The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-19
FROM SCHOOL DIRECTOR SPENCER.


SEATTLE. March Is. 1894
To THE EDIroR: Mr. Prosch. in the interview
published in the Posr-INTsLLIaENcxR OF the
18th, makes some unloading statements. which
wish to correct The hrst II that his position
10 based upon the constitution, upon tho Law,
upon the opinion Of . number Of the best attor-
nsys OF the state and upon the iacta." II he
means his position upon the high school Ques-
ton the legal aspect IL comparatively new to
careful reading OF the balance of his interview
will convince any one that his position 10 really
one OF opposition to the more advanced educa-
ton % part OF our school system. His efforts to
secure remedial lsgislatian can b more success.
fully described BY Senator Ffink than by me.
M; rrosch eses tn: question when he says:
1.-THE question OF the illegally OF high
schools was nrst raised in Tacoma" The
first time the matter Was brought
to the attention OF our board was
by Mr.. Prosch In December last II NJ. Prosch
knew Of the opinions OF Attorney General Jones
before that time he failed In his duty by neg
lecting to call the attention OF our board to the
matter. ami 20 have helped TO save himself and
the other members the serious penalties %
graphically described By him.
The question Of the adequate houaing of the
high school was serious one while We had one.
and most emphaticaily deny that IL was 'situ.
sted no worse - far a. character of building,
IOCotlO0 general
vantagos are concerned than the hnest schools
In the city for pupils of the primary and gram
mar grades." The school 10 at the top Of the
Central building, where every girl has two long
flights OF stairs to climb. The GLASS rooms on
that door are mere holes. with poor light and
poorer ventilation. There was no room for suit.
able philosophical and chemical apparatus
without driving out the primary aud grammar
school scholars from their legitimate place in
the building President Eliot did not CON-
mend 1t, but said 1t would do till W could do
better
Mr. Prosch 10 very solicitous about the chill.
dren In the primary and grammar grades, and
In that particular he will find the entire board
in full accord with him. Ii 10 true We still lack
suitable school room for all OF the primary and
grammar grades. and We need IL most In the
Central district Out Of $50 scholars In the Cen
trail district, S74 live west Of Seventh street OF
the ISIS living cast Of seventh street We get less
than ons-half for the new Pacific school in tax
ing in both sides OF Ninth street 1t will hardly
be argued that We should compel scholars to 20
past the Central school from below seventh
street to all the Pacific school.
The fact 10 the con ditions OF the city growth
are such that II 10 impossible to tell Just now
where relief schools should be built Two years
ago the Market street district was filling up 20
fast We built four additional rooms to the Rain
Ter school. We have not filed those rooms, and
school because the scholars are not in the
nsighborhood.
The stbro rooms are not good school rooms,
aud by vacatinE the rooms used by the high
school we can do away With some Of them. II
we continue to provide a. rapidly for the needs
of primary aud grammer schools in the future
Is We have In the past neither parents or chill
dren will have cause to complain. The year
prior to my becoming . member the board built
five schooihouses with thirty six rooms Since
l became . member we have built four school.
houses, which. with the additions to the other
schoolhouses, has added forty-two rooms. max
ing total of ssventy-eigh good rooms, we'll
lighted, heated and ventilated ali for tho pri
mary and grammer gradea During this time the
only addition that has been made to the high
school was to FIX up . lumber room ~ . make
tsiit class room and to put skyIights in the as
sembiy room OF the Central building 90 that the
scholars would not sll 60 blind. The ventila-
ton IL bad and the heating facilities insutn-
cient.
Prosch are using their best efforts to properly
accommodate the children OF the primary and
grammar grades, and the assertion of Mr.
Prosch that during his term - constant effort
has been made to elevate the high school ct the
expense OF the lower schools" IL untrue IN fact
and spirit The constant effort has been to els
vate the entire system, aud make the Seattle
Mr. Prosch again tries 70 mislead when he
says ''the estimates for . high school with
grounds have ranged from $4,000 to $4,000
The estimate for the Coman block and build
ing submitted to the people Wa tli0 900. do
not know OF any other essirnate the 500, 900 fg-
IRE being evidently intended to impress the
citizens with our extravagance.
There are some other points in Mr. Prosch's
interview that merit answer. but are minor
ones aud all tend 70 the Same conclusion that
We have neglected the lower grades TOR the
high school, The main point made In my state
ment TO your reporter, that he Wa opposed 20
the high school, think he has fully acknowl-
edged In his statement 70 your reporter /
think he believes honestly that the high school
10 IN unnecessary part OF the system, but he has
no right 70 misieAd the public regarding the
position Of the other members regarding the
lower grades
Answering briefly Mr.. Prosch's interview in
the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of the 1ssh He does
not state the !scss when he says Mr. Colksst ana
ne are sntrsiy ignored The records will show
- much affirmative action On notions Of
Msasra Prosch ana Coikest - for any ether
member OF the board His assertion that We
have illegally sQuandsrsd the peoples money
comes with bad grace and 10 . boomsrang, for
al examinssiea oftbs records viii show that b
has voted for al expenditures made, excepting
the purchase Of the Osnay lots aud possibly