The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-07
NOT HYSTER|CA[
ABOUT SCHOOLS
Members of Board Say Condi-
tons Are Bad, but Vastly
Better Than in Recent Years.
WHAT THEY ASK OF COUNCIL
Plan Is to Have Bond Issue
Amounts Paid at Different
Periods.

! Among members of the City School
Board there is distinct disposition
TO deprecate the somewhat hyStcrical
appeals being made Il bond sue
Tor schools. According to member
of the School Board, conditions in
many Of the schools arc bad. and they
have been SO reported to the Commit
tee on Finance. without varnish and
without sensational statement. TO
correct conditions the School Board
ASKS Tor 100000 within four years. tho
FINANCE Committee to provide IL as
seems best from bond issue or other
wise. President HutZlcr has frankly
stated that unless the members OF
the board abandon their private bust
ness and gave their whole time to the
city they could not undertake to eX-
pend the whole amount this wear. even
We're il available. He asked for $500. 600
by July this year; $500, 900 in July
next year, and 100000 each for the
two years following, saying that In
mat way the board could proceed 10
secure and consider plans and loca-
tons, and supervise construction. with
out being led into hasty and i'll con
sldercd movements to build badly ar
ranged structures, which would be
Httlc better than those in use
Better Than Three Years Ago.
W nile conditions are undoubtedly
oad-very bad--in some of the schools,
especially a s regards sanitary arrange.
mcnts. ventilation, safety and attrac-
tNeness. yet, according to a member OF
the school Board. the conditions are
actually better in all tho schools than
they were three years ago, tho Build
Ing lnSncctor having insisted on Ger
tain alterations at all the older build
ings.
three years ago, when number
OF organizations and individuals ap.
reared before the Finance Committee
70 urge the purchase or an additional
half-block and doublin., Of The Az
propriht ton Tor the High school build :
ING, which vas adopted. 1t was stated
that the district schools could wait.
NOW, according TO this member Of the
school Board. when tho district schools
nave been improved by repairs cost.
ing IN the three years an aggregate
OF $4,000. these same organizations
arc asserting that tn. district schools
should be abandoned as UNIT for occu-
nancy whether there arc other buile, :
lhSs 10 take their place or not
Sectional Pride AT stnkc
ACCORDING TO member OF the
, Finance Committee. Sectional d!fYcr.
cnccs have much 10 10 with the avi :.
,ation No sooner had delegation OF
+ - l'sitApti presented Inc al
Vlsability of buying the old Van Lew
mansion than the conditions at Mad!-
son school were painted in lurid coIors.
When Chimbora1o secured the promise
Of an annex Springfield promptly be-
gan TO cilculatc a petition.
The School Board has taken no mar,
IN these individual lights, and has not
encouraged special delegations 10 como,
before the Finance COMMITTEES Thc
hoard itself had q careful survey II
he entire school situation made and
presented carefully prepared and
printed report through Chairman
Hu'zler listing tho buildings which il
was proposed TO replace. with an cs-
innate Of the cost, and Il statement
or the condition OF the various struc-
inrcs In detail. In the mass meetings
being held by the patrons Of certain
/ schools the circulation of special be.
titions and appeals to the Finance
Committee, the School Board has taken
no part The Finance Committee has
been Informed OF the situation in plain
terms without evasion and without
attempt TO paint more lurid picturc
. IMAM the facts justify. and there the
ochooi Board rests its ease, realizing
that 1t is financial rather than mn
, educa tional problem that confronts
the city. -''>N