The Mankato free press., 1918-10-18
ARE CLOSED
Normal TO CONTINUE
LIKEWISE THE COMMERCIAL
COLLEGE; TIE DECISION
Parochial Institutions to Shut
Doors; Conference of the
Officials Held

Mankato high school, all public
grade schools, the normal elementary
school, and the parochial schools of
this city, will close tonight, to remain
closed until a week from next Mon
day or longer, rs pufilic necessity may
cemand, owing to the prevalence of
influenza. Action to close the schools
was taken this afternoon at a public
meeting of the school authorities and
city officials held in the council
chamber at the city hall, the meet
ing, after general discussion, unani-
mously voting to close the schools.
The motion was made by Thomas
Jefferson, president of the Mankato
board of education, and was second
ed by Gustaf Widell of the school
board.
!, The normal school and the Man.
kato Commercial college will not be
closed, but will continue in operation
as formerly, as it was the general
opinion that as only adults attend
these schools and many come to this
city under great expense, it would
be an injustice to close them. The
opinion was expressed that it would
be safer for public health to keep
these two schools in operation rather
than to close them. 1t appears that
the danger of spreading influenza
comes largely from the younger pu-
pills.
Rules For Children.
Children must stay in their own
back yards. They will not be allow
ed to congregate upon the streets or
in groups to have general good
time. Health officials, police and
other city authorities will take all
possible steps to prevent the thou
sands of dismissed school children
from congregating together, as this
would be as bad as having them con-
gregate in the schools. Teachers
will give the pupils fair warning, and
this will also be impressed upon them
by their parents. This does not mean
that the children will be shut up at
home, but is merely to prevent them
gathering together in large numbers
and thus spreading contagion.
Those present at the conference
this afternoon were Mayor L. L.
Champlin, who presided, City Clerk
w. F. Bates, who took the records OF
the meeting, Thomas Jefferson, Pres :
ident of the Mankato board of edu-
cation, Superintendent. F. J. Sperry OF
the public schools, Gustaf Widell
Evan Hughes, w. F. Crandall, Mrs
B. D. Smith, of the school board, F.
D. Brooks Of The normal elementary
school. Rev. Father ]. B. Thies of the
Catholic schools, Rev. A. F. Winter
of the Lutheran schools, President
C. H. Cooper Of the. normal school
Professor J. R. Brandrup of Mankato
Comercial college, Councilmon Chris
Steiner, and Miss Abbie Peters
school nurse.
All Engaged in Discussion.
All present took part in the discus
sioh and all were egreed to stand by
| whatever action was necessary fol-
public safety and health. 1t was ap-
parently the opinion of those at the
meeting that there is more panic than
| substance to the present influenza
scare, although it was remarked that
the number of influenza cases in the
city are apparently increasing. Su-
perintendent Sperry reported that
about forty per cent of the pupils are
out of high school, and large numbers
are <also out of the other public
schools. The representatives of the
different schools present reported q
few cases of influenza. The cases in
the parochial schools are very few
and the Commercial college and adult
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