San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-01-26
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

What They Are and What They Should
Be...A New School Building Indis'
pensable.
As many of our citizens are devising ways
and means whereby San Marcos, with It's
many exceptional advantages and resources
may be brought to the attention Of people
seeking new homes, desire to emphasize
the fact that San Marcos can be made an
educational centre which will attract the
many families seeking q healthful location
where superior educational advantages pre-
sent themselves.
These worthy families, bringing wealth,
will locate here whenever We can advertise
the fact that in addition to healthful clim-
ate, romantic scenery and life giving waters
the children can be accommodated in o
comfortable and commodious public school
building and the more advanced pupils
placed to receive the benefits OF an excellent
high school already established.
Our citizens are ever ready to mako In
vestments in any enterprise that will return
a per cent. While railroads and factories
prove profitable Investments, yet the best
investment that can be made to perpetuate
the prosperity Of San Marcos is suitable
and attractive house for the use of the pub
lie school. There is now pressing neces-
sity for the erection of house large enough
to accommodate the present enrolment, In
order that each child in this community may
receive the benefit Of the public school
fund. The sacrifice to be made for this
purpose is the best investment that our CIT
zens can make. In addition to tho return
indirectly of the dollars and dimes paid out
the investment in educational facilities not
only widely advertises the town but leads to
economy of government, the lessening OF
crime, the creation of new industries, do
crease in taxation, and enables the rising
generation to properly understand the
rights and duties of citizenship. All OF
which appeal to the highest sentiments of
those who desire to ameliorate the condi-
ton of mankind.
Public education is not charity. but 1t is
a duty which this intelligent community
owes to its children whom it can not afford
to permit to remain in ignorance.
Let us view the question from business
point, The National aid will increase our
school fund to about $1,000, provided
liberal spirit has been manifested by this
community. 1t will then be wise business
transaction to make that amount of money
or any other amount do the most good.
With all the children located in ono build
ing containing large airy rooms. there will
be an economy of fuel, as one furnace will
suffice; economy in the better arrangement
of the different grades which require the
incest adjustment in order to work with
harmony and efficiency; economy in that
distribution of labor which characterizes
the graded school system; economy in reg
ulsrity of attendance and greater enrolment
of pupils.
This city in the year 1885 voted to take
charge of its public schools. There is no
law by which that act can be reconsidered.
Having done 80 much in the way of voting
and talking shall we now sit idly by when
the growth of the public school system has
exceeded our first expectations and demands
our serious consideration and prompt action9
The future progress and welfare of San
Marcos demands that the highest educa-
tional advantages be promptly provided for
the children.
It has been said that ample school room
ia already provided. That is fact if we
permit children to be crowded like cattle
for shipment. The Coronal Institute can
seat $50 pupils in crowded condition. The
public school building 100; total, 400. The
scholastic enrolment is 500 children be-
tween the ages of 8 aud 16. Those under
and over age attending school 100. Trans
fers 100.
The public school buildings should be
condemned, as they are in no respect adapt
ed to the wants of graded school system.
They are neither well arranged nor COM
Portable, and being situated on the extreme
edge of the town, are accessible only over
bad sidewalks. One house is an old wood
en- structure which having been wrecked by
the hurricane of 'S6, the probabilities OF
serious casualty are imminent.
The many Inconvenience have their eff
feet upon the attendance, discipline and
general efficiency of the school.
We are ever ready to find fault with the
general condition and progress of the
school, with the teachers, with the trustees.
with the management, but we take no steps
to place teachers and children in a substan-
tial building well equipped with all modern
improvements. The trustees may employ
experienced teachers, but in order to sue
coed, to give satisfactory results, the school
should be subject to no conditions of insta-
bility, Neither teacher nor pupil can &C
complish the highest good amid uncomfort-
able surroundings II we demand the
highest results we must make all conditions
favorable.
While the principal objection that has
been raised against the erection of public
school house is the expense attending it,
let us remember that the cost of such q
building is in the way Of permanent i'm
provement. The money is re-distributed
back to the community, which retains per-
petual possession of an edifce that adds
value to all property, and which more than
any indicates the advancement in educa-
ton, culture and progress Of the people.
Many cities and towns Of Texas are build
ing magnificent public school houses. To
q Z IL. -. ahroaaI Of Il nr in frntlt