The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-16
Petition Board of Education
for Relief in Warm
Communication
BUILDING is UNFIT
FOR HABITATI0N"
Communication Declares That Condi-
tions Are Menace to Health of
Children-sRoof Leaks Like
Simon's Sieve

A scathing arraignment of local
school conditions in woodlawn was
made yesterday in a communication sent
to the board of education by many
ladies of that community Sarcastic
reference is made to the pride in local
schools which has been boosted" in
the press. 1t Is charged that the school
at Woodlawn is like Simple Simon's
sieve. This among the many exceeding
ly warm statements in the communica-
tion.
The communication charges that the
school is ruin and that one teacher
had so many children imposed upon
her athat the instructors health failed
and she is now out of position, being
forced to resign. The letter asserts
that during the rainy weather the child
rem are forced to huddle together to
avoid vessels placed in the rooms to
gather the water which pours through
the roof.
President John l.. Parker of the board
of education, who is lzeenly alive to the
inadequate facilities at Woodlawn, had
no comment to make yesterday upon
the communication.
The communication of the Woodlawn
ladies follows:
ITO the Honorable Board of Education.
"Gentlement--We, the undersigned,
mothers of the Woodlawn School I'm
association, do earnestly ask
that some relief be given our school
The conditions are such as to be a
menace to our children.
1--WE asked for assistance nearly two
years ago, but so far have had abso-
lutely no relief.
'An old discarded church building.
situated in low. marsly place, is be-
ing used for our Attn grade and the
"The approach to this ruin is over a
muddy road-no sidewalks
THE building is unfit for habitation
"rhe plasterins is constantly falling.
"The roof leaks like Simple. Simon's
sieve. During rainy days the children
have to huddle in groups to escape as
best they may the water pouring
through the roof, and to make room for
the vessels scattered over the floor to
catch the water.
There is no sanitation.
"The dilapidated condition of the
building renders the proper heating i'm
possible.
Our kindergarten would be self-sus-
tanning if we had better quarters. AS
it is parents are taking their children
from the kindergarten.
I'VE have only one sixth grade teach
en- That teacher had so children in her
room for the past semester, and is now
in such a run down condition physical
Iy that she has been obliged to resgin
her position.
I'm a recent write-up of the principal
of the public schools and the board OF
these lines appear: The pub
lie school system of Birmingham is the
most modern in the state and is attract
ing attention Verify. after 80 years of
public school system, If the real situa-
ton were known, it would indeed at
tract attention, but very probably not
the kind any of us would relish.
I'VE have no wish TO be arbitrary.
but we must have relief"
The signers of the communication in.
clude: Mrs. w. u. Mckinley, Mrs. II.
w. Graves, Mrs. f. w. Roos, Mrs. nj. r.
Whitehead, Mrs. Il. NJ. Young, Mrs. u.
w. Mccall, Mrs. w. J.Wilson, Mrs. w.
T. Womack, Mrs. j. A. Allen. Mrs. Lin
wood Shiflet, Mrs. w. B. Harper, Mrs.
John c. Forney, Mrs. Charles d. Rob-
ertson Mrs. W. Nj. Anderson, Mrs. ]. j.
Sandifer, Mrs. J. n. Killough, Mrs. II.
q. Alexander. Mrs D. c. Cox, Mrs. f. u.
Marx. Mrs. C. w. Bridges, Mrs. J. r.
Pattillo, Mrs. S. A. Hall, Mrs J. u. d
Rob bertson, Mrs. J. ID. Murphee, Mrs. +.
J. 'Eckert, Mrs. W. A. Wood, Mrs. NJ. H. ,
Whatley. Mrs. e. c. Brooks, Mrs. S. }.
Beggs, Mrs. W. f. Balch, Mrs. l. ID.
Bouss, Mrs. A. T. Killainm and Mrs. q.
w. Hopson, Jr.