Indianapolis Times, Volume 34, Number 37, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 June 1921 — Page 4
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BETTER SCHOOL LEAGUE FIGHTS FOR BUILDINGS (Continued From Fre One.) ligation to them. They hare no choice. They art forced to attend Just the kind of achoola that Indianapolis provides for them. “The child's opportunity for an education la crowded Into a few brief years. Bony him this opportunity, deny him proper school facilities and you deny him the opportunity to grapple with the world en an even basis with many of his fellows. “Sometimes the argument is advanced that ws should wait for a more favorable *t7TWE for public Improvements.’ That is an admission that we should not wait to haUd more schoolhouses. Because there la only one time, and that Is now. Time flies, and time brings many changes. Later will too late. In a few fleeting years childhood passes, and while the child Is waiting for us to provide for him, he is grown, and we have turned him loose upon the world without the preparation that is his due. HALF-DAI SCHOOL FOB FITE TEAKS. “Do you know that only 60 per cent of the children who enter school get even an eighth-grade education ? Do you know how many children In Indianapolis have been going to school for five years, and have not been to a single full-day session yet? “The present program for school development began. In 1918. When Indianapolis began to drop from its former high rank among the cities of the country Its decline was rapid. As long ago as 1918 national education surveys showed that Indianapolis was "slipping.” In 1914 the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce made a survey of_ the local school situation and recommended an aggressive program to build up our school system. This was before the abnormal war period arrived. Then the World War came; costs mounted; the school city lost in revenues through prohibition ; the low interest rate prescribed by law made it Impossible for the school city to sell its bonds: and the condition *f the schools of Indianapolis became a matter of grave concern. “When It was determined by the school board which came into office In January, 1918, that a development program or large proportions was' absolutely necessary, It was found that past legislation bad so restricted Indianapolis that the way was blocked until the Legislature removed the restrictions. These restrictions. which applied only to the city of Indianapolis, out of all other cities, wqre removed by the Legislature in 1919. “In 1918. preliminary and preparatory work was done as follows “(a) Exhaustive examination and Investigation was made of every school building In Indianapolis, by experts. This ■nrrey showed that the State sanitary school house law was being violated In practically every building. This condition arose from necessity, but It existed nevertheless. It Fhowed the genernl worn-out and run-down condition of the school plants. -“(b) Detailed comparisons were made of the school plants of Indianapolis with those of other cities. In nearly every feature Indianapolis was at the bottom of the list! “(C) A survey was made of conditions in every school district In Indianapolis to determine where conditions wcro worst and where relief must first come. This comparative rating of the various school districts is the basis of an orderly and systematic program of development to care for conditions in the sequence of their necessity. KKOI.IREMENTS FK INDIANAPOLIS.
"In 1919 the school hoard began a systematic study of modern school plants In other cities. Herbert Foltz, architect, then president of the school hoard; Mr. Graff, superintendent of schools, and Mr. Snider, a consulting engineer employed by the board, visited Sf. I.ouis, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and other cities having upschool equipment This coramitout cf the experience of other cities, drafted a report on ‘Standardized Requirements for Grade School Buildings.’ which was approved by the school hoard and serve* *s a guide' to all architects and engineers employed r>y the school city. “The Indianapolis ‘Requirements.’ based on the theory of producing the most modern type of school building with the minimum of waste space and at the minimum cost consistent vith permanence, have attracted nation-wide attention. These requirements were published in full in the American School Board Journal. The Indianapolis standard for the percentage of space employed for different features in the school building has been adopted by the National Education Association. It Is known as the ’candle of efficiency.' “Investigation shows that Indianapolis has been getting value received in its present building program. The cost of the building, considering the number of pupils to be accommodated and ihe type of construction, compares favorably with the cost of construction in other cities. “The biggest single item in the cost of operating the schools is teachers’ salaries. For years Indianapolis had been ranking very low among other ciiies in this respect. The low pay provided for made It difficult to secure the proper number of trained and experienced instructors. Every year Indiananolis was lbslng to other cities many or its best equipped teachers. Many of them went to smaller Indiana titles, where the salaries were better and living costs lower. "Good teachers are essential. The school board's action In establishing a schedule of teachers' salaries which placed Indianapolis In a more favorable light among other cities and with the teaching profession met with almost universal approval with the taxpayers and citizens. “To pay these increased salaries, however. the school board had to borrow money from time to time. The total borrowed for this purpose amounted to $1,800,000. It was planned to retire these temporary loans in part each year, so that In three years the total indebtedness for teachers’ salaries could be wiped out. Recently $450,000 was paid off. reducing the temporary loans to *1.350.000. “At the special session of the Legislature the passage of a law was obtained to enable the school city to borrow without Interest from its bond fund, pledging taxes for repayment. This