Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-27
NOT BAD AS PAINTED
Schools Not Death Traps,
Says Mr.. Macfar|and.
HE treasures PARENTS
Danger Conditions Corrected Within
Past Two Years.
LETTER OF ANXIOUS MOTHER
Calls Upon Commissioners to Devise
Remedy for Evils Set Forth in
Current Magazine Article.
HE REASSURES PARENTS
LETTER OF ANXIOUS MOTHER

That there is now no warrant for criti-
cisms of the public school buildings OF
Wa h.ngton. sucn as appeared in a recent
issue Of Good Housekeeping. under the
capt! on of washington School Build .ngs
a Disgrace tot he Nation" was the decla-
ration of CGmm. ssioner Henry B. F. Mac
far;and, tins morning. He was com n mt
ing on q letter sent to the Comm ssioners
from a mother and lover of children,
in wnicn she ssks why UGH condit ons
were 10: ren1ed ed by the District officials
The article referred to must have
been written two years ago, when the
conditions nigh: have partially justlhed
it," sad Commissioner Macfar. and.
"Con,ress, in response 10 the recon-
mendat:ons of the Commits toner's and the
board of education and our urgent per-
nal appeals. ha, given appropriations
which. judicously expended by the engi-
neer d.ra,nent, after full consulta ion
with the Comm ssioners and the board Of
educari,a. have so improved the condi-
lions ,rat there is now no warrant for
such criticisms
Conditions Are Improved.
The Commissioners and board of edu-
cation and cur friends in Congress. as
we'll have been iaboring to improve the
old school buildings and to provide for
better new school buildings. While Con-
gress has not appropriated half Of what
had been asked by the Commissioners
and the board of education for this pur-
pose 1t has appropriated enough to make
u decided Improvement in the cond tons.
1--WE need u great deal more and we
shall CONTINUE to ask for 1t until we get
it, We want to see the school children,
whether they attend in old or new build
ings housed in the best school buildings
IL the world.
TITS does not necessarily mean the
most expensive. But We want to see the
buildings Of the best type, and we want
to see them equipped in the best man.
ner. That. OF course, means with ample
fairgrounds.
Gin their estimates for the next fiscal
year the Commissioners asked for $2.2lS,
500 for public school buildings and
grounds and Congress appropriated $751;
0OO We must press next year for what
was not granted and as much more as he
growing needs of the public school sys-
tenn. due to the increase Of population.
may require.
Mai. Judson Interested.
Mai. William v. Judson. the new En-.
gineer Commissioner, stated this morning
that he regarded the protection of the
lives Of the public school children OF
Washington as one Of the great responsi.
bilities of the office to which he has been
recently appointed. Performance of his
duties will be In accordance with thai
view.
ditions this morning." Maj. Judson an
nounced when a reporter for The Stal
made his morning call today. II have
the report Of the school commission.
am studying IT. thoroughly. because re-
gard the protection of the lives of the
school children as one of the responsible
ties of the Engineer Commissioner.
IF any fatal accident should occur ir
school or theat r. or similar place, the
Engineer Commissioner would feel q
sense of responsibility.
Then, a municipal architect Is to be
appointed in the near future. AS he viii
have largely to do with the preparation
of plans for school buildings, I want to
nary to choice Of the man for the posi-
tion."
Letter From Anxious Mother.
The letter which stirred up discussion
of school conditions at the District build
ing was written by Mrs. Julia A. Brown
and is as follows:
d
grace to the Nation is an article thai
attracted my attention in the magazine
Good Housekeeping AS a mother. j
makes my heart ache to think of those
little ones being exposed to such dan
gerous conditions. AS the Commission
ers of our beautiful city. / implore yoI
to make an immediate investigation ant
remedy the conditions at once.
Il am the mother OF three prospective
school children. but instead of looking
f1rr 70 limo I Wis
it would be possible to provide some
other means of educating them thar
| through the public schools-not from ar
educational standpoint for that is ex
you, gentlemen. will read the article IL
the April number of Good Housekeep
ing entitled as above, and will investi
gate ION the strength OF that arttcle) TIT
conditions that children attending thu
public schools are compelled to accept
you will. i am sure. bring all the author
ity of your Office into devising SOM
effectual and permanent remedy for TIT
abolishing of the death traps for children
in our city.
Alarm for Children.
Il am not self-conceited enough t.
think it my duty to dictate or write lonl
articles and statistics on public require
ments and what Is yours or the schoo
commissioners duty, but am only think
ing of the thousands Of children tina
have, are and will attend the publi
schools and will go on year after yea
being exposed to death. until better con
ditions are provided for them by the PEG
pie appointed for such purposes.
Just give a little time and read thu
article referred to. which will give you
more definite and better-worded idea o
| the conditions and will more clearly
bring to your intimate kaowledg
| Just how the little children in our cit
are exposed to conditions that bring sor
row, trouble. expense and de tn to tn
parents and those who love them.
You are the Commissioners and yo'
stand for the head and throttle tina
start the city machinery working right
Your little citizens need and deserve tn
same attention as their older fellows
and even more, for upon them depend
the future of our cities and country
Guard them for the sake of humanit,
and not for the glory of your Office.
| I'm conclusion, / want to say that yo'
will earn the everlasting gratitude o
the thous nds Of parents by ordering al
l md hNI iShf in.