Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-16
SOME ONE BLUNDEREO
President Oysters Statement
to Board of Education.
MOTOR IN SCH0OlHOUSE
Unsafe Strain Put on Floor OF the
Building.
PROMOTIONS ONLY ON MERIT
Supt. Stuart Urges the Establish
ment of Sanitary Lunchrooms
for Pupils.
PROMOTIONS ONLY ON MERIT

Some one Of the District officials blum
dered at the Central High School and
the safety of the pupils attending the
| school was imperiled, according to state
mepts that were made by President
James F. Oyster at yesterdays meeting
of the board of education in the Frank
| lin School building
! The trouble has all arisen through the
| installation of a motor in the high school
building. After it had been put In place
| on the third floor IL was tested, and rs
soon as it began to run Principal Emery
Wilson feared because of the vibration
of the building. that an earthquake or
similar calamity had turned loose In the
| vicinity The engineer department OF the
District government was appealed to, and
i yesterday Capt. Oyster read letter from
| Acting Engineer Commissioner Kelly to
| the effect that the motor placed strain
of 10 pounds a square foot on the floor
| where the safe load is only 90 pounds to
| the square foot.
There has been a serious neglect on
| the part OF somebody" declared Presi-
dent oyster. Whether it is the electri-
cal engineer. the building inspector or
the municipal architect. l am not pre-
pared to say"
The board president declared that the
construction jeopardized the safety of the
pupils in the building
Some one should have seen that the
| floors were safe" remarked the pres!-
| dent.
It was announced that the location Of
| the motor would be changed before 1t Is
| put into operation. unless the floors are
| strengthened to stand the strain.
Although the robtor has not been in
i lob, S1kn nj
was explained that the location selected
was not suitable. for the same detect as
| at the Central High School: and IL has
been decided to strengthen the floor.
Promotions Only on Merit.
The board went on record yesterday in
favor only Of promotions made on merit.
After the reading of the list of promo
tions, transfers and appointments among
the school teachers had been finished by
Secretary Hine. President Oyster asked
| the Superintendent to state whether or
not he had personal knowledge that every
| change was on merit.
| There have been complaints of favor
itism,'' he declared. Il think the board
| feels that the change should be made on
merit alone, and / don't believe any men,
Der Of the board wants any favors
| shown
II take the responsibility for every ap-
bointment or promotion" declared the SUI
| perintendent when a change is to be
! made. get all the information possible
! and then make selection on merit. l
| don't shirk the responsibility.
| On account of the size OF the corps OF
| teachers and the many claimants for pro-
motions, he explained. the task Is no easy
one.
| of the confidence of the board, replied
President oyster 'All We ask of you is
| to present to us cases of merit. We trust
| your honesty to us. We want the best.
| Influence doesn't count with US
Rowdyism to Be Stopped.
The superintendent also declared that.
| so far as lay in his power, he intended to
insist that the high school boys behave
| themselves. He declared that complaints
had reached him of rowdyism on the part
Of some boys connected with the Nckin-
ley Manual Training School. !
81 have asked for a report from the
principal" he declared. land instructed
him to take some action. when necessary
even suggesting suspension In one case.
l have not received reply. but ] expect
prompt action
After the meeting had been called to
order the board listened to letter from
Mrs. Alexander Graham Bell. who wrote
in behalf Of the heirs of Mrs. Gardiner
Hubbard. offering to present to the Hub
bard School four colOred prints purchased
engraving Of Washington Crossing the
Delaware" and a set Of children's books.
The board accepted the offer and voted
thanks to the donors
A plan to open a night manual training ]
school In the Mckinley building as soon
as the enrolment justified classes was
approved by the board The plan is made
possible by the volunteer offer OF some
OF the teachers to donate their service for
the night classes.
Lunches Of School Children.
The lunches of the school children was
the subject of report submitted by Supt
Stuart. 1t showed that of the 3O.373 chill
dren in the elementary schools, %. 7s2 go
home at noon for their lunches. that 4253
bring their lunches from home and eat
them at the buildings and that 979 buy
their lunches at some shops near the
schools 1t was also reported that o $40
of the pupils habituslly buy food of little
| shops near the schools and that there are
G9j such lunch counters patronized by
| the school children. At % Of the schools
| push cart vendors make frequent visits.
Supt. Stuart recommended that some
| effort should be made to control the edf-
bles bought by the children and to train
| high schools, where the noon recess is
short he recommended THAT lunch rooms
| of the sanitary type be provided.
An offer of Henry Ulke to present a
painting from life of the late Joseph
Henry to the Henry School was accepted
by the board. The offer of the Instructive
Visiting Nurses Society to furnish
| school nurse for the sixth division was
also accepted, with thanks.
Proposed Work for the Poor.
| A recommendation of the superintend-
lent that each sewing class In the public
schools make one garment to be given to
| the poor, the material to be paid for by
contributions from the members of the
class, met such strong opposition in the
board meeting that Mr.. Stuart withdrew
| it, The board members declared that
they were opposed to the taxes on the
| school children necessary In this case to
buy the material for the clothes.
Plans for the disbursement of the an
nual Thanksgiving collection in the
schools were presented to the board by
the committee in charge composed OF
Asst. Supt. p. NJ. Hughes. Truant
Officers Edna X. Bushee and Ida @.
Richardson, and General Secretary W. 5.
| t-fford Of the Associated Charities For
merly the funds have been used only for
purchasing shoes and clothing for needy
pup!lsp but IL was recommended by the
committee that the fund be used to pay
/ the carfare OF atypical children. who
must go to special schools. when the
family is in need. and to furnish eye
glasses to needy pupils. The committee
reported that IL discussed the plan for
pensions to families In need. to keep
pupils in school, but concluded to con-
| slider individual cases as they arise.
| III IAl tInn V1,,,fc-