The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-12
Our Public Schools and Suffrage
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

There is deeper significance in the letter Of Miss
Margaret Woodrow Wilson, which appeared in The Times
Tuesday, than simply the advocacy Of extended use Of public
school buildings for community service. The Presidents
daughter really indorses the principle of seovernment in
the District of Columbia in her suggestion that the community
secretaries responsible for the organization of the city for
service shall be elected y the adult citizens Of the United
States residing in the territories designated by the Board OF
Education be by the school building center Of
civic mobilization and belonging to the by which said school
building is commonly used"
Miss Wilson has worked from the beginning for the use
by the people Of the public schools obtaining law in March,
1915 but in her letter made public she OPPORTUNITY sug
gss that the communities be organized for purposes with
the public school center Of cooperation Already Reg
straon Day the public school buildings furnished machinery
which far surpassed that of other large cities in handling Of
the military The proposal means that the Aer
Red Cross the food conservation movement and the
mees organized to work out plans for recreation for train
ing camps and other patriotic organizations viii be able
reach the people with the public school an effective medium
The bill that has been introduced in both houses Of Con-
to make available the school buildings for the holding
Of community meetings Ito consult for the community good
for efforts to and promote the comfort Of
pairing for activities in the military and naval service of the
ply for cooperative endeavor provide hospitals and other
relief organizations for activities intended to enhance the
al snt people means Oh n1
and strengthen the nation in time Of war;"
Miss Wilson's proposal to the school buildings for civic
mobilization is given legal support by Corporation Counsel
Syme, who says
After carefully considering the powers of the Board
Of Education under existing law and the limitations OF
ditions not only suggest but demand expanding
of all public nstrumentaities to equip the people
operate for the safety and welfare Of the nation,
of opinion that this bin is sufficient for the purposes it
expresses to 1t gives to the Board of Education all
the necessary not only to carry out the objects Of
the BILL but also to preserve the school property while is
being devoted to these essential public which it
enumerates. It in wise interferes with or limits the
control Of the board the of the public school build
ngs for the instruction of pupils the public school
system see necessity for changing altering any Of
its provisions.
The contemplated by the bill are not only in
harmony with the essential principles of the public school
system but might almost be called evolution of the
same to serve the larger Of broadened
hghtened public sentiment responsive to crisis in the
national life the gravity Of which it is almost impossible
to estimate comprehend
Recently the citizens Of Park View elected community
secretary G. McGrath thus demonstrating the feasibility
Of using school buildings to renfranchse the people of the
District Miss Wilson, who witnessed that election evidently
believes in suffrage for the District and sees in the public
school system the ready machinery revivng not only the
voting process but the New England type primary assembly
well
Congress undoubtedly will enact into law the bill pend
ing in both houses thus setting example to the States Of
what real the school buildings to the nation in time
OF war The people of the District double opporuntv
By organizing for service they not only prove tn the
men Capitol Hill their capacity as community deserving
OF the right Of suffrage but their patriotism in great cause