arrangement has already saved the payment of many thonsands of dollars in interest, and win save many thousands of dollars more. This Is an illustration .of the care tasen by the school board to save money for the taxpayer. “Until the school board Increased teachers’ salaries, the average tnstrqftor was receiving less than other employed women. Many highly educated and.experienced teachers were paid less than household servants, without the added compensation of board and lodging which Is given to servants. The increase in salaries granted to teachers was a wise and beneficial move. The largest part of the taxpayer’s educational expense goes toward the pay of teachers. This is entirely Just. The teachers are entrusted with the education, the morals, and even the very lives of the city's children. They should be well compensated for their responsibility and their faithful service. “To meet the Inadequate building facilities the school board hss been forced to use temporary frame structures, known as ‘portables:’ They are nowhere recognized as anything but the most temporary expedient. The State law ree**nlies *ihelr temporary character and provide^list one of them may not remain
in the same location longer than two years. “Because the portable is merely an expedient, the heating and ventilating problems can not be cared for without Incurring an expense all out of proportion to the temporary character of the building. The result Is that children are jammed together in foul air, in an illventilated, poorly-heated roonj. Epidemics of colds and other air-borne diseases can be traced directly to the insanitary conditions of the portable. Four or five people may group themselves together at will In an ill-ventilated, poorly-heated room -without 111 effects, but forty or fifty children confined for hours, in fixed seats, create a condition very productive of diseases and ill health. “When you consider the lqss in health and efficiency caused by portables, and the costs these losses entail, has the community saved anything, after all? Rather, isn’t it an expensive expedient I “It is true, and quite believable, that the people who favor portables believe that they are good things for other people’s children. Ask the parents of children who are forced to attend school in portables what they think about it! “The school board is acquiring more portables to care for the present emergency, because it Is physically Impossible to construct permanent buildings in time to house the children. Yet the school board has taken a definite and positive stand against their use. They are only temporary. There is an inevitable tendency to allow portables to stand and to serve until they actually rot down, To move them from place to place in order to obey the letter of the State lnw restricting their use to two years in one loaction is a purposeless and useless proposition—merely “playing checkers” with them. Will not the people of Indianapolis back up the schoool board in their stand against the expensive, unsatisfactory and inadequate portables? “In 1918 the school board decided to employ engineers separately from architects. The engineering and sanitary features of a building are quite separate from its architectural requirements. The engineering and sanitary requirements of a building are of absolutely vital importance. Experience in other cities has shown the absolute necessity of skilled and scientific attention to the sanitary provisions of school buildings. It has been necessary In the past to replace comparatively new and expensive installations because they were insanitary and unsafe. For these reasons the school board. composed of Herbert Foltz, Theodore Stempfel, Clarence E. Crippin, Charles L. Barry and Julia Belle Tutewiler. unanimously agreed in 1919 to employ a firm of engineers. The firm of Snider & Rot* was unanimously chosen. “The qualifications of this firm- are above question. Their efficiency is borne out by the experience of every one who has ever employed them. The school board investigated their qualifications and records thoroughly and found them to have the wide and successful experience needed f*r a task of the magnitude of ours. SAVINGS IN ARCHITECT'S FEES. “The contract with Snider A Rot* calls for a 5 per cent fee on the mechanical installations. The standard fee foi architects is now 0 per cent on the contract price of the building. By withdrawing the mechanical features from the supervision of the architect this fee is reduced ttf 5 per cent, and the board thus saves 1 per cent on the contract price of the building. The saving In architect's fees thus effected amounts to thousand* of dollars. “Early In 1920 the “hool board wns confronted with the necessity of passing on many plans and specifications involving a great mass of technical detail. It was necesary to go into these plans and specifications very thoroughly In order to build economically and efficiently. Out of this situation arose the unanimous action of the school board in employing L. A. Snider as professional advisor—or building advisor. The school board making this unanimous decision was composed of Mr. Crippin, Mrs. Tntewiler. Mr. Barry, Bert S Uadd and W. D. Allison. Mr. Snider was one of the committee that had studied modern school buildings of other cities and had drafted the Indianapolis Standardized Requirements.’ As professional advisor he receives no fee on engineering work supervised by Snider A Kotz, but receives a fee of 1 per cent on the architectural work. Mr. Snider's work with the architects, and his efforts in coordinating their work to fit the standardized requirements, together with his technical advice to the school board, has save several hundred of thousand or dollars in the auildlng program—many times the fees Incurred. “The school board has not been forced to Incur the expense of employing special inspectors, for in addition to thd architects’ Inspectors, there has been the constant Inspection of experienced men in Mr. Snider’ employ who were paid by him out of his fee. Had the school board followed the old practice of employing Inspectors which was in vogue for years, the cost of the Inspection, by that method would have been in excess of the total paid Mr. Snider.
