Seattle's Schools Stay Open While Two Boards Square Off Over Scarlet Fever
When the Board of Health ordered South and Rainier schools closed during a scarlet fever scare, the school board filed the order and refused to shut the doors.
It was clear yesterday that war was brewing between the board of education and the board of health over the latter's order to close the South and Rainier schools because of scarlet fever. The board of education met yesterday afternoon expecting the health officials to discuss the situation, but learned that the health board had decided to hold its own special meeting and would not appear before the school directors. The health board said it was willing to have the school directors appear before it if they had anything to say.
The school board simply filed the health order — which, translated, meant: “Let the board of health go ahead and do its best or worst.” The meeting was held in J. B. MacDougall's office. Director Churchill, Secretary Ogden and Director Colkett were present. After waiting half an hour for health officials, Dr. Churchill and Mr. Colkett concluded that, after a careful inspection of the scarlet fever situation, they did not think it called for the action ordered.
Secretary Ogden said he had telephoned Health Officer Palmer, who replied that the board of health as now constituted did not care to meet with the school directors, but would be willing to have them appear if they had anything to say about the order to close.
“So they are unwilling to meet with us, but are willing that we should come before them,” said Mr. MacDougall, who added that it looked like throwing down the gauntlet.
Mr. Colkett said he did not like to appear as trying to balk anything the board of health desired, but he had not been convinced the situation was critical enough to close the schools. He was willing to have the buildings fumigated under the board of health's direction, but thought closing the schools when only a few cases were connected with them was a different matter.
Dr. Churchill added, “I think that the children are better off in school than running around the city, as they will if the schools are closed. I see them riding on street cars, etc. As our attorney says we are not compelled to close the schools, I think we had better go on with them.”
The board then placed the health order on file. As the directors left, a reporter asked what filing the order meant. “The schools will run,” one director replied.
“The schools will run.”
A century before COVID-19 turned school closures into a daily political fight, Seattle's school and health boards were already testing who had the authority to shut classrooms. The 1899 standoff ended with the schools open and the health order filed — a reminder that public-health mandates have always been contests over power as much as medicine.
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