The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-03
WANT BETTER SCHOOL.
Washington Street Patrons Appeal to
Board of Education.

| A committee of colored men con-
sisting of c. S. Childs, chairman; P.
| G. Thomas, secretary; A. J. Wilson,
| c. A. Smith, c. D. Moss. c.. Gurden and
Rev. j. M. Pope, representatives of
| the patrons of the Washington school
on the East Side presented a petition
to the school board last night asking
for the erection of a six room brick
school house in the place Of the one
| now in use.
They claim that the building now
in use is not nearly large enough and
hiatt nearly two hundred pupils are
crowded into the four small ill-lighted
and badly ventilated rooms. The call
| made by the committee was the result
| of mass meeting held by the resi-
dents of that part of the city who
framed the protest against the pres
ent conditions.
read by the secretary of the committee
p. c. Thomas: Whereas the honor
able board of education has built
within the last four years. Lafayette
school, Quincy school, North Topeka
and has made improvements on the
Branner school and nearly all of the
schools in the city, and has nearly
completed the Lane school in North
Topeka and, whereas, the said home
board has made no improvements
school and whereas the said Washing
ton street school is in no suitable con-
dition for occupancy, therefore,
BE it resolved: that we, the pat
rons of the Washington district in
mass meeting%sassemb led, do most
earnestly petition your honorable as
sembly to erect a modern six-room
brick building in said Washington
street district
Washington school is located in the
southeast portion of the city across
the Shunganunga and is used exclu-
sively as a negro school as this sec
ton of the city is thfckly populated
with colored families. 1t is an old
frame shack of a building more suit
able for barn than for a school
building and on account of. the finan-
cial condition of the school board it
has received but little attention.
The patrons Of that part of the
city however have requested the board
to refrain from expensive repairs I'M
til such a. time as they feel able to
erect a substantial six room building
of brick or stone and this accounts to
some extent for the apparent neglect
with which the school has been
treated. -.
A committee consisting of the mem
bers of the school board from that
ward, Hardy and Jordan and Superin-
tendent Whittemore was appointed at
last nights meeting to investigate the
needs of that section of the city for
the purpose of making report at
the next meeting of the board. The
members of the school board appre-'
ciate the needs of this locality and
while the new building may not be
forthcoming this winter it is more
than likely that a new building will be
erected some time during the sum-
mer or fall.
This little school located on the
outskirts of the city and in a negro
settlement is said to be one of the
best conducted in Topeka and the
work which has been done in this
has called forth favorable comment
from those familiar with the work
which is being done.
The resignation of G. A. Page as
teacher in the Buchanan schools was
accepted and Miss Florence Kizer of
Lawrence. the next on the avilabie list
was appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr..
Page resigned to accept a position in
the Kansas City schools.
The over insurance of the school
buildings was brought up by resolu-
and though the matter was referred
to the insurance committee 1t is more
than likely that the insurance on the
school buildings will be reduced at
least one-half.
Notwithstanding the clearing house
rule now in effect with the banks of
the city, Mrs. E. H. Guy requested the
board to issue a duplicate check for
her last months salary, as the one
which she received at the time was
lost. The request was granted.
More complaint has reached the
board of the inferior quality of coal
which is being furnished by the To-
peka Coal company, several loads of
which have been refused by the janf- |
tors of the various buildings. The |
board contends that while the con- |
tract of the coal company calls for |
much better grade of coal that Leav-
enworth slack is being mixed with the
coal furnished the schools.
I'VE are somewhat up against 1t on
this proposition said one of the
members of the board. For If we
should cancel our present contract we
are not sure that we could get fuel
at the price named in our present |
contract with the Topeka Coal COM |
pany. However if the imposition con- |
tinues we will be compelled to take |
action of some kind even If we are
compelled to cancel the contract
which we now have and trust to buy
ing on the open, market. We trim |
med s36 bill to s24 at our last meet |
ing on account of the grade of coal |
furnished and this kind of an action |
seems to be about all the recourse |
that we have at present, unless we |
cancel the contract
La Patrie. Again Seen
Glasgow, Dec 3-Telegrams received |
here declare thatlthe French military
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