The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-05-09
Opposed to Consolidation.

Al tue meeting OF the pOar0 OF eCu-
| cation Tuesday the resolution of Mr..
Webster proposing the consolidation of
! the Broadway and Nelson Dewey High
/ schools was re-read. \ large delega-
| ton from the East End was on hand
early with petitions signed by East
/ Enders vigorously opposing the consol-
! idation scheme. c. l.. Catlin, +. &.
Manwaring, Champ Green. B. D. Mer-
| rell, d. Seaman, DR.. Sherwood, W. H.
! Webb, Grafton Mason, ". T. Hartley
and others were present at the meeting.
w. T. Hartley discussed the PROPOSE
ton at some length. He said: I've
understand fully and appreciate the eff
forts of the board in econonizing as
much as possible, but at the same time
comprehend the great Inconvenience
that East End people would be put to in
the event Of the abolition of the High
school al our end of the town. 1t has
been stated in the press as coming from
this board that the abolition ofthe First
ward high school would make a saving
of between s., 800 and $1,000 annually to
the city. l fail to see wherein such
would be the case. The present prin-
Clpal of the high school there receives
salary of 81 400 per year. A successor
to him will cost at least $1,000, which,
with the extra expense for teachers at
the West End will figure nearly as large
The Broadway school is not large
enough to accommodate the advanced
classes Of the entire city, and l fear
there would be much inconvenience in
that particular. Another objection is
that the pupils on cold winter mornings
Will have to arise too early, which will
be the result Of keeping many of them
away entirely. We desire to have our
children attend school at home where
we can have them under our guidance.
We are not here as politicians or one
end against the other, but simply to ex-
press our views on the matter of con-
soiidating the schools, and as our end of
town pays big per centage of the tax
we are entitled to offer some suggestions
in the matter"
c. L. Catlin also spoke against the
scheme and pointed out wherein he
considered the proposition an injustice
to the residents of the East End.
City Attorney Champ Green said he
was opposed to consolidation and gave
his reasons therefor. The present ar
rangement is satisfactory to all con-
cerned, and Mr.. Green thought the
question was not one of expense SO much
as it was the accommodation and bene-
fits to be derived. by consolidation, :"
he said, 1.-THE East End will be deprived
of its high school and the pupils will
have to get up earlier in the morning.
eat scanty breakfast and run to catch
street car. At noon they will have
nothing but a cold lunch and as result
they will have to eat their principal
meal at night, which, of course, is iniur-
ious to young people, before retiring.
Another objection is that pupils will
have 10 pay street car fare, and as many
of the parents can i'll afford to do that,
more bother will be experienced in
that particular. In case of consolida-
ton the room here would be overcrowd-
ed and the teachers would have too
many in their classes, which would be
another bad feature"
L. 4. Manwaring: "Our school is be-
ingconducted creditably and the teach
ers are doing well, and 1t is we'll enough
TO let we'll anonzh alone IL i@ esai.es .
good way when the board desires to
make change against the wishes of the
people. belong to 4 class that pay
their taxes, and consider this need
less change, and the people of the First
ward will oppose it to man"
Mr.. Cook spoke on the subject of ven
tilation of the Broadway building and
thought no more pupils should be sent
there, on account of the very unhealthy
condition of the building.
Commissioner Webster spoke at
length in support of his resolution, and
said in part:
''Itis the object of this board to estab-
lish a perfect school system and at the
same time curtaiI expenses as much as
possible. The conditions that confront
the taxpayers of this city at present are
critical. Taxes have not been paid,
some of our banks have suspended and
there Is Il strong sentiment for retrCnch-
ment. The East End pupils would be
no worse off than those of the South End
and steel plant. If our plans are cfec-
ted we anticipate the saving of 10 per
cent in the expenses of our schools,
which isa big item. 1T would be q ben
eft to the East End pupils to attend the
Broadway high school, as the room
which they now occupy in the third
story of the Nelson Dewey school is n
fire trap. The ventilation here is bet
ter than in any school in the city, which
is the result of considerable expense.
our action is not for the purpose of in
augnrating sectional difficulties; it Is for
the good of the school system gen
orally"
Mr.. Manwaring: "You say, Mr..
Webster, that the third story of the
Nelson Dewey school is unsafe for the
high school pupils, but you offer no OBJ
lection for the pupils the lower grades
who will occupy it in case the high
school is removed to the West End.
Wr. Webster: by expending lit
tie money the defects of the room may
De ieHltuleu 30 lnat the lONCr STduts
may occupy it,"
VI W. Webb: 81 fail to see wherein
the board will make a saving by abol-
lshing the First ward high school. The
consolidating of the classes will neces-
state extra expenses for teachers and
still there will be a principal to look
after the schools at the East End. The
present principal at the East End is
worth 800 more than any other man
you could secure because of the great
influence he has over the children from
the kindergarten to the high school
That alone is worth more than ability to
teach. We favor refrenchment, but
cannot see where a saving can be made
here
superintendent Elson endeavored to
explain wherein the consolidation
would be saving OF expense and stated
that one of the principal items was the
keeping up of two complete laborator-
q