The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-03-27
The Need Of a New Pub
lie School Binding
for Canton.

astir over its spirit OF puoilc enterprise,
budding forth into an ice factory, wa
ter works and electric lights, attention
should be called to another vital con-
Germ which should feel this pulse for
general improvement. Canton sorely
needs ew public school building and
deem it my duty as q citizen OF this
city to state some few facts publicly
for the benefit of the entire communi-
ty.
The improvements above referred to
are a matter of pride to our citizens;
but in our zeal for progress and the
consequent enthusiasm, we must not
overlook SO vital public concern as
our public school. I advocate the erec-
ton of new school building, firstly on
the ground of NECESSITY, and secondly
as a matter of PRIDE. How singularly
odd will be the appearance of Canton,
with her water works and electric
lights as evidences of her prosperity,
and a public school building which
would hardly be tolerated in a cross
road country village. A new building
is needed for the sake of the comfort OF
the children. The roof is leaky and
would be more SO, if it were not for the
moss that in some places has covered
it, The house has sunk SO that the
doors are all out of shape and cannot
be closed properly, nor can they be Sc
curely locked to prevent any one from
entering and stealing. The appear
ance from the outside is that of de-
serted old tenement standing in some
waste place long since forsaken by the
children men; in fact it was built before
tn. war aud is entirely unsuited to the
present needs Of public school. In
the rooms there is nothing bright or
attractive to foster that esthetic prin.
ciple in every human mind-that prin-
ciple which finds its expression in every
home in paintings, carvings and orna-
menus Of SO many kinds, which are a
relief and pleasure to the eye. The
entire atmosphere of the building is
full of the suggestions of dilapidation
and decay, and the child is deprived of
those environments which are so help
full to the action of the mind.
The house needs a large assembly
room or hall. where the pupils can be
seated for any general exercise, and
/, his is very great necessity, for it is
often important that the pupils should
be assembled in one body. thus
streng thening the unity of manage
ment.
The school Is an imperative need,
and while Canton is providing means
for dispelling material darkness, let
her not neglect the means for enlight-
ening the minds of her children. such
q building as she now has is a constant
STUN bling block to the children's de-
sire to learn, for children canpot help
their parents do not care
much for their children's education as
long as they permit the use of SO shah
BY building for that purpose.
In conclusion, wish to state that /
am one of the trustees of the public
school property, which however is not
owned by the town. The town owns
no public school building, but pays
rent to the trustees for the use of the
property held in their trust. At pres-
snt. they have 81, 900 derived from the
rentals paid to them annually BY the
own. At q recent meeting, this board
declared their willingness
% give over to the city of Canton this |
amount of 81 900 and disband as trus.
ices, provided the city would erect q |
lew building on the present lot The
,reseHt buildings would not be q dead |
oss, for some of them-especially the |
,wo small houses in front, could be |
moved away and sold to some one who |
would like to have them for offices.
This donation of 81, 600 is no mean start !
or the erection of a new building, and
beg the people of Canton to memorial
re the Board of Mayor and Aldermen
o float the bonds sufficient to give
anton public school which will be
q keeping with the dignity and impor.
snce she now enjoys.
TRUSTEE.