Evening star., 1939-09-14
Health School Issue
Presented Board by
Abandonment Plan
Rutland Says Arrested
tuberculosis Pupils Can
Attend Regular Glasses

The Board of Education may act
within the near future to abandon
the procedure of segregating in spe-
cial health schools pupils with ar
rested cases of tuberculosis.
This was revealed yesterday at the
opening meeting of the board as
members were advised of recon-
mendation by Health Officer George
G. Ruhland for the abandonment of
the health schools and one member
pushed for a speedy solution of the
issue.
According to Dr. Rutland, in a
letter to Supt. Frank w. Ballou,
children with active cases of tuber-
culosis should be placed in Glenn
Dale Sanatorium for treatment and
those with arrested and non-c COM
municable types of the disease
should attend the regular schools.
For several years the white chill
dren with positive tuberculin re-
action have been taught in special
open air classrooms and rest facili-
ties at the Health School near Thir-
teenth and Allison streets NV. Sim
liar classes for the colored pupils
are held at the Toner School, Twen-
ty-fourth and F streets NV.
Committee Weighs Problem.
The problem of whether to main-
tain these separate schools is now
under consideration by the boards
Advisory Committee on Handicapped
Children, which is expected to meet
late this month or early next month.
This committee also is to consider
proposal by a special committee
on crippled children of the Kiwanis
Club that. the school be abandoned
for its present purposes and re-
equipped for the crippled children,
who now are taught in classes at
the Langdon School.
Board Member Charles D. Drayton
told the other members he was
strongly interested in this propo-
sal and asked that school officials
report next Wednesday, if possible,
on whether any funds could be di-
verted from other projects to be
used in refitting the Health School
for the crippled classes. Col West
A. Hamilton asked that considera-
ton also be given to the disposition
of the Toner School.
Report Awaited.
The action on the question of
abandonment of the schools was
left pending report from the Ad-
'visory Committee, which is headed
by Mrs Henry Grattan Doyle. presi-
dent of the Board of Education.
Acting Supt Robert l.. Haycock,
who presented the docket in the
absence of Mr.. Ballou, also recon-
mended that the superintendent
have estimates prepared on the cost
of modifying the health centers and
also the cost of establishing rest
centers IN other elementary schools
for children with delicate health.
1t has been estimated by school
officials that probably $4,000 to So
900 would be necessary to make over
the health school. Dr. Rutland has
submitted sketches showing desir-
able changes if the school is to be
made over for crippled children.
1t was recalled that the 1941
school budget estimates seek an ap-
preparation for establishment of
separate schools for crippled chill
dren in both the white and colored
divisions.
Battle in Prospect.
A lively argument over the aban-
donment of the health schools is
expected to develop when it is taken
up by the advisory committee. as it
is understood some members feel
very strongly for the continuation
of the segregation practice and op-
pose many of the children now at
tending the special schools being
put back in the regular schools
Dr. Rutland indicated ne was in
thorough sympathy with proposals
to provide the elementary schools
with rest facilities for weaker chill
dren. This would involve the pur-
chase of cots, it was pointed out.
Mr.. Haycock recommended that
should the advisory committee favor
turning over the health school to
the crippled children, efforts be
made to insert funds for it in the
l94l budget now before the Com
missioners.