The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-03

FOR LITTLE ONES.
School Board May Establish a
Free kindergarten.
Proposed to Utilize Old Park
dale School.
ABATE THE FIRE TRAP
High School Auditorium Men
ace to Life.
Boy Who Threw SneeZe Powder
Indefinitely Suspended.

A petition containing the names OF
about seventy patrons of the Lafayette
school on the East side was filed by
Charles 3. Hardy at the meeting or
the school board last night asking for
the establishment of a kindergarten
in the old Parkdale school building.
A similar request was filed with the
board some time ago but no action
was taken as the members felt that
they had no jurisdiction over the mat
ter owing to recent legislative enact
ments.
The patrons Of the district III the
meantime took the matter up with At
torney General Jackson with the re-
suit that he made ruling that the
matter rests entirely with the school
board in cities of the first class. The
school facilities in this district are not
ample for the accommo dation of the
children and the patrons feel that the
esta blishment of kindergarten Will
greatly relieve this condition.
The matter was placed on file and
will receive the consideration of the
school board Immediately and 1t is
more than likely that the request will
building is vacant at this time and the
move can be made without any great
expenditure Of funds.
The selection of the plans for the
new Central Park school building
which is to take the place of the
Euclid school threatens to involve the
school board in lawsuit with l.. M.
Wood, the architect. Mr.. Wood claims
that he was asked by w. H. Wills on,
formerly chairman of the board to
prepare plans for the building and that
he did so, submitting plans according
to the direction of the chairman of
the board and superintendent T.. D.
Whittemore.
Mr. Wood presented a bill for $3.50
at the meeting and feels that if the
matter is not settled that he will be
justified in bringing suit to enforce the
collection. Il did not enter other
plans in the competition two weeks
ago." said Mr.. Wood. because I felt
that my plans had already been ac-
copied by the board l have cut my
bill just half, as it is customary for
architects to charge one and one-half
per cent of the specified cost of a
building, and 1 shall expect pay for
! the work which I did under the direc-
| ton of the chairman of the school
board and Professor Whittemore."
| Isaac Thorne, a student of the high
| school, after reading of the actions of
| some one at the Midwinter exposition
| who distributed "Sneeze'' power, de-
cided that it would be a keen stunt to
/ try the performance during chapel
| exercises. The result is that he has
been indefinitely suspended for his act.
| Anna w. Arnett, a teacher in the
| Lawrence schools, exhibited chart
which she has recently patented for
use in the primary grades and asked
| it's adoption by the school board. The
continuance which is something en-
| tirely new was exhibited at the state
meeting of the teachers of Kansas
which was held in Topeka several
! weeks ago and created great deal of
| favorable comment among the educa-
| tors of the state. No action was taken
as Superintendent Whittemore is out
| of the city and will not return until
| the latter part of the week.
| The following resolution offered by
Chairman Anderson Of the building
committee was adopted by the board:
Resolved, That the board deems 1t
! necessary to erect a new school build
ing in the Fifth ward of the city, on
the site recently purchased by the
| board; that the estimated cost of such
and closets is $4,000 and the esti-
mated cost Of furnishing is $3.50"
A communication from Election
| Commissioner H. C. Titus asking
about the attitude of the board rela-
purposes of holding elections resulted
in the passing of a vacation day for
the students every time that an erec-
ton is held in a school building. The
board adopted a resolution to the ef-
! feet that in the future buildings
or rooms will not be leased for cleo
| ton purposes.
The question of the safety of the
| auditorium in the high school build
ing was again discussed and some OF
the members who had been over the
building with Fire Marshal Wilma rtn
agree that the building is a fire trap
of the worst kind. It is Ill construct
ed to begin with and the four exits
two to the gallery and two to the first
floor are arranged on either side OF
the stage.
In the case where amateur theatri-
cal productions are given by the stu
dents and others for that matter
there Is more or less inf1ammab BILE
material ON the stage. In the case
that e fire should start on the sta ge