Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-02-05
Communicated
An Additional school I,uom inperati.cly
Demanded.

pttiaiutfh.
The citizens OF Mexico point with
especial pride To the schools i'll our
midst. \ noble public school. to-
geihcr with Hardin College. has been
Il leading factor in the rapid growth
Of our city As we'll us the rapid de-
vrlopment ofthc whole county of Au-
drain. This particular region of
Missouri is fast gaining reputation
abroad. and tig.t-class immigrants
are looking to il As the most dcsira-
bile place in the entire west for It set
element. The population of Mexico
has increased so fast that our public
school building j. crowded already.
and the teachers. at present, are
placed ut the very greatest ~dlSadvan-
ia9e. This matter is more serious
after reflection than il Gems at first,
for The health and mental capacity
of the pupils are involved.
What are we to think of Col chill
drcn packed into a space scarcely sut-
ticient for half that number? Is it
wise, or the parl of parents, who are
taxpayers. to withhold the needed
funds to erect new building whist
their little ones are compelled to
breathe the breath Of an o~vcr-crowd-
ell room! Can the Child study with
zcst when the inspiiating health-giv-
ing air is withheld? The brain of
the maturest student must Toe fci
with ever fresh supplies ffoiu the
laboratory of nature. If the accom-
modations are too small, just now,
what can we do rs the city advances:
Ifmany thoughtful parents hesitate
about sending their children now,
how Il we expect an Increased pa
trona4e when the facts are all
known? The truth is, we inpera'
tivclv need another building, nearly
or quite, rs large as the II we nov
possess. There Is no escape from
this, unless orr community values
money more than the health, menta
progress and bright, happy eyes o.
their offspring.
Some n may say cone room o
The building is occupied with Il iii@l
). School: why not abolish this depart.
mcnt and thus add to the space Z
We reply that the High School is
necessity, ana that the men who pa
tronize it. pay more taxes than i
costs to SUSTAIN. il, and. therefore
they have Il right to demand tina
some provision shall be made TO
their children. Basi.lrs. The lIigl
school is an institution Of the wiscs
economy. ror five boys sent from
home to be educated would tax,
three times the amountofm money on
OF the co immunity that ihtakes to sus
tain it, to say nothing ofahe incalcu
liable advantage of having our son
under home influence.
: The writer has children TO educat
+ and is very deeply interested in on
) schools, and feels arhone-t pride il
/, their deservedly high reputation
, But in the nature of things, the pres
ent status cannot continue unless on
, people better themselves and atior
' school facilities commensurate wit
our city's ghewth and importance
First-class scholars cannot be mad
1 in packed roohls without an injuriou
strain on the rnind and fearful detri
ment to every physical power
Plump forms aud sunny faces will b
I changed into feeble, tired frames
I and shallow, troubled c~ountcnancc,
Let each parent understand that
t sound mind in a sound body Is wort
a more to the child than all the cattl
n on Il thousand hills.
! Our Board of Education is a mode
: one-composed Of wise, c~onservatiy
and representative men. To thes
great credit is already due for I'll
n marked success ofour schools. and
:, is to be hoped that they have ht
G overlooked the necessity of the cas-,
G and will soon take such measures
: will bring this matter before the PEI
pie And surely,.sureIy, the peop
themselves will say ''go forward, gil
e to our children, healthfnl, well vel
tilatcd, comfortable school rooms
il give to the teachers space i'll which
n teach, and then expect and denlaI
:, the largest, the most fruitful results
. Away with the thought that OF
y precious children are TO be dwarf,
,, in an o~vercrowded school room viii
)! the silver and the gold L in the p
rents pocket. TAX-PAYER.