| “For example: The school No. 58 Job required $59,454 for general construction and $24,329 for mechanical installation. I The architects' fees were $3,587.24, Snider & Rofz's fees were $1,216.00. Mr. Snider’s fee as technical advisor was $594.54. I The total architects’ and engineers’ fees were $5,026.14. Under the old system the architects’ fees alone would have been $5,026.44. In addition to this there would have been a cost of $1,333.33 for inspectors' fees, based on the current rate of pay for inspectors. The total under the ! old method would have +>een $6,359.77. ; Under the present system of architectuml ! and engineering supervision, the school ' board saved $981.99 over the old method ;on this one job. At the sameitlme that | this Inspection, costs less it has been I closer and more satisfactory. \ “As building advisor. Mr. Snider furnishes, without fee, tils services on all repair or alteration work done by workmen in the employ of the school board direct. This work has amounted to several hundred thousand dollars. On numerous occasions Mr. Snider has advised the school board to do certain plumbing, electrical or other engineering work with its own force of workmen instead of by contract. Under the terms of the agreement with his firm, Snider & Roltz, they were entitled to handle the work and earn a fee thereon. ThiH saving has been considerable. “Do you know that for years the scuools of Indianapolis hare not received as largo a share from the total taxes paid as other cities of its class? “Do you know that In some cities $2
THIN PEOPLE NEED BITROPHOSPHATE All that most weak, nervous, thin, mentally-depressed people need is ten grains of pure organic phosphate with each meal for a few weeks. That's what nerve specialists in London, Pari* and New York are prescribing with wonderful results. It is natural food for nerve and brain cells snd is known to snch reliable pharmacists as Haag's drug stores as BltroPhosphate. Because of its power to help create healthy flesh and strengthen weak nerves, much of it la being gold to people who are lacking In vitality. CAUTION: Although Hitro-Phosphate *• ■* excellent aid In relieving weak, nerrous conditions. It* nee Is not advised ■nless htjereased weight Is desired.—Ad vertiaemrat.
Frog-Hunter Fire Laddies Save Barn While on Vacation Five men from Engine House No. 18. located In West Washington street, went frog bunting yesterday. On tlielr return trip, they came through Flttsboro, where they found it house enveloped In dames. They at once went to work, formed a bucket brigade, and, although the house was too far gone to be saved, they su reeded in saving a large barn. The fire boys came on into town, and today they are enjoying a fish and frog leg dinner at the engine house. They obtained, (caught or otherwise) nlnety-tliree frogs, and several fish. The men who got the dinner and who assisted in extinguishing tho Homes at l’lttsboro, were “Dumps” Dillon, A1 Delaney, Dill Clinger, Ollie Sanders and Charles Scroggens.
per capita are collected for the schools to $1 levied In Indianapolis? . "Do you know that —as big ,as our building program is—some cities have a building program costing twice per, capita as much as ours? "Do you know that many cities are trying to nut into all their buildings features that Indianapolis does not have in a single building erected or contemplated ? “Do you know that many small cities have more elaborate and more efficient school plants than Indianapolis? "Do you think that our present building program is too good for your children ? “Do you think tnat the education of your child is worth less than that of the school child in Cleveland, Detroit, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Newark, Portland —or almost any other city ? "Is the education of your child worth less than that of the child in almost any county seat, town or village in Indiana? "Tho welfare of the children of Indianapolis—your children—is at stake! Indianapolis must have more and better school buildings! "The current costs of maintaining and operating the school system can be met In one way only—taxation. (The biggest Item in this cost Is teachers’ salaries.) BONDS OR TAX TO FAT COSTS. "New. buddings can be financed in two ways—by taxation, and by bonds. “Some large cities have handled the proposition of new buildings by taxation. Indianapolis has not yet done so. One of the largest cities in America “pays as It goes"—and today owes not a penny on any of its buildings. Some smaller
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INDIANA DAILY TIMES, FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1921.
