The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1918-03-29
SOUTH NASHVILLE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.


From time to time the girls attend
ng the cooking Center for Carter,
Nelson Merry and Napier Schools
have brought their parents news OF
conditions the Center. With the
coming of spring after long win
ter undisturbed by the authorities,
those who came to and hung around
The building became more numerous
and their visits more frequent.
About the first of this mont hMrs. !
NJ. w. Blake was made acquainted |
with some facts, which caused her
to call together some Of the women
of the neighborhood, and at once
and searching investigation
was made. Mrs. Blake in the mean
time called the attention of Superin-
tendent Keyes to the matter, and he
in turn called upon Chief Barthell
who upon visiting the place found it
to be a Bookkeeping joint and "the
goods" was found. Mrs. Blake being
cripple could not get to the Center,
but Mrs. w. D. Hawkins, DR.. NJ. r.
Coleman, President Napier School
Parent Teachers Association and
Mrs. It. II. Elliott, President of
Mothers Community Club went to
the building, They found among 9TH
er things the following to be true
The buildipy having the appearance
of former day saloon, a filthy hall
behind the cook room; through this
filthy hall the girls had to pass to
get to filthier toilet where they
had to get and empty water for cook
ing. But for many weeks there had
been no water in the toilet, and the
girls and the maid had to secure wa
ter from the owner of the
place in the same building and
other homes near by; dice games
were carried on around the building
and white. men frequently opened
the doors of the Center. A few
minutes before the ladies got to the
building to investigate the situation
the owner of the building committed
suicide in his part Of the building.
And as the life Of the maid and teach
er had been threatened on account
of the raid, and because of the con-
dition of those pupils in the build
ing at the time of the raid and fir
ing of the pistol and those who came
there after the ladies asked that the
cooking be closed for the day.
A committee was appointed to see
Supt. Reyes and ask for the removal,
they were also to see the members
of the Board. When this committee
saw Supt. Keyes and explained the
conditions at the Center, he said he
knew most all of them, and promised
to have the place cleaned up, the hall
cleared, water meter put in, to Sc
cure the use of the hall, thus giving
the Board of Education control of the
entire side of the building. He stat
ed that on account of the shortness
of funds and nearness to the closing
of the school that we make out with
this building. He gave them a most
courteous hearing an dthanked them
for coming. When this committee
made their next report to the moth
ers, at their next meeting, it was not
at all satisfactory. But it was de-
cided that the jeopardy of the life,
health and morals of these girls at
the turning point of their lives was
too great to ask anything less than
an immediate removal. A part Of
the Board was out of the city at this
time. But upon Mr.. Hume's return
Mrs Blake called his attention to the
matter, and he with other members
Of the executive committee visited
the Centers for both girls and boys
and found conditions to be as above
stated.
1t was then decided that we visit
each church in South Nashville and
present our cause and get names for
a petition for the removal of the Cen
ter. Each pastor gave time for an
explanation of conditions and the
getting of names. Some ladies were
also appointed to make a house to
house canvass.
The following committee waited
upon the Board of ducation Monday
evening, March %: Mesdames A. w.
Brown, Clemmie White, Florence
F'Ossie, T II. Elliott, NJ. B. Rich, Ella
Thompson, F. f. Dawson, w. d. Haw.
kins and DIR. NJ E. Coleman. Mrs
F. E. Dawson then introduced Mrs
w. d. Hawkins who read the peti
tion which was signed by nearly five
hundred mothers.
After the reading of the petition
Mr.. Hume stated that the committee
/ had been anticipated and that the
executive committee had found that
the conditions at the boys Center
little better than the girls and that
they had begun the work fimmedi
ately removing them both to the Ma
pier school,
After a few remarks and questions
by other members of the Board, Presl
dent Nelson thanked the committee
and assured them of an immediate
removal. Mrs. George Brooks and
Mrs. Franklin will never be forgot
ten for their splendid canvass in the
Carter School vicinity, neither shall
we forget all the ladies who helped US
with our petitions circulation.
The mothers are grateful to thu
Holiness Church for the use of the
church for all meetings, Miss Lizzie
Kelley, a juvenile court officer, tt
Chief Barthell for quick service anC
police protection thereafter, to Mr.
Hume and the Board of Education fo
immediate action, to DR.. T. H. Elliot
for auto service.
Many offers of help came from
others, but while the mothers wer'
most appreciative and thank thos
VINO offered; they did not find nee'
for them at this time.
The Parent-Teachers' Association
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