The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-02

ing to Cut Down Expcnses-COm-
mittee to Meet the Board.
Altnough no definite action was taken last
evening at the meeting of citizens called
eIIPIess their views anent the proposed
Central high schools which was held in
the rooms of the Commercial club, it is likely
las les sun IN the retention Of that school, un
Tess the board OF education proves conclu-
t siveiy that 1t really has not money to con-
unue 1t. The meeting adjourned after a
hiemgtny discussion OF the question in all its
mlttee OF ten would meet the board of edu-
uauon Wednesday and go over the matter,
M MIN view to settling upon definite policy.
the meeting declared that economy must be
pracuced somewhere, or else the public must
sboSr money enough to maintain the Me-
!, Oliver Crosby was chosen to preside over
the meeting. He briefly stated the purpose
o. o. the gathering and he invited President
zimmerman. of the board Of education, to
express his views. Mr.. Zimmerman replied
that he and his associate members of the
board were invited guests, and they wanted
MIR. Crosby said the public had not heard
any reasons advanced for abolishing the
school. whereupon Mr.. zimmerman declared
abolish the school.
Mr.. Crosby then volunteered the informa-
ton that the board lis seriously hampered
as usual, the value Of property has depreciat-
ed and less money can be raised.
II believe" he said, that the board. is
cannot see how they can make up the de-
1ciency. 1t is proposed to consolidate the
Mechanic Arts school with the Central high
a building near the high school. The Me.
chanic Arts school was reorganzed in 1895
and its average daily attendance has grown
from 164 to 247, and next year 1t will be
maintaining
school has decreased from ST., 900 in 1886 to
$14.70 in 1898. Last year alone the per-
daily attendance increased s per cent. The
school is primarily and distinctively school
for boys. Last year fourteen boys graduated
from it, and only one girl graduated from it.
enough to do. That is not so. The classes
are too large for effective work
II fail to see how a saving is to be effect
ed by the discharge of four teachers. Their
salaries amount to So, 400. The Central high
schoo. seats $50 pupils. BY moving the
Offices Of the board there would be room
cient to accommodate the additional pupils
that will come, who will go from the
Mechanic Arts school, The pupils will
have to be placed somewhere and taught by
teachers who will have to be paid.
The Mechanic Arts school is the most
important school we have" said Mr.. Ester
brook. ut enables the native born boy TO
compete with the emigrant by giving him
thorough and valuable knowledge OF me-
chanical tools and machinery. The school
should on no account be abolished"
is behind this matter" said J. w. L. Corn,
ing, of the school board. 1--WE are trying
to get more room in our graded schools.
ha to get the end D ting
Mechanic Arts school In there. We will
then have room for all.
II am champion Of the Mechanic Arts
school, yet we must do something, and
see no way out of abolishing it. We could
abolish classical education in the hgh
school,"
There is no disposition to abolish the Me-
chanic Arts school, said President Tim
hermann. I'VE simply want to consolidate
the academic departments of the two schools.
There $4,000 school children in this city,
of whom 95 per cent never reach the high
school, and only one-Quarter OF those grad
uate l believe in the greatest good to
the greatest number. Of 200 pupils in the
Mechanic Arts school last year only fii-
teen graduated. 1t is really technical
high school in a small way. The Mechanic
Arts school has gone too far. We have
Northwest The question is can we i'm
prove it?
1--WE can seat the extra children In the
Central high school easily. Many will go
ent high schools. I wish you would form
yourselves into a committee on ways and
means and devise a plan whereby the Ne
chanic Arts schoo. may be run. We shall
be glad to have one presented.
IN 1897 the number of pupils enrolled In
the high school was Oil and the average
school the enrolment was 800, and tnS
average attendance 25O. The cost OF main
school, and ss4;71 in the Mechanic Arts
school, Our plan is to give mechanical
training to 1900 instead of to 2Oo.'
''The Mechanic Arts school," said Prof.
Weitbrecht us different from others IN hav.
ing an academic department and mechanical
department. 1t is giving 80 1-3 more educa-
ton to children than the Central high school.
In three years the school gained 90 per cent
in attendance, and the tide is coming toward
the mechanic arts idea. The system CT trans
fers of studies proposed with consolidation
will be a failure, for so much time will be
consumed in changing from one building to
would be better to abolish the school ana
save the $4,000. To occupy the Hallowell
will require an outlay of perhaps $1,000, for
the building must be altered for the purposes
of the school, and the machinery must be
moved into it. A steam neating plant must
be built and operated to heat the building in
winter, and there will be other expenses that
will swallow up all that 1t is proposed to
save by the PLAN
Il hope" replied Mr. Zimmerman, 1--WE
shall not have to abolish the school. Our
policy is to give sittings to children who have
no chance to get education except at the
public expense. But If we have to Top off any
where we will do 1t at the top, and not at
NJ E. Pendergast said it had been his ex-
perience that few, IL any, high school grad
yates ever applied for employment as me-
chanics. They all became business and pro-
fessional men. He did not think the me-
chanic arts schools of much practical benefit.
1.-The reason of that" said c. G. Nelson.
rs because SO little attention has been paid
In public schools to mechanical arts. Such
a school educates the taste for such employ
ment. If the mechanic arts schools are de-
veoped they will prove an inspiration to the
young men of this country. l should be sorry
for anything that should cripple the school.
And while l am up" continued Mr.. Mel
son, II would like to speak to the members Of
changes of text books In the schools. They
are changed often that the expense be-
comes heavy burden to the man, especially
to one who has a dozen and half of chill
dren."
This remark created great laughter and
President Zimmerman replied that the school
board was obliged by law to make con racts
He said the board had been criticised often
because they obeyed a law they could not get
away from.
Inspector Franklin said the board was con-
fronted with serious financial question and
it had to be answered. 1t had been necessary
at starvation point. 1t was the ci.y's duty
to raise them. There are many children
in the city he said, who are able to attend
school only half day because Of lack OF
accommodations. 1t was duty to give those
children an education. 1t cost $4,000 a year
to teach $50 pupils mechanic arts, and he
thought that was one place where economy
could be exercised without detriment to the
public school service.
Another thing" said Mr.. Franklin, 1.-THE
labor question enters into this matter. The
laboring men complain that the tendency of