The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-09
SESSION OF
SCHOOL BOARD
Was BUSY One
DECISION TO HOLD COMMENCE
MENT AT HIGH SCHOOL WAS
MADE; CUT IN HEALTH BOARD
APPROPRIATION PROTESTED.

] The school board, at is regular
meeting last night, decided that the
high school commencement exercises
| shall be held at the high school audi
torium; voted to wire the representa-
tives of Escambia county, at ITALIA
assoc. asking them to vote agains
reduction Of the health board app
priation, and received and took l.
der advisement q petition from lead
ing colored citizens asking cerf :
changes in the physical conditior
their schools.
The full membership Of the Ooard
was present at the meeting and the
actions taken were unanimous.
The choice of the auditorium for
the commencement exercises was
taken shortly after hearing representa-
tions indicating that such was the
wish OF the majority of the graduating
class. as expressed yesterday.
The decision to petition the legisla-
ture was taken, after hearing de-
tailed report from DIR. Tatom, of the
state board of health. regarding con-
ditions in Escambia county, Pensacola
and elsewhere, and questioning the
doctor on a number OF points.
DR.. Tatom told the board that the
statutes of Florida require the exclus-
ion from school of any children af-
fected with trachoma. as it is con-
tagious disease, and if not treated
leads to blindness. He said this would
mean. on the enforcement of the law,
the exclusion of ten per cent OF the
rural school children of Escambia
county and nearly six per cent of the
children of Pensacola, thus denying
them the right of education. He
stated that the passage of the pend
ing legislation, reducing the health
tax, would positively mean the dis
continuance of child welfare work in
the state. and inability of the health
board to adequately cope with any
serious epidemic that might break
out.
In answer to question as to what
would be done to cope with the serious
hookworm an dtrachoma situations in
Escambia county. the doctor stated
that he was taking steps to have the
federal health board cooperate with
the state board in establishing free
clinics here. He also stated that as
one means of combating the spread
of the hookworm disease he had,
during the past year conducted cam
result of 5000 changes.
In answer to question from Judge
Beggs as to why the board of health
had not used all the funds available
TO them the past year, the doctor re-
piled tat $4,000 had been set aside
as a reserve fund to be used in case
of epidemic.
The petition regarding the colored
schools was presented in behalf OF the
eolored Parents and Teachers Asso-
citation by DIR. s.. W. Jefferson and
L. NJ williams, and suggested the fol-
lowing changes:
THAT the term OF primary grades
1 to be set at eight months; that
schools 81 and 80 be consolidated. and
the vacated property sold and the
funds applied to the erection of a
large modern building on the south
west corner of the property of No.
8 school; that to the present literary
courses of school a domestic science
course be added for girls and a work
shop with trades teacher for boys, both
under competent instruction; that the
grades at school be the sixth and
higher only; that city sewerage be
substituted for the present unsatisfac-
tory cesspools: that all pupils of
grades l and 5. living east Of Pala-
fox, be required to attend the east
school and all others the west schools
for those grades: that the schools,
school 8, be painted. both
for esthetfc and for preservative rea
sons
The members then took the matter
Of the division Of their appropriation
under Amusement