The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1860-01-04
Nrw SCHOOL HOUSE.

| that we need new school-house-tno
one now occupied being altogether made
ouate to Accommodate the pupils who.are
DESTROYS Of ayailing themselves OF the
instruction of the popular. teachers now
in charge of our peoples College,
Now let no one be startled at the idea,
or look upon the. project as chimericall
! a aew school house ace mast hare! We
arc Informed that great difficulty is. al
present cxpericnccd'in making comforta-
bic the thropg Of pupils in the different
departments of the school, and, therefore,
the educational interests of our village
imperatively demand that some step
should be taken to afford more room, bet
tor accommodation, and the greater ia
cilities for instraction--that will be the
natural result Of such step. 1t is true,
that some ten years ago, the little seven
by nine house then used for school build
|
ing was found in goodly degree sufficient
for the accommodation of all seeking ad
mittancc, and tie idea that we should
shortly need new and larger building
for such purpose, seemed visionary to
many; but even TO those the necessity
was soon apparent. But when it was
proposed to build house after the plan
and of the size of that which has ever
since its erection been looked upon by
citizens and strangers as an ornament and
an honor to our village, the argument was
often stated and enforced, publicly and
privately, that our village did not then
nor never would require so large, so ex-
pcnsiye building as exhibited in the
plan submitted for the approval Of citi-
zens. But through the exertions of Hon.
II. PENNoYEh, @. B. ALBEE, Esq, and
others, the plan was at length accepted,
and the building erected. Now, eyenthis,
owing 20 the great increase Of the popula-
ton Of our embryo city, is found quite too
snail, though our Holland citizens have
beside q parochial school largely patron,
ized We view Grand Haven as just
commencing her upward and onward pro
gress, and that in less than ten years
hence her population will betwofold that
of the present time; and hence, in any
steps that may now be taken, or that may
be taken hereafter, TO erect suitable
building for school purposes, reference
should be had to our future.
Let us have the best building that can
be erected, at cost say Of $4,000, en-
bodying in its construction and fitting up,
all the modern Improvements in school
buildings, and well supplied with the need
full apparatus to give the most ample il
Illustrations in every branch of science that
may properly be taught in primary
school. 1t will without doubt prove a
most profitable Investment. But we fear
the argument that we can't afford it,"
will be freely used.
Let US see for moment. We have
within the past three years erected, by
voluntary contributions, two as fine
churches as can be found in any rural vii
lago in the Grand River Valley; and are
we to-day any poorer for our liberaity 7
Could we not and yould wo not do the
same thing over again, at once, if we felt
satisfied chat our public interests demand
ed il? But we are not under the necessi-
~ of depending upon individual contribu-
tons for tho erection Of school building.
We have large amount of property, vii
lage lots and other property, belonging TO
nonresident owners that will contribute
very largely to the good work, and prop
erty too that has been greatly enhanced
in value by the erection of public build
ings to which it has contributed nothing,
as well as by improvements brought about
by private. cnterprizo, our courthouse,
docks, DC.
Now is il anything more than an act Of
simple right and justice that such proper
ty should be made of some use 10 the
public, under present circumstances, par
ticularly when its value shah be still fur
tlcr enhanced by the outlaya Nay,
verify, Then let us lave now school
building and q first class one too; and
let the initiatory steps be at once taken
for its erection; at least let the question
be agitated, Thoroughly canpassed, but
not dropped till all be fulfilled.
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