compulsory Vaccination
League has planted its banners, and there
il bids defiance TO the school and State
authorities who insist that children at
tending the public schools shall all show
certificates indicating that they have been
vaccinated. In this hall the league has
established a private school, where no
such certificates are required of children.
The school is intended TO stand as mon
ument of protest against the law that
is obnoxious TO the league Its first ses-
sion was held this morning. ,
Seventy-five pupils answered the roll
call as Mrs. Wilson read their names
from the list on her desk. Before the end
of the week the anti-vaccination folk ex-
pect that the attendance will be about
100. There are number of children now
in the public schools without certificates
who have yet to pass thee.ten-day limit
set by the Board of Education These
children, it is supposed, will later f1nd
their way into the anu-vaccination
school.
Mary T. Wilson, principal of the new
school, was formerly a teacher in the
Lincoln School. She dared to express her
opinion regarding the vaccination matter
and when the School Directors elected
teachers this year Mrs Wilson's name
was not on the list of those chosen II
was said that the fact of her being a
married woman had inspired the Board OF
Education TO drop her, but the Anti-Vac-
cination League people believe that she
was dismissed for her devotion to their
principles.
The league has engaged Mrs. Wilson to
direct the new school, and will soon pro-
vide her with assistants. At a meeting
of the league tomorrow night this matter
will be discussed, and at a meeting OF
the directors of the school on Wednesday
the question of providing n1gh-school in
struction will be considered.
The funds for the maintenance of the
school have been subscribed by members
of the league. More than 500 month is
pledged to support the under taking. The
children Of very poor people will be edu-
Gated without cost to the parents. Golden
Sheaf Hall is donated by J. G. Wright.
Mrs Wilson said to-day: 1.-THE class of
children in our school is of a high order
OF intelligence, such as might be expected
from parents who dare to protest and
take action in defense of their principles.
The notion that the league members are
'cranks is silly idea, and a glance at
the children we have enrolled would set
tie any such notion. have had dozen
years of experience as a teacher, and can
Judge pretty well of the caliber of chill
dren as a result Of that experience. do
not hesitate to say that our children here
are far more intelligent in appearance,
Judging by their work thus far, than any
seventy-five children that might be Sc
lected at random from the public
schools w
DR.. S. H Frazier, president of the Anti
Compulsory Vaccination League, and
Mrs. Mary V. Holloway, secretary of the
league, visited the school to-day and ex-
pressed themselves as highly pleased with
the work done thus far and the prospect
for the future.