The Coral Gables Times

Vague Policy on School Emergencies Cited

Continued from Page 1 should make this clear to school principals. Three of four principals surveyed indicated they would take direct action in handling serious emergencies, but one would not. Yet the County has advised its principals that they are not to give out aspirin and other drugs and their is confusion whether first aid is permitted and how far nurses can go in handling emergencies. The survey was touched off by the case of Paul Winston, 16, 3601 Toledo St., knocked unconscious when he reportedly struck his head on a locker room floor after being hit by 14-year-old Mike Christopher, 428 Aledo Ave., during a scuffle at the school March 19. The younger, but bigger boy, received a three-day suspension as result of the incident. Principal James J. Norton had previously reported no disciplinary action, but said last week the youngster got an automatic three-day suspension. Mrs. Winston denied any amicable settlement over the medical bills. "I haven't even heard from the other party," she said. The former nurse was critical of the procedure used by the school in handling the case. There were no supervisors on hand to prevent the incident, she said. She was told only that "Paul has fainted," when summoned. The report didn't seem alarming and she did not hurry as much as she would have had she known he was knocked unconscious, Mrs. Winston said. When she got there, the boy was still unconscious. "Haven't you called any doctor?" Mrs. Winston said she asked school personnel. She quoted them as saying they had been told that they couldn't. She then summoned the Coral Gables Fire Department Emergency Crew, which arrived within five minutes. Firemen gave the boy oxygen and other emergency treatment before he was taken to Doctors' Hospital for further treatment and an overnight stay for concussion. Principal James J. Norton said he was not at the school at the time of the incident and learned about it later. Dean of Boys Elmer Day was somewhere else on the campus and was not notified until it was all over, he said. Norton said at first that there was a supervisor in the room at the time of the incident, but later, after conferring with Dean Day, said that the supervisor was actually in an office outside the locker room. The entire incident was handled by supervisory and secretarial personnel. Nevertheless, Norton said they had followed the procedure outlined as long as he had been at Ponce and which he said was that of the Dade County school administration: Call the parents; follow their instructions. However, Norton said, he would and had taken children directly to the hospital in cases of serious emergency. But, he added, he had been informed that he could be held personally liable if anything went wrong. Dr. Joe Hall and his assistant superintendent, Robert B. Turner, both said it was up to the principal to make the decision. "Each student has a card filled out by parents," said Dr. Hall. "The type of medical assistance to be obtained is indicated on that card." Each school handles its own situation." "We run into a lot of trouble over that," said Turner of the problem of knowing exactly when to notify parents and when to obtain medical aid. "You're darned if you do, darned if you don't," said Turner. "The principal has to make the decisions." Turner admitted the policy has received a lot of criticism. He blamed the fear of litigation in a suit conscious community for some of the reluctance to act more forcefully. But School Board Attorney George C. Bolles Jr. took some edge from that argument when he pointed out that all suits had been successfully defended in the past 10 years based on a State statute limiting liability. Nowithstanding, principals are still reluctant, squeamish in their attitude. "We're not permitted to give medicine," said Harry Rath, principal of Coral Gables High School. "First aid is permitted," said Rath. A nurse is on duty but is limited pretty much to temperature taking and observation. The emergency card procedure is followed in emergencies. "I would take personal responsibility," said Rath in the event of a serious case which needed immediate attention. Dr. Lee Abert, principal of Southwest High School, indicated his hands are tied by overriding policy. This, he said, indicated that the emergency contact card procedure had to be followed. In the case of a serious emergency where parents could not be reached, he said, he would call the county police or Highway Patrol which have authority to get patients admitted to a hospital. Dr. Aber, in explaining his reluctance to act, cited a 'recent case at the school in which a teacher is being sued for negligence after a youth broke an arm. "That is why we are being cautious," said Dr. Aber. His sentiment was echoed by Principal Clyde Crabtree of Palmetto High School. "Nowadays you never know when you'll lay yourself open to suit," said Crabtree. But, said Crabtree, "I'd rather be criticized for aiding than not." Although the nurse at Palmetto could not give aspirin, he said, first aid is permitted. A special problem cited by all officials — what to do with the children of Christian Scientists and other religious groups not believing in conventional medical care. Answer: follow the instructions on the card from parents. The situation has caused at least one person to say she will look into the matter to see if some changes need be made. She is Mrs. Lawson Cheatham, president of the Ponce de Leon Junior High School PTA. "The school board is in fear of being sued," she said.

