The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-11
YEARS SCHOOL WORK.
Encouraging Report Of the
President of the Board.
FAvoRS LIBERAL EDUCATION,
need Of . High School and Policy OF
Securing Sites-Financial Reports
New High School Site.
FAvoRs LIBERAL EDUCATION.

New High School Site.
hoard last evening the annual reports of the sec.
rotary and president of the board were sub.
mitted. The report of W. J. Colkett, the presi.
dent, full, comprehensive and interesting, II a.
follows:
Genslemes Of The Board Of Eduoation: I hereby
submit q brief report, as president Of your hon
The reports of the secretary and superintend.
ent will show, in detail, the financial aud gen.
eral condition Of the schools, hence my remarks
The work of the year has not been marked BY
any extraordinary events. yet there has been an
increase in school population and commend.
able progress in our schools.
To supply the demands for larger accommoda.
tons eight additional rooms were added to the
Denny, and four each TO the Mercer and Rainier
Q. Green lake, and the Day school OF eight
rooms. at Fremont Four rooms only in this
building were finished and occupied during the
year. but the remaining rooms viii be fnished
Immediately for use next year.
Notwithstanding this large increase In the
number OF school rooms, 1t was still necessary
South districts, . TACT we must all very much re.
This question OF providing suitable buildings
for school Is the
been the school problem In our case.
II 1t could have been foreseen that property
would have increased in value SO fast, the dis
trict would have done well to have long ago &c.
cured sites for school buildings in various parts
OF the city
Our action this year. and the approval of the
public has secured for future use sites that will
supply the demands OF the district for several
years TO come, and II seems to me, was one OF
our most important transactions for the year.
BY this act the public has set aside for school
purposes block ~, 7. Hanford's addition, block
in Bayside addition, block IL in Eastern addi-
ton. block in Denny Fuhrman addition. block
Is In Ponttus addition, block in J. J. McGil-
vra's third addition, and lots and II, in block
2 Queen Anne second addition.
On the site in Eastern addition the erection
of twelve room building 10 progressing, and
will be ready for use early next year. This
building should give relief to the Central, Minor
and South districts, 90 that no outside building
will be necessary we're 1t not for the High school
crowding out some grammar grades in the Cen.
tral school building.
II the proposition to purchase site for High
school and erect building thereon had been
approved BY the people, We would soon Be able
TO accommodate our pupils In suitable build
ings. This is certainly desirable, and should
interested in our public school system.
1t is matter of more than ordinary interest
that the 100000 bonds issued last year have
been finally disposed OF at the low rate Of inter-
est OF per cent per year. The difficulties con.
neeted with this transaction called forth some
comment and caused u much anxiety, and am
are TO be congratulated because of the disposal
Of these bonds on such advantageous terms.
confess have come TO look with more favor
on the idea OF bonding school Indebtedness. It
has often been question in my mind whether
We did not move too fast in developing our
Western cities They are all heavily burdensd
since it 10 clearly the public policy to establish
AID maintain city government at any cost
school interests should not De an exception
trct TO raise fund. 70 be used in the purchase Of
sites and the erection OF school buildings there
on, - it IL TO bond the county for courthouse
ments for which Il il ct present bonded
II the people OF our district will only incur
enough more OF debt to secure suitable quar-.
ters for High school our public school system
will b in q condition to rank second to none in
the United States.
Ii Is a matter Of public interest, think, that
year in dsposing Of our warrants: they were
taken by the brokers OF our city at par during
the early part OF the year and before the close
seems to me . much better plan II the board
were allowed to dispose OF these warrants in
large blocks when they became interest bearing
ness In cash. This would, in many instances,
save employees and others much trouble, and
the school board money, q IL would be possible
Of large amount when the individual holders
might be obliged to discount warrants for small
amounts In order to dispose OF them.
amount Of litigation during the year. Once it
was necessary to call the assistance OF the
courts to secure proper tax levy in the newly
promptly the needs Of the new city school dis
trict. and believed the property therein should
bear its due proportion OF the expense OF carry.
an order from the supreme court Of the state.
Less than . month before the close OF the year
We again had to appeal to the bar OF justice TO
prevent the board OF health from closing the
South sohool We Woro euocnasful in this case
also.
wish to repeat the suggestions Of my prsds-
fore any suggestions may make could become
operative, feel no hesitation In urging that the
school law be 20 modified that members OF
upwards should be paid for their services.
i. is no light burden on any man 10 discharge
the duties of q member of the SoSrd OF educa-
obliged to devote entire days to this service,
and 1t seems 70 me he should be compensated,
ct least in part, for this time.
Our action in employing q regular architect
at fixed salary seems 70 me TO be one OF con-
siderable Importance; it not only has Its profess
sional advantages, but Is also saves the district
large amount of money heretofore paid a. fees
Not being . professional man. l am scarcely
sxpected TO express opinions on school methods
and systema
am franK to admit my recent study of mod
err methods has interested me deeply, and!
can see no reason why Is would not be well
here in city to adopt the very latest ideas on
problems OF school reform.
am OF the opinion school men are only ex.
perimenting IN many matters pertaining 70
their profession; am Therefore in favor OF
modifying our scheme of work wherever il will
Be likely to save time for the pupil and increase
his opportunities for development
1 am sure. In ny own case, see where loss
much time BY delays and restrictions In my
brief school life which were beyond my con-
troll. No doubt, we oil realise the same dim.
enlties on reviewing our school days / shall
certainly be ready to endorse any move OF our
board towards "liber aii1ing' the course OF study
As suggested by President Eliot, OF Harvard
university.
II would not brighten mo in the least to see
modern languages, algebra an geometry begun
IN grammar grades, and ii might be the means
of shortening the course OF the High school
year, thus saving the district some expense ana
the pupil year Of valuable time, and 1t surely
would place these studies before many pupils
who otherwise would not ever have the chance
90 become acquainted with them at all. ana IL
might be the means OF AWAKENING an interest In
these stu lies that would result ultimately In
their completion.
lam heartily in favor OF the idea OF High
school, and / am specially anxious that some
thing should be done for our children In the
direction OF their industrial training, but re-
greet the fact that 50 few OF them enter the
High school and that fewer still complete the
WORK
Whatever can be dore TO bring high school
studies dowa into grades in which pupils are
found 10 remain In large numbers. seems to me
- be = wise policy.