cities have also adopted the plan, and, It is coming in for wider consideration because of the saving in interest charges. It is not possible for Indianapolis to rely entirely upon this plan of financing Its buildings by taxation- alone, because we are too far behind, we must make too great an effort to catch up. “In 1918, when the present building program was developing, the bonded Indebtedness of the school city was within about three million two hundred thousand dollars of Us constitutional , limit. Considering only bonds In the school Indebtedness, the school city is actually no nearer—in fact, it is not quite so near—its bond limit as it was in 1918—• before the program was begun! j A rather unusual statement, isn't it? i “The new tax law Increased the valui ation of property. It thus increased the amount that can be borrowed within the | 2 per cent on the assessed valuation, which Is the constitutional limit. "Asa matter of fact, the school city has thus far Just about absorbed the increased borrowing power conferred by the new tax law, and Is today in no more dangerous proximity to Its borrowing limit than it was years ago. “The 1919 school law allows Indianapolis, If It cares to, to use every dollar up to Us constitutional limit that It can borrow—and then to proceed to build by taxation. “Every branch of government—Federal, State, county, civil city, township, parks, sanitary districts—every governmental no■tivity has had to have more money in recent years to carry on Its work. The school board thus far has not invoked Us legal right to build new buildings by taxation. It has tried to make the tax situation as easy u possible on the taxpayer, in these times when every governmental agency is needing more money. “New school buildings had to be built. The expense liad to be met either by new taxation or by issuing bonds. The school board wisely chose to issue bonds and to avoid Increasing taxes which are already burdensome at the present time. Do you approve of this policy? CITY MI ST HAVE NEW III'II.DINGS. "Indianapolis must have new and better school buildings. It Is our responsibility to our children and to the future of our city that the public schools of Indianapolis be raised to the highest plane In personnel and physical equipment. There Is no other course. “The school board has Inaugurated a building program compatible with the urgency of the city's needs. It is working steadily and consistently to increase the school facilities of the city and to save the taxpayer money. “Are you, as a citizen and a taxpayer, back of a school board which is working for your interests and for the best in-
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terests and advancement of Indianapolis? “Believing that the citizens of Indianapolis desire to have as the five members of the school board officials who are equipped and who have the will to carry out the big constructive program that will make Indianapolis schools what they should be, the Better Schools League has prepared this booklet of Information. We believe that citizens and _taxpayers of Indianapolis should know aid are interested in the splendid progress that has been made and will approve the work that is contemplated. We heartily commend the work that has already been done, and we Indorse the plans for the future. “To that end we strongly commend the work of Mr. Crippin, Mrs. Tutewller and Mr. Gadd. They have been Identified with the program for more anu better school buildings from Its Inception. We recommend also to the citizens of Indianapolis for members of the school board Mr. Fred I. Willis and Mr. James E. Pierce. They are in thorough and hearty sympathy with the plans of the board. They have the Initiative and the vision and the qualifications to work in harmony with the other three members of the board. “Every citizen is interested In the program that wUI give Indianapolis better schools. These five are pledged to the consummation of our task." The statement is signed by the following: Martin TANARUS., Ohr chairman; George M. Cornelius, vice chairman; Miles V. Moore, treasurer; Albert Smith, secretary, and Omar U. Newman, Obie J. Smith, Charles Uemster, Clyde E. Titue, William S. Frye, William E. Reno, John N. Culium, E|. h. Levin, Frank Turner, Chester A. Tilghman, Edward A. Klingensmlth, Mack A. Braughton, Albert F. Meyer, William L. Evans, Charles J. Orbison, Charles A. Beard, Charles C. Brautigam, Oren T. Owen, Charles S. Barker, WUliarn A. Walker, Odis A. Porter, Fred J. Brinkmeyer, Mrs. Sarah Baker, Mrs. Nellie K. Stammel, Mrs. Clyde Bell MeLeau, Mrs. Mary T. l’ebworth, Mrs. Georgia Magruder, Mrs. Jessie C. Bieree, Mrs. Ida Courter, Mrs. Nora Murphy, Mrs. Winifred J. Dunn, Mrs. Nettie Kansford. M’CRAY NAMES 2 NEW BOARDS One for Juvenile Affairs, One for Proposed Bridge. Appointment of an advisory Juvenile eommisslorf and of a commission to look into the advisability of constructing a bridge over the Ohio River at Evansville were announced today by Governor War-
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ren T. McCray. Both commissions were created by the 1921 Legislature. The members or the juvenile commission are John R. Nutter of Jeffersonville, a member of the present Juvenile probation commission, Lnarios, A. McQonagle, superintendent of the Indiana Bbys’ School at Plainfield ; Mrs. John W.
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Boggard, Peru, chairman of the Republican women’s organization of Miami County and a socia, worker; Mrs. Ella Kehrer, Anderson, a juvenile worker and a prominent member of the League of Women Voters; Mrs. Albion FeUows Bacon of Evansville, a prominent social worker.
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The commission Is to cooperate with Miss Carina C. Warrington of Ft. Wayatw State Juvenile probation officer. In Juvenile work of all descriptions. The members of the Evansville bridge commission are George N. Nattkemper of Terre Haute, and Thomas H. Adams of Vincennes.
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