Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-10
Points Out Absence of Facilities.

while the board Of education has the
power to grant such uses" the opinion
continues. cit was without the facili-
ties or instrumentalities systematically
to develop them OF to protect the pub
lie property during the exercise of the
same: hence the extent to which its
power could be exerted was greatly
limited by its inability to place in re-
sponsible hands and under responsible
protection this public property while 1t
was being devoted to purposes other
than those of the public school system"
Since the enactment Of March 4.
1915. the conditions in the country and
in the District Of Columbia have be-
come SO changed by the existence of a
state of war and the necessity of the
organization and mobilization of all of
the forces of the nation. moral. eco
nomic. industrial and civil. that 1t is
tality must be given it's maximum
availability for service to accommo-
date the exercise Of those activities for
the public good and the public welfare
which the necessities OF the nation and
the experience of others have demon
strated must be exerted in SO grave a
situation.
THE services Of the people must be
organized. mobilized and consecrated
to the public good. and for certain
purposes no agency is better adapted to
this end than the public school equip
ment.
Purposes Not Interfered With.
THE bill does not in anywise inter-
fere with the primary. educational pur-
justment is left as it should be. solely
with the board Of education
Section of the bill supplies the de-
flciency which was found In existing
law in that no provision had therein
been made for the protection and pres
ervation Of the public school prop
erty, while devoted to purposes other
than those Of public instruction. BY
the provisions Of section 2, 1t Is made
the duty Of the board of education to
provide light, heat. janitor service and
community secretarial service, and to
make such other provisions as may be
necessary, including the employment
of a general secretary of community
organization with assistants. and pro-
vides further that the community sec
retary employed for each school build
Ing shall be appointed by the board of
education upon nomination in public
meeting by the adult citizens of the
United States residing in the territory
designated by the board to be served
by such school building as center OF
civic mobilization. Funds are provided
by specific appropriation to carry out
the purposes of the bill.
Miss Wilson's Explanation.
| ter addressed to member of the board
| of education, Miss Margaret Wilson.
| who has taken profound interest in
| this extended use Of the public school
| buildings, and who Is thoroughly in
formed as to the details Of this devel-
| opment throughout not only the United
| States. but in Europe. writes as follows
concerning the purposes and objects of
| this bill:
- In this civic mobilization bill
1t is recognized that the present is not
| the time for emphasis upon rights. but
/ is time for facing duty and seeking
opportunity for service.
| 1.-The bill is designed to empower the
| board of education and give 1t means
whereby the policy which 1t has adopt
ed may be extended so as to provide
what is not possible without this enact
mentor the use of enough school
buildings and grounds throughout the
District to serve as adequate means for
the civic mobilization and patriotic CO.
operation Of the people in all the COM
munities OF Washington.
First in importance Is the provision
which the bill makes for community
meetings to consult for the common
good. because first in Importance is the
| vital need to unity the mind and spirit
| of us all through flrst-hand assembly
| and conference for the support of
America and the cause OF democracy in
the world. No doubt. you know how
schoolhouses are being made centers of
common assembly OF the citizens to de-
| velop courageous and effective under
standing of the problems of war. and
| how much this means for the strength
| ening and support of that brave ma
| tion's soldiers at the front. There Is
| profound inspiration in the thought
| that as We gather In our common
| schoolhouses we and the people Of that
frst of European democracies are and
ing the same means of expressing our
common devotion to the common cause.
Two Aspects to Problem.
Second in immediate and practical i'm
portance Is the provision which the hill
makes for the use Of the public school
equipment "for efforts to encourage and
promote the comfort of men preparins
for or active in the military or nayal
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