The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-18
HIGH SCHOOL DEAD.
But 1t May Come to Life Under
Another Name.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT IS FOR IT.
The School Board Yields 60 Legal Opin
Zen - Superintendent Bsrnsrd's
epssch-visws OF Directors.


The Seattle high school has been abol-
ished; the senior grammar grade will be
established. In this way viii the board
of education whip the devil Of constitu-
tional high school prohibition around the
stump. According to the announcement
made in the Posr-ISrELLIGKScER yester-
day morning, the board of education held
. full meeting yesterday afternoon to dis
cuss the question Is to its right 20 con-
duct high school.
After President MacDougall had stated
the object Of the meeting. Mr.. Spencer
said that Messrs. MacDougal and Burwell
and himself had asked Judge Burke for
his opinion on the matter. After care
fully studying mp the question Judge
Burke had consulted with Judge Greene,
and they were both of the opinion, as was
also the boards attorney. Mr.. White. that
the board had no legal right to MAINTAIN
high school. He was of the opinion
that under such circumstances imme-
diate action should be taken by the board.
and he therefore offered the following
resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, A question regarding the legality
OF the maintenance OF the high school a. part
OF the Seattle school system has arisen: and
WHEREAS. 0ur attorney, W. II. White, and
Judge Burke aud Judge Greene have decided
that the high school cannot be legally main
tanned under the present law: therefore be IL
Resolved, That the high school OF Seattle he
abolished, aud the secretary and surerintend-
ent of the city schools be instructed to notify
the principal and teachers of our high school
that their services viii no longer be required.
Mr.. Burwell seconded the motion, and
stated that he felt the board was facing a
dilemma which had to be met fairly and
squareIy in regard to expanding the school
funds committed to its care. While the
law apparently gives them control of the
schools, there is yet technical defect
which leaves the board under the consti.
tutionaI prohibition, and as explained by
the legal advisers consulted the board was
in duty bound to abolish the high school
rs a department of the public schools.
Mr.. Coikett said he was sorry that it was
necessary to take such action. but he had
been kept in the dark as to what the ma
tority proposed to do.
Mr.. MacDougail-The necessity was virtually
forced upon us. We tried to get a law passed
enabling IN to maintain the high school. but IL
was defeated, and there was no reason for it.
been placed in. This matter has been known Of
for years.
Mr.. Burweil-Thc first knew of II was whom
Nj. Prosch brought it up last December.
MIR. Prosch-The matter was brought up in
Tacoma two years ago in a report 10 the board of
education and published in the newspapers at
ffe time. and We have no right to claim that
we did not know about it.
Mr.. spencer-The first ever heard OF the
legality of the high school being questioned was
when the question was raised by Mr.. Prosch in
connection with buying the first part Of the
Denny block
Mr.. Prosch-whcn the buying Of the Denny
block was hrst proposed 1t was proposed to buy
II Is high school site. The committee con.
suited with Mr.. White, and he told Mr.. Mac
Dougall. Mr.. Burwell and myself that We could
not purchase II for such purposes. The COM
mittee agreed to report to that effect but when
IL came to the meeting in tho evening I found
that Mr.. MacDougall and Mr.. Burweil had cono
back on me. and the board agreed to buy the
site.
Mr.. epsncsr-Ths Denny ground was pur-
chasd not - high school site, but as q school
site.
Mr.. Prosch-Ths committee agreed to repor,
that IL would b best to take no action, but at
night he found that he had been fooled by the
other members.
Mr.. Spencer again said that he was OF
the opinion that the high school could be
maintained until the question was raised
by Mr.. Prosch, when the question of per-
sonal liability Of the directors was raised,
and 1t became a serious matter. 1t was
thought best to get legal advice on the
question, and the result was that the
abolition Of the school wa, advised.
Mr.. Burwell explained that there was no
breaking of faith with Mr.. Prosch, as Mr..
White said that the Denny site could be
bought as an ordinary school site, and in
that light it became a new proposition
altogether from the one the committee
agreed To report on.
When the roll was called on the adoption
OF the resolution all the members yotee.
aye.
Mr.. Colkett raised the question of nav.
ing the teachers their half-month salary.
Mr.. MacDoussll-oh, We will let them sue for
their salary.
The question of placing insurance came
up. Secretary Whitney stated that si35, Geo
would expire in May, and on motion of
Mr.. Frosch IL was resolved TO place S., coo
on each building with the Farmers In.
surance Company, and also to place 81. 200
insurance on the Pacific school furniture.
A long discussion ensued on the location
of the boundary lines between the new
Pacific school and the South school. bat
the whole question was referred 10 the
committee on education.
Mr.. MacDougail was asked how the mat.
ter would be brought before the courts.
He replied:
doa't kaow. onc thing. however. I shall
not sign any more high school teachers war.
rants.
Mr.. Prosch spoke up aud said:
Well, If YOU should leave town as vice presi.
Gent oi the board will sign them
According TO the first method the oue..
tion would be raised by the teachers s,inr
for heir pay on contract. In the second
by some cltisen enloining an illegal ex.
penditure.
After the action Of the board of educs-
ton. Prof Barnard went TO the hirh
school, which had been detained with
literary exercises beyond the usual time
OF adjournment, with the resolution.
Prof. Twitmeyer read the resolution To
tie school. which was received with a loud
murmur mingled with hisses
Prof. Barnard then came 10 the front
and said:
Ii is not necessary for me 10 say that the hirh
school has no warmer friend ana ehamnion
than the same school board which has so rel uc-
tsnily killed IL This affair might have a serious
result. IL We should make bat one mistake. We
nuss not make tina. mistake. aud We viii rot II
We but stand together. Ia union IL strength.
and II We stand together We will maintain this
.sA.r Ina 49,