The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-03-29

At SCHOOL
WATERLESS

That in Cook county, Ill, and within
tho limits Of an incorporat town there
is a public school whose nlea gre supply
OF drinking water is carried blocks in
buckets and where scores of pupils use
The old-fashioned drinking cups, IS the
disclosure Of indignant parents whose
children attend the Sobiesd or South
District school in West Hammond
Investigation Of the report has brou ght
forth a story OF apparent neglect and
indifference on the part Of authorities
almost unbelievable in these days when
millions are spent lavishly in order that
children may have the best possible con
Gitions surrounding them in securing
their education. I4axity on the part Of
the West Hammond health commissioner
and the board Of education for the South
district are charged by those familiar
With The state Of affairs a. the Sobieski
school
Tho Sobiesd school. public in spite
Of It's Polish name. is situated at the
extreme southwest corner Of West Ham
mond- 1t is the last house before the
open country is reached. an old-fash-
ioned, cheerless. ugly. uninyiting frame
structure Of type long since obsolete
its appearance and location seem TO have
been planned with the idea OF dIscour-
slng attendance instead of inviting it
Just north of 1T. within plain sight. ana
presenting striking contrast. are the
handsome brick buildings or the s.
Andrews Polish Catholic school and con
vent
-Four weeks ago # seems the water
supply at the Sobiesd school suddenly
ceased The matter was reported at once
to the board Of education. The water
pipes leading 10 the school were frozen
they decided. and id would be useless to
attempt % remedy the trouble. 50 Moth
ing vas done Through the community
nurse the trouble was brought to the
attention OF the health commissioner.
He also promised 10 look into it, Since
then he has visited the school several
times and was shocked on each occasion
to find the water still shut of. But thai
did not furnish water
At first. thinking the trouble only
temporary. the school janitor carried
water from his home in buckets Hc
buys water through meter Ii soon
occurred TO him that his bill would be
higher if he furnished water for the
public school So he asked the board IL
he would be reimbursed. He would not.
he was Informed. He quit bringing
water. Then the teachers decided that
the only way would be Tor the pupils
to bring their drinking water With them.
Washing would. Of course. be out Of
the question during school hours
When fresh the water supplied in Ham
mond and West Hammond tastes mons
too good. but it stands in milk bottles
and similar receptables in warm room
TOR five or six hours it becomes unpalat-
able. So II is at the Sobieski school.
Daily az the school as the closing hour
draws near the clamor for water be-
comes louder. Little tots in the primary
grades unable to understand it all. cry
When they become thirsty and the teach
ers in despair send them home clos
ing exercises find all grades depleted as
children have been excused because Of
thirst
Saturday Dr.. Bradley. the health con-
missioner, visited the school again.
When he left he was sure the water
would be turned on before Monday
morning. Otherwise he was 10 be in
formed at once What action he pro-
poses to take IS not known, but he has
the authority to force some sort Of ac-
sioner is almost unlimited in cases of
this kind He can at least force an IN
vestigation TO learn whether the pipes
really are frozen. a fact which has not
been ascertained and which is doubted
BY many when the warm weather of the
last four weeks Is considered