Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-04
Insanitary School Buildings.

The board of education has taken the
only possible step in the matter of tbs
closing of certain school buildings pro-
vided needed repairs are not completed
within thirty days. The conditions being
as they are certified by the health depart
ment of the District government, the
members of the school board could do no
less than to take this action as impera-
lively demanded in the interest of the
health of the pupils. They would have
been justified, indeed. in ordering the
buildings closed Immediately, but their
decision indicates a belief on their part,
which prompt action by the District s
building department should justify with
out question, that the repairs can be COM
pleted within the time named and that
the risk involved meanwhile does not
fully warrant an immediate suspension of
school work.
In this controversy over the condition
of the school buildings the attitude of the
building inspector of the District has
been, to say the least. unfortunate. AS
he has stated his side of the matter in
the course of numerous interviews. he
seems to have resented the active inter-
vention of the president of the school
board as an ex-oficio building inspector.
Had the disclosures ultimately brought
forth not upheld the contentious Of Pres
ident Oyster there might have been some
degree of public sympathy with the build
ing inspector But the latter is now con-
fronted by an officiai report from the
health department. which finds the con-
ditions in the three schools named TO be
insanitary, and thus fully sustains the
ftn,
vindicates his zeal and activity.
Here. then, the spectacle is presented
of onesdepartment of the District govern
ment indirectly criticising the manner In
which another branch performs its duty,
while a third branch, not directly con-
nected with the municipal government
system, but most intimately part OF the
community organization, suffers seriously.
The case therefore, calls for not only the
correction of the evil conditions now eX-
listing in the three schools, but for cure
of the flaw in the system which permits
these conditions to exist. There is no
sound reason why perfect cooperation
should not be had between the co-ordi-
nate branches of the District government
on the one hand and the school organlza-
ton on the other. even though the latter
may have been, by an action of Congress
which many citizens deem to be unwise.
removed from the immediate control OF
the District Commissioners.
The demonstration by the school board
through the medium of the health depart
ment, that the school repair and con-
struction work of the District govern
nent is not promptly or efficiently done
confronts the Commissioners with an
urgent duty. They should exhaust every
resource OF power to cure the present
evils and to prevent the recurrence Of
tn Sc problems. Petty jealousies between
branches of the organization under their
charge should not be tolerated for mo-
ment. Effective municipal government
calls for cooperation on the part of all
suborGinates. and In matters that affect
the public health especially Is there need
of the strlctes: economy Of time and en-
e-gy to insure maximum results with the
smallest possible delay.