The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-12-15
NOT OPPOSED TO EDUCATION
City Officials Insist That They Desire
Only to do the Best for the Tax
Payers in Taking Care of the School
Children.

Replying to the article appearing IN
Tuesday nights Evening News by Su-
perintendent Of schools, Mary D. Brad
ford, | desire to say:
That Alderman Warner and myself
calleo upon the Superintendent of
schools this morning and talked the
matter over with her for some time and
it was suggested by all present that I
make brief reply to the article APP
pearing in last nights News.
l want it to be strictly understood
that am in favor of more and better
schools if such can be had, and in
favor at all times of higher education
and if I said anything about hiring
nurses at $4,000 per month, to care for
the children four and five years that
are sent to kindergarten, in the heat
of debate. I certainly did not mean
to convey the idea or impression that
we would close the doors on children
of that age.
It was suggested by certain members
of the School Board that the schools
were overcrowded, and that children of
reasonable school age were unable to
attend. Some members of the Com
mon Council then suggested that it
might be well for them to confer with
parents who are sending their children
to the kindergarten between the ages
of four and five years to keep them at
home at least during the winter
months and thereby make room for old
er children to attend and this sugges-
tion YVES not upheld by the aldermen
so far as / know and certainly not
approved by me because it was de-
sired to keep any child away from
school, but because as the school
board claimed, the necessity required
the Council to do something at once.
1t is most unfortunate indeed, that
the School Board should not meet with
the Finance Committee of the Com
mon Council at least six months or a
year before they make their requisi-
tions for such large sums of money and
[ regret very much that the two bodies
have not worked in the harmony that
ought always to be manifested
1t is apparent that the Superinten-
dent of schools has been misinformed
as to just what transpired at the coun-
Gil meeting on Monday night. It is
also manifest that the information
given to the superintendent was false
and that the motive behind it was not
a motive which would in any way tend
to aid and better the conditions but
on the other hand, was for the pur-
pose of discrediting the present city
administration which to me shows a
pitiable weakness upon the part of
those who would give such informa-
tion, knowing the same to be false.
And let me further state that Alder
man Harbaugh, Alderman Werner and
myself visited all Of the schools few
days ago and we find that this crowded
condition as has been represented to
us by certain members Of the School
Board to be greatly exaggerated.
Therefore, let me say to the people Of
this city and desire to assure you,
that as long as am Mayor of this
city, you need feel no alarm whatever
about the doors of the schools being
closed in the faces Of your children or
anything whatever done by this ad-
ministration to in any way hinder or
hamper higher and better educational
faculties for the children of Kenosha.
(signed) Matthias J. Scholey.
Mayor of Kenosha.