Tough Road Ahead

The City's road program took still more lumps Tuesday as residents along a stretch of Riviera Drive won a deferment to gain time to come up with a possible alternative. The opposition brought a sharp clash between Commissioners and residents, the latter of whom were victorious a few years ago in causing the City to back down. The improvement would stretch from Bird Road north to University Drive. "We don't feel we need it," Arthur Herring, 3914 Riviera Dr., told the Commission flatly. "If that street is bad at all" said Louis L. Leudeman, 3709 Harlano St., "it was caused by the buses." Leudeman had a few more things to tell the Commission, including the fact that he had built roads and that this one didn't need repair. His taunts brought a sharp reply from Commissioner Joe Murphy. "Who do you think is supposed to look out for the whole city?" Murphy said. Dave Bower, 3905 Riviera, sought the deferment. Said Mrs. Bower: "Actually, I prefer to have an old gravel road." Commissioner C. L. Dressel Jr. said the cost of rebuilding the street might run $11 a foot rather than the estimated $1.94 if the base is destroyed and that the City has already spent money sanding and oiling. Commissioner George Wilson pointed out that the recent Jaycee survey indicated Gables residents think poor streets is the number one problem. Dressel voted no on the two week delay.

BENEFIT DANCE

The U of M Alumni Gridders will stage a benefit dance Saturday (April 14) at Westbrooke Country Club. The benefit dance will be for the family of the late Jackson High School football coach Red Tobin, coach at Jackson for 14 years. The public is invited.

OUR CITY GOT its 18th metered parking lot recently. While a workman puts in plants, two meter division men behind him set up meters for the 35-car lot at Greco Avenue and Le Jeune Road. The lot, now open, will provide space for employees from near-by businesses. It's the city's southern-most lot. (Times photo)

Rath Began 36-Year Career at $12.50 a Week

(Continued from page 1) —National leader in science scholarship winners. —The band named among the country's best. —Debate teams at the top. —Athletes in the forefront in many sports. Merit Scholarship winners. —National honors in math, Latin and languages. The 62-year-old principal said he felt if he waited any longer he might wait too long and not have any health left to enjoy the outdoor things he likes doing such as camping and traveling. He has been considering retirement since 1960. "I've never lost a day's work," said Rath, pointing back to his long career in teaching. His career began back in 1926 at Lemon City (Northwest Miami) when he took a $50 a month job at Dade County Agricultural High School, now Edison High. That was the year when he and Mrs. Rath (Helen Frost) rode out in a tent the historic hurricane that nearly wiped out Miami. The following year the Utica, N.Y., native was appointed principal of Little River Elementary School and the same year of Ada Merritt Junior High, a job he held until 1932. The same year the University of Michigan grad received his masters in education from Duke University. From Ada Merritt, Rath went to Ponce de Leon Junior-Senior High School, a post he held for 18 years until Coral Gables High School was established in 1950. Few can top the record the lean and fit Rath recorded there. In 1959 he was named "Principal of the Year" by Arthur C. Croft Publications and the American Legion cited him for "Meritorious Service." How did Rath do all this? Well, he'll be the first to tell you he didn't do it alone. "I was lucky in choosing good, conscientious teachers," he said modestly. The school expects an enrollment this fall of 3,500 students. "We've always tried to stress scholarship here," he said, "tried to make students proud to be eggheads... proud to carry briefcase in one hand and slide rule in the other." The prime purpose of education, said Rath, is to enable persons to earn a living. "The day of the strong back is gone," said Rath. How do you succeed, excel? "You've got to believe that you are smarter than you really are." This has been taught his athletes also. The power of Rath's positive thinking spilled over unto the athletic field. "I'm fit... I'm strong... I'm ready..." these are the reassuring thoughts that keep the records falling, said Rath. "If you don't believe in yourself, you're licked," the educator said dogmatically. Part of the dedication with which Rath applied himself stemmed from the loss in 1947 of an only son in an auto accident while attending a Northern college. After that, he and Mrs. Rath dedicated their lives to all children. What are his plans? "I'd like to take a trip around the world," he said. He said he plans to attend a three-week course in masterpieces in English and American literature at the University of Maine, spend the rest of the summer in his native New York state, visit Cape Cod and generally enjoy retirement. Mrs. Rath? "She's like everybody else," said Rath. "Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" she asked him before he decided to wind up his long career. Harry Rath had made up his mind that the time to retire is when you still have the health to do some of the things you've always wanted to do. That's what he told his faculty in a meeting Tuesday afternoon.