Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-03-01
RIcHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL.
Shall Il Be Closed After This se--:.,n
or No,2
That IL the Question Discussed By n
corrcspondcnt-ft History of
the school.

Editor Dcseret Nows:
The question that Is now aEitating
the minds OF our citizens II whether or
not TO continue our high school beyond
the present year.
In the summer OF 1897. by very
large majority vote. our high school
was established. During the following
year. there were enrolled In this school
forty students. including those In the
winter course" which was prcpara-
tory department 60 the high school
proper. about onc-halt ~ whom came
from surrounding settlements and the
adjoining counties. ~ the close Of the
school year. eight students completed
the first years. course. Three OF them
are now In the University 81 Utah.
having been admitted 10 the second
years course there upon the credits
received here, without further cxamina-
ton
Previous to the opening Of the present
school year. through combination NJ
unfortunate circumstances. FOR which
the trustees were In up Wise to blame.
they were disappointed no less than
three times Ia the engagement " teach
rfg to conduct the school. ana cunHc-
qucntly had to rcadiuat their pinnn 30
much that but a few weeks before the
time u opening Il appeared that 0f
necessity the high school department
would have to be- discontinued. During
ali this time students who made In
quiry concerning the source ~ study
and instructors Tor the ensuing year
could DO given no satisfactory an
sewer. ana consequently they made ar
ranEcmcnts 10 attend school elsewhere.
" very late date Prof -. J. call
OF liobcr city was engaged ua princi-
pal ana teacher ~ the high school and
principal " IN. grades. as