The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-01

purchase. they are more remote and not
90 fine as those contemplated for sale. II
looks like q real estate speculation on the
part Of the district No proposition Is be-
fore the people to use them for school pur-
poses If they are not needed. why buy
them? The prices asked are not 50 low as
to be an inducement to purchase years in
advance of requirement. The experience
with block 127 Is a warning that should be
needed. The city Is already fairly well sup
piled with unused school grounds, which
in purchase price and interest have cost the
people dearly. Why not use these grounds
block l27, for instance?
There is no question that the people gen.
orally prefer and favor the large school
houses. They believe that there are more
comforts In these buildings, more aids to
the children, and better teachers. They
may be wrong in this. but the belief exists
nevertheless. The teachers also prefer the
large houses. So do the school children, and
SO do the citizens general. Sixteen or sew
enteen years ago Seattle was violently agi-
tated over the question Of big and little
schoolhouses. The small houses were then
rejected by the people and the large ones
overwhelmingly approved. At that time the
first twelve~room schoolhouse was built.
those prior to that time having been two
room affairs. Nine or ten years ago four
They were regarded with extreme disfavor
by parents, pupils, teachers and citizens.
They were finally torn down, and the ex-
pressons of relief in consequence were
many and general
Now comes another attempt to put upon
us lot of small buildings. They will be
better than none, to be sure, but they will
be nothing like as good as the larger ones.
Once built. they will be kept and used until
worn out, and long after the patience of the
people Is exhausted with them. The peo-
pie of Seattle are proud OF their schools
and sd,ooihouses-that is, some Of the
schoolhouses. They like 10 see the big
buildings on slightly grounds in fine locaIi-
ties. and they have never hesitated in ss$-
ing SO when asked a. the polls They want
their children and grandchildren to 60 to
them. and they would rather have their
children walk half mile or mile to get into
them than fifty yards to get into one of
these small structures. The recent addition
of eight rooms to the Cascade school is a
wise and popular act OF the school board;
50 also will be. presumably. the additions
to the Queen Anne and Rainier buildings
The Denny s1loolhouse was increased
years ago from twelve TO twenty rooms,
and other buildings have been similarly
Heightened. IL the district Is not able at
this time 10 put UP great big houses on
these OUTSIDE docks. III can at least make
beginning on ore or more OF them, and add
from time 20 time as the necessities REQUIRE
and circumstances justify. The people have
confidence In Seattle sufficient for this pur-
pose. They are sure that II 10 only ques-
tor of time. and not a very long time az
that. until the unoceuried sites now belong
Ing Ia the city will be wanted fer school,
houses ef from eight 10 twenty rooms each.
They also feel that when those times come
the little houses then on the grounds Will
be in the way, and that their effect will be
to long delay the larger, finer structures.
BY all means let US have schooalo,ises in
plenty, and good ones at that The hess. are
mona too good for Seattle's young folks.
But aon't go into further land specu.at.ons
and don't build lot of little cheap school,
houses that are not particularly wanted.
and OF which. when built. the people viii be
ashame1
THOMAS W. pROScu.