The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-03-14
San Anticipated Proposition"
answered.
Communicated

natof OF the idea to enclose the high
school campus and since said move
has been adjadged By the Donald
sonville Chief, one of the most pro-
gressive newspapers in the state, as
an 'antiquated proposition" un-
worthy of the support Of the public,
[ feel called upon to express my views.
Ii The emphatic protest" Of The
Chief represents the sentiments OF this
community and especially of these vi
tally interested in the welfare OF the
school, the patrons, then I submit to
the will of those Of whom [ have the
honor to serve, bu5 from what | can
gather from the pupils who are but
the expression OF the homes from
which they come the move meets with
the approval of all who have at
heart the best interests of the school
and of their children.
Admitting that t'it- is no longer the
practice in any progressive town or
city to fence in public buildings,
parks or places, aud the general ten
dency is to do away with fences
around private residences, and that
90 fences are found around court
houses, postofices, Or new school
buildings in such towns as Shreve-
port, Baton Rouge and Monroe" it
appears to me that this is no argu.
ment against the fence in Donaldson
vile. There are not FIVE hundred and
fifty human lives five hours Of every
day on the grounds Of courthouses,
postof1ices, markets, public squares or
private residences, hence no parallel
can be drawn in this direction. Too,
Donaldsonvi lie is neither Monroe,
Baton Bouge nor Shreveport, bat u
city OF smaller size that can i'll afford
to supply the police protection to
school children that towns with
greater revenues can.
Every improvement in Donaldson
vile in the past has grown out of the
needs of Donaldsonville and not out
of the needs or requirements of some
other town or towns. Our problems
are peculiarly our own and must be
solved by Us alone.
Donaldsonville would not attempt
to solve the problems of Shreveport;
why then should we allow Shreveport
to solve our problems, conditions be
ing different?
L is not our-sidea to "mar the ap-
pearance'' of our splendid school
building, the pride of every citizen in
this parish, with such board fence
as The Chief evidently has 10 mind,
for in such wise do l interpret "back
number enclosure. y
I believe the patrons and officials of
the high school have come to know by
this time that the principal stands for
nothing but what is modern and up.to-
date in management and methods and
in beauty and utility of surroundings.
Hence I resent as 'emphatically as
The Chief "protests clubbing the
move as an Anticipated proposition. !"
Right here as elsewhere in The
Chiefs article [ note al Inconsistency,
for in one passage our Chief seems to
approve attractive and pleasing land
scape effects and in another would de-
prive US of such protection as would
insure same.
Again, if the principals idea OF en-
closing the school grounds is "anti-
quated" then too we have the ola case
of the ''pot calling the kettle black, ;"
for one of my pr propositions is to hem
in the grounds with a brick or cement
coping back Of which would be planted
a hedge which in time would not only
present an artistic effect but would in
measure afford the protection so
badly needed.
My second proposition is to erect
on brick coping a low iron fence
with { ates at entrances which can be
locked when the buildings and
grounds are not in use.
SOME REASONS.
Since the school campus is higher
than the banquet and graded from the
building to the banquet, every time
there is heavy rain much of the soil
is washed into the town cutters, thus
lowering the campus and causing I'M
even places. A coping will not only
arrest this drain, bus.Will offer an OPP
portunity for filing in and raising
and leveling the campus.
While it is true that we are making
al effort to plant and beautify the
grounds, it seems to ma that just SO
long as we have but partial protection
from It yck or from rude boys or
those bent on mischief, jast SO long
will the plan Of beautifyipg the
grounds and protecting the pupils
with suitable shade trees be retarded.
AT present the school campus is the
cutoff. for many people both white
and colored who feel perfectly free to
.oss and rscross at their pleasure.
Is this safe?
The problem of confning the pupils
within their limits is also made much
more difficult.
1t is almost impossible to play a
game OF basketball or to resort to
any other naVsifal exercises So mach