The question of the School Board's buildings came up again
at the meeting of Wednesday, and again most disagreeable revelations were made. It is admitted that in two at least of the schools, severe epidemics have broken out owing to the bad construction of the drains ; and it is more than hinted that a thorough examination would reveal other similar cases. That is most unfortunate, for two reasons,—first, that it deepens the impression as to mismanagement ; and secondly, that it increases the difficulty of enforcing the law. If parents can once plead plausibly that the Board schools are death-traps, there will be an end of compulsion.. The Board is not averse to severe investigation, but it also needs a change in its organisation. No public meeting can manage executive business decently; and the Board, like the State, needs a Cabinet. We want a removable Secretary for school works, not a committee, which is only the public meeting over again, a little distilled. Even American democracy insists on indi- vidual responsibility.
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