The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-04-11
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Al article published i'll Tuesday
evenings 1rijahe. after making some
criticism ca what i: alleges II b. the
plan of the School Directors, closes in
the following language: "Before any
further step is taken by the directors III
the building Of the Proposed school
house, We hope they viii consider thu
matter In All il lights AID BEARINGS. ami
will d. the night thing for the school
chi!drcn aid tax -payers without regard
20 heir o,en pecaliar notions or prjudi-
ces.'
The writer 5, ems TO think the direc
tors have ,vcnliar Notions a.d prtju,Itces
on the subject under consideration Per
haps they have. but il SO. there are but
few that have found it out, AMI none
more ignorant of it than themselves.
Let us state a few a0t0rt0tS facts: Last
year when the special tax was voted
the directors were ordered, or required,
to buy block torty-nine-the block
referred To in the article under review
and to build school house on it.
They were also directed by the same
meeting (Which was duly called for the
purpose). to buy certain lots and build
a school house of u certain description
at Belltown The kind Of house TO
be built on block 40 was not icsignat-
ed by the meeting The directors did
buy the lots designated Mt Belltown.
aud the said block 40, aud did build
the school house ut Belltown, and then.
on account of the slowness of uayine
the special tax. the directors have wait
ed until now to get money enough in
the treasury toproceed ia do what they
were directed to do by the only author
ity having Il right to speak in the prem
Uses: and now the directors are
only prospecting in order to as
certain whether they can get
n serviceable and suitable building put
up for the money in hand
So far as the writer is Informed, there
has never been all idea entertained by
any director, ar any one else, that such
house. 1t built. wa only intended to
last two or three years; but It has been
suggested that the house ought not to
be expensive, rs possibly in five ST six
years the city might be wealthy enough
to put up building that wolld be a
credit to the city.
So much for that part of the article
Now rs Ia the new depsrture-the Uni
versity project The plan suggested by
the article is not very plain or distinct.
If 1t looks to the blending of two au.
thoritiss- Regents and Directors.
we do not see how it is likely to work
smoothly or well. especially without
some law TO authorize and regulate il.
and il 1t IS inteuded TO take money
from the district, to he nsed for edu-
eating students, under the control and
management Of the regents. we think
the plan cannot succeed without a
change in the school law.
But one thing is plain to our mind 4;
these questions should not he agitated
or discussed in way TO produce i'll
feelings. The very best that can be
done ought to be done Early in June
there is 10 be n Territorial teachers
meeting 10 be held IN Seattle, at which
time II Is in contemplation to have pre-
sent draft Of new school law, when
and where the friends Of education
ought. If practicable. to be present.
The contemplated new school house
will be useful to the district if built.
and the money could not be used for
other purposes without further action.
either by the voters or Legislature. and
1t - even doubtful how far the votes
could now control it's expenditure, it
having been voted and paid in for a
special purpose CoHrRIBUroR.