Arizona weekly enterprise., 1890-03-15
THE CASA GRANDE SCHOOL.
The Subject Treated in a Fair and Inn
 partial Manner.
CASA CYANIDE, Ariz, Mar. 12th.

CASA GRANDE, Ariz, Mar. 12th.
 EDITOR ENTERPRISE In reply to the article in regard to the Casa Grande Schools" by a correspondent of the Tucson Star, since an allusion is made to unfortunate children "di- rectly under saloon influences" the undersigned would respectfully say that the fact in itself of children being under bad influences, should make it all the more important that the school and teacher should be carefully looked after. As nearly all children of Amer ican percentage, as well as others, were removed from school this last term on account of dissatisfaction, the remarks of the Star correspondent are hardly applicable to any one person, nor to the families of saloon keepers in par ticular, since other children are under the influence of parents who patron ize saloons and the world over all homes are not ideal. The fact re- mains that the school term recently closed on account of insufficient funds, was of four months duration only, and will be all the "unfortunate" children will have of school this year, sufficient no doubt for those who are so easily satisfied and who see fit to uphold those who believe in short terms and a foolish expenditure of school money, for which the parents of children are taxed and who have right to their opinion, whether they be saloon-keep- CTS or the friends of those who patron
 ize saloons, and who also have right to object to state of affairs to the detriment of children, whose mothers at least have their welfare at heart, and who, if no progress is made at school are compelled to teach their children at home. No one has "pet ideas" in regard to the manner of teaching, but rather are watching the results. If progress is made parents are satisfied. If we have had such ex- cellent teachers the children who have attended school regularly and who have not been "kept more that half the time out of school" are sadly de- ficient for some cause or other, and very backward in their studies. The results of the excellent" advantages of Casa Grande schools make a poor showing. An examination of those pupils will demonstrate the truth or falsity of my statement. In answer to the assertion made that the children of those who complain most loudly were "kept out of school more than half the time," the records of attend ance will show the truth regarding the attendance of children, and evidence is available to prove that in many in- stances sickness was the cause of ab- sence; such sickness as comes in win ter time-diphtheria, pneumonia, etc., and although dissatisfied with the pro- gress made in their studies, I, for one, have kept my children in constant attendance at school with the excep- ton of a very short period. That the term was thus further shortened through sickness or other good and sufficient cause, is still no reason why we should have but four or five months of school in the year. As to the pay ing to teachers of fifty dollars per month as is suggested, there is wide difference between fifty proposed and one hundred and twenty-five actually paid for teaching school of low grade and small average attendance. The records will show the number of chil- dren in the district entitled to public money and the amount of funds avail able for school purposes. An average mind will be able to calculate the amount that can be afforded to pay the teacher, and it is right to give as good wages as can be done consistent | ly. As for the vile and obscene Ian
 guage used in saloons, with which the
 Star correspondent seems familiar and
 in a position to know, would ask
 comparison made by unprejudiced per
 sons acquainted here between all the
 children of those in Casa Grande who
 keep and have kept saloons and the
 children of those who do not and never
 have kept saloons. Nor need one go into saloons to hear language i'm
 proper for delicate ears, since in lit.
 tie town where business places and
 private residences are not far from
 each other, one may hear almost any
 thing not intended to be heard
 words thoughtlessly spoken through
 force of habit, according to the GUS
 toms of the country. This is not the
 fault of the children or women nor Ii
 it mentioned in a spirit of criticism
 but to explain why some children who
 are not directly under saloon inf1uenc es are no better, to put it mildly, thar
 the unfortunate children who so deep ly stir the pity and tender feelings o
 the Star correspondent, who doubtless
 has the good of all children at hear in upholding short terms and poo
 teachers. As for the mothers of chil dren here, they are good women, an( unanimous in the sentiments I expres } in regard to school affairs, with per haps two exceptions. If they are sat isfied others are not, to their credit b l. it said, and it is safe to say that tn Star correspondent has no childre } attending school here. And whethe Q the Star correspondent be ashamed ( ] the existing state of school affairs i s Casa Grande, and afraid of Tucson C
 Florence opinion, and that the worl should know, the subject is one of in ' portance to those who have childrel ', and is hardly one for the exercise 7 personal spite and malicious insinl Is ations. Respectfully.
 :, MRS. M. E. WooDs. n Bread and all kinds of GrC q ceries, Fresh Fruits, etc., { n the Florence Bakery. A cas