Evening star., 1912-03-09
SCHOOLS SET APART
Suggested Segregation OF Tu-
bercuIar School Children.
CONDITIONS INVESTIGATED
Health Officer Will Report to the
Board of Education.
MAY FOLLOW ST. LOUIS LEAD
Experimental Station, Accommodate
ing Twenty-Five Pupils, Could
Be Established Cheaply.
MAY FOLLOW ST. LOUIS LEAD

segregation in separate schools of all
children below high school age who are
afflicted with tuberculosis may be brought
about as the result of an investigation
started today by the health department
Of the District Of Columbia, which is to
be followed by close inquiry into the
subject by the board of education.
Believing that an examination of local
conditions will show that there are not
less than 100 tubercular children scat
tered throughout the various public
schools, Health Officer William c. Wood
ward is having prepared a report which,
he is convinced, will show the need OF
erecting separate school buildings, equip
ped with hospital facilities, in which
children upon whom the hand of the
white plague has been laid shall receive
physical as well as mental instruction.
The report will be submitted to the
board of education, members of which
already are interested in the subject and
have expressed desire to cooperate with
the health department in bringing ABOUT
legislation which will make for the health
of all the school children of the District.
DR.. William NJ. Davidson superintendent
of schools, today said that as soon as the
report from the health department has
been received the recommendations made
will be considered by the board, with the
probability that plan of action will be
decided upon at an early date.
1t is probable that the Woodward
recommendations will urge the gradual
adoption, as far as possible of open-afr
schools for all children who are not or
robust health with immediate provision
for segregating children afflicted with tu
berculosis in separate schools, so that
these children may not be a source OF
danger to the health of the other children
in the District schools.
Experimental Station Considered.
Health department officials already
have made a sufficient examination to be
of the opinion that the building and
equipment of segregated schools would
involve comparatively little cost. 1t is
said that an experimental station ca
pable of accommodating twenty-five
pupils could be built at a cost of ST.
500. To this amount is added $500 for
equipment and $1,000 for running the
school for a year, which would bring the
total cost of an experimental school for
the first year up to $4,000
Should local conditions with respect
to the number of tubercular patients in
the public schools be shown by the
health department investigation to be
worse than generally Is believed, 1t is
said to be probable that consideration
Producing in Congress at this session a
bill providing an appropriation with
which to build an experimental station
The course which more likely will De
in the Commissioners estimates next
year. an item for school building of
this nature. provided the board of educa-
ton decides there is need for such a
school. Questions such as these will be
threshed out by the board. when the
Woodward repOrt is considered,
In the event a school Tor children with
tuberculosis is established the health de-
partment and the board of education will
have divided jurisdiction over it, the
teachers to be furnished by the board,
while the health officials will provide
nurses and look out for the health of the
children.
DR.. Woodward believes that in the or
ganization of the proposed institution five
features should be carefully provided.
They are those relating to feeding. CLOTH
ing, bathing, resting and instruction. AS
the children would have to wear heavier
clothing than parents in some instances
might be able to supply. it is the opinion
of the health officer that in the ap-
preparation for maintenance there should
be a provision for clothing.
1t is known that officials of the public
health and marine hospital service are
interested in the proposal to erect in
Washington a school for tubercular chill
dren. DR.. B. F. Warren of the service has
communicated WIN Health OHlceF w OOO-
ward in regard to the matter.
Success in st. Louis.
In ST. Louis, Mo-. school similar to
the one proposed to be erected here is
now in operation 1t is, of the expert
mental type. capable of accommodating
twenty-five persons. and is said to have
been success from the day it opened.
The st. Louis authorities are considering
providing number of such institutions.
>Supt. Davidson today said that he is
convinced the matter is one to which all
municipalities will give consideration
sooner or later. He said that he was
glad the local health department already
has begun to consider 1t and that he was
satisfied the board of education would CO.
operate with the department in every
practical way.