Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-04
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Dr Rodman Says the School Children
 Tear Down His Fences.

At the meeting of the board of ed- ucation held last evening there were present Commissioners Mcdonald, Phelan, Monagan and Chapman, Commissioner Mcdonald presiding. It was voted to recommend to the board of aldermen that the janitors of the Lincoln and Webster schools. Claffey and Crean respectively be ap- pointed special officers with 1urisdic-. tion over the school grounds only.
 Architect Leonard Asheim ex- plained that the delay in finishing the Webster school was due to va riety of causes. First only one of the contractors seemed to care to hurry up with his contract; second, the strike of the masons and brick layers and carpenters greatly inter- fered with the work; third, the con- tractor, the Chatfield company, did not proceed immediately with the work upon being awarded the con- tract and if these causes were not enough Mir Asheim would like to know. He did not approve of this way of doing work, but what could be done? Nothing, said he.
 MT Asheim also stated that he hoped the Bank or Duggan school will be ready for inspection by. Thursday and he set the time for inspection at o'clock. Regarding the work at this building he said that all through the strike above re- ferred to the contractors managed to keep some men at work. there was something doing there all the time, he said.
 Miss Grace M. Miller applied for position in the high school; Miss Sarah c. Johnson applied for an ap- pointment as drawing teacher and leave of absence was granted Miss Mary A. Cullum and Miss Janet A. Arthur. Dr c. s. Rodman in a long letter to the board complained that his land adjoining the Mulcahy school house has become a common play ground, his fences have been torn down and the board was not to expect him to keep in repair the ap- breaches over his land to the school which were built by the board last winter. In view of this situation he thought he was entitled to reason able compensation"
 A commissioner remarked that the property owners adjoining the school asked him if the board would not fence in the school grounds.
 Why don't the property owners fence theirs in?" asked another com- missioner.
 Property owners don't object to children playing on their property near the Dublin street school" said Commissioner Phelan. "They don't harm it any they can't run away with 1t. I guess all the doctor is af- ter is to avoid the responsibility of keeping his sidewalk on Baldwin street clear of snow during the win- ter" The matter was referred to the proper committee.
 A man who said he came from New York stated to the board that he represented the Greek population of the city. about 200, and his ob- ject was to state to the board that the Greeks wish for a department in the evening school where they can be taught English.
 Commissioner Phelan informed him that had he made his request before the opening of the night school 1t would in all likelihood be granted, but the term is half over now and all the rooms are engaged. He was told to be on hand or have an appli- cation before the board next fall. This explanation seemed to satisfy the man and he retired.
 The inevitable bills and payrolls were then approved and the board adjourned.