The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-05-25
oUR NEED OF A NEW SCHOOL HOUSE.
And GOOD Reasons for Building One.


during the summer in company with our
ever growing adult immigration, but even for
the proper care and housing of those at pres
ent in Butte of legal school-age a very con-
siderable enlargement mt of our present school
building is imperatlvely demanded, spacious
though that building may be. This want
was felt in an almost equal degree last year,
when the tax proposition, about to be resub-
mitted, was laid before the people for the
first time. As submitted on that occasion,
the act authorizing the levy of special tax
was archaeological not because there was
there existed in the minds of very many Of
even our best and most liberal citizens a
strong feeling against the policy then pursued
of leasing the school hall to theatrical troupes.
lecturers, ETC., in opposition to the interests
of private citizens who had gone to the ex-
pense Of providing halls suitable for those
purposes. 1t was felt that devotlng school
property to this purpose was turning it aside
from the legitimate end for which it was
originally intended. Hence many, who un-
der ordinary circumstances would cheerfully
anu literally have contributed to the school
fund, felt themselves constrained to vote
against the particular measure then claiming
their attention.
But at present there is no such opposition
to be encountered. When submitted, the
proposition to levy a special tax to provide a
building fund will be accepted OF rejected
strictly upon its merits, and it is solely upon
its merits that We undertake to bring the
matter before our readers to-day.
In taking the affirmative side of the ques-
ton in urging our fellow citizens to vote
eyes" in the approaching school election, we
shall not insult their lntellige nee by main
tanning that education is a great good, a great
blessing, not only to the people possessing it,
but to the state whose citizens, through educa-
ton, are qualified for an intelligent discharge
of the duties of citizenship. Neither shall
we urge upon them that it is our duty, as
members of a civilized community, to pro-.
educational facilities for the younger
generation, soon to be called to the duties and
labors of life, for which they must now or
never be prepared and that if we fail to
make reasonable provision of those facilities
our neglect can only be construed into proof
that We have fallen behind the civilization of
our age.
Homilies of this nature, which would not
elicit a single note of dissent, might ..ossibly
be of some value, owing to their somnolent
tendencies but, nevertheless, we pass them
by. Instead of pursuing this vein, we shall
take an eminently practical view of the sub
.ject. We shall undertake to show :-FIrst,
the burden imposed by the proposed tax will
be so light as scarcely to be noticeable, (hence
that it will be a truly reasonable provision of
school facilities), and, lastly, that the outlay
proposed will be more than repaid in hard
cash to those making it; that the acceptance
of the tax will be a profitable business trans
action that it will pay.
Concerning the need of a new school house
it is necessary to say but little. During the
term now drawing towards its close, although
the school hall was first divided into two COM
Portable rooms, it was still found necessary to
conduct two departments of the graded school
in crazy wooden buildings altogether unfit
for the purpose. Children, pupils in those
departments, left comfortable homes to set
through the long day, exposed to draughts
from countless crannies, or with their feet
aching from contact with the ice cold floor
which could not be kept warm, in the shells
of buildings during such weather as we had
last winter; no worse than what we may ex-
pect six months hence. In consequence OF
this exposure an alarming percentage OF
school children were last winter exported al
''sick" Oh the teachers registers. This brought
complaint from parents, who thought partial.
itY was employed, inasmuch as their children
had to attend a school kept in a wooden
building while other children, whose parents
paid no more taxes than they paid themselves
were admitted within the warm and comfort.
able brick building. OF course nothing coult
be lone to appease this dissatisfaction. Three
hundred children could not be crowded into
space affording sitting room for only two hun
dred, so the complaint and the dissatisfaction
continued. Rather than undergo such another
experience, though, the trustees declare the,
WiU not under any circumstances rent woodel
buildings for the use of the school distric
during next term. Unless q suitable bricl
structure is provided the district can get along a
best it can with the brick building now in use
But the brick school house will not be capa
BILE of holding much more than half the mum
Der of pupils who will apply for admission
on the opening of next term. What will b.
done with the other half? Where all ar
taxed alike for the maintenance of the publ
schools, can we expect people to submit with