Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-01-07
GOVERNOR 5 MESSAGE
Continued from page 3

lem OIendDllnS the great mass OF the
people who want 10 live in decent sur
roundings and bring up their children
under proper conditions 10 have such
opportunities. II is also to a very
large extent the problem of preventing
other people who either do not care
for decent conditions or are unable
to achieve them from maintaining con-
ditions which are a menace to their
neighbors, to the community and civ
ilZation."
The larger cities of Michigan are
especially interested in the solution
of this problem. Already the states
OF California, Connecticut, Indiana,
Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania and Wiscon-
sin have housing laws | suggest that
this Legislature enact housing law
of state wide application. "A Model
Housing Law" by Lawrence Vellier.
Secretary National Housing Associa-
ton, furnishes a scientific basis for
this much needed law
Sanitary School Buildings.
For more than a quarter OF a cen
fury | have made a careful study Of
the school houses in Michigan. The
majority of them are unsanitary and
unfit for live stock, TO occupy. They
rarely furnish adequate light, never
furnish a proper supply of pure air.
and are not comfortably heated, and
on the whole are destructive to the
health OF school children. 1t should
be remembered that the ordinary
school room, unlike the ordinary dwell
ing room, Is frequently occupied by
10 M mi nf IA.
ably no one reform would exert
greater influence in reducing the death
rate of children than would the con
struction of sanitary school houses.
Ordinary school officers know very lit
tie about modern sanitation. 1t is
largely a question of how large
pen" is required TO protect the boys
and girls from the inclement weather.
A law should be enacted whereby all
plans for school houses should be sub
mitted TO the superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction and Secretary of the
State Board of Health. These officials
would approve of the heating, ven
tilating, lighting. in fact all of the
sanitary essentials before the con-
tracts could be entered into for con-
struction. In states where this plan
has been pursued satisfactory results
have been realized
School Boards.
SO far as possible. our educational
interests should be divorced entirely
from partisan politics. In Michigan
we have not succeeded in doing this.
I suggest an enactment of a manda-
tory law providing for city boards OF
education OF not TO exceed seven mem
bers, elected by the people at large.
Such school boards should be super
visory and legislative In their function
and should have the appointing of two
salaried executives, a superintendent
and business manager, each Of which
shall be responsible for his particular
work
Use Educational Equipment.
Michigan cities whose population Is
5000 and upwards are not using their
school equipment more than so per
cent of the available time. During the
vacations, long and short, during Sat
urdays and six nights OF every week
educational training should be offered
to those who are not of school age"
Many men and women who work dur
ing the day are eager for an oppor-
skill along their occupational lines.
The city or community that uses its
school equipment all Of the available
time invests a little more money only
TO realize magnificent dividends. Pos
sibly this Legislature can see its way
clear TO encourage this extension OF
our public school work.
A Woman's Reformatory.
A careful study of social conditions
in Michigan as revealed through the
Industrial schools, the prisons, the
asylums and the homes OF epileptics
and feeble minded is not altogether
encouraging. Most of these institu-
tions are growing larger. True. the
State is growing larger, but this fact
should not blind us TO the necessity
Of stopping. if possible. the source OF
the unfit Whenever radical cure is
suggested the cry goes up that the
State is endangering the cause of per
sonal liberty. Sooner or later the
problem of restricting the production
of the unfit must be met The Legis-
lature of 1913 faced this problem and
attempted the beginning Of a solution.
AT the Industrial Home for Girls we
have at the least calculation 10 per
cent to 20 per cent who are mental
detectives. The majority Of the Is
per cent TO 20 per cent should be
transferred to the Michigan Home and
Training School. Under existing laws
girl cannot be detained at Adrian
after she is twenty-one. If she be-
longs to the distinctively mental de-
fective class, she leaves the institu-
ton to become a menace to society
Incidentally | wish 10 say that % per
cent to so per cent of criminals who
are repeaters belong TO the mentally
defective class In the better day COM
ing these detectives will not be given
their freedom until they have received
such treatment as will make the prop
agation OF their kind impossible No
greater work can occupy the atten-
ton OF law makers than first how to
prevent crime. second how to treat
crime.
Conservation Of Important Records.
My attention has been called to the