The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-17
Totals
New High school Needed.


Superintendent Barnard believes that
the marked increase is a sure index TO
the growth or the city. He IS equally
positive in his conviction that the city
needs q new high school building, and
needs II badly.
Apart from the satisfactory working
of the schools" he said TO Post-IntelH-
gencer reporter last night. there is but
one explanation of the increased number
of pupils in the schools. 1t is that Seat
tie Is growing rapidly and her business
interests are developing. The enrolment
In the Central school alone is a sufficient
demonstration of this. And you must
bear in mind that the hop pickers have
not yet returned from the fields. and
when they get back our classes are sure
TO be largely Increased. At present you
know we have 10 house the high school
in the Central school building. At first
this did well enough. because the high
school occupied only the upper floor and
the school on the floors below was COM
paratively small and had plenty of room.
Now, however. matters are very different.
Pupils rightfuly entitled TO admission TO
the Central. schools are crowded ont by
the high school classes. which now num-
Der nearly 500. until only three primary
teachers are left III that building.
THE board has done the best ii could
under the circumstances. The old uni
versity building. ST. Francis hall and the
Jewish synagogue have all been rented
for schohol purposes, and are now occu-
pied by fifteen schools, the pupils OF
which live west OF Eighth avenue be-
TWEEN Yesier way and Pike street. II is
hardly necessary for me 10 say that these
rented buildings are far from satisfac-
tory as school rooms. They were not
built for that purpose. ard consequently
are not adapted 10 our uses. In my judg-
l. Sg.srf -. tl1a4
the high school vacate the Central build
ing and the rights Of the primary and
grammar school children in that building
be restored. The parents demand this,
and Justice requires il. The most import
ant period of child's sctool life is that
covered by the kindergarten and the pri-
mary school, TIE primary schools should
be located in the best possible rooms and
buildings and taught by the most skill
full teachers. The Central teachers are
among the very best In the city, but with
cut proper facilities no teacher can do
satisfactory work. The district owns an
elegant site for a high school. bounded
by University and Seneca streets and
Summit and Boylston avenues. and a sec
ton of a building should be erected at
once. Let a section be erected each year
for three years. and the good work will
be done with but little trouble
Change OF Text Rocks.
With regard to the change OF text books
which has especially affected the hiSh
school Superintendent Barnard stated
that The organization Of the high school
had been little If any, delayed by the
change. we have gone right ahead"
said he. with the general plan Of using
the old books till the new ones came. IL
is true that the book dealers were unable
70 supply the new text books. In some
parts OF the state this caused a virtual
suspension of the high school classes. We
took q different view of the matter. how
ever. ana concluded there was 10 reason
why the various classes should not go
right ahead with their work OF course.
tho change has caused us some trouble.
but we are gradually working In the
new books. The old slgebras viii
BE- used. but IN other I.lbieets the classes
viii await the arrival of the new books
adopted by the state board The list OF
text books adopted for the high school IL
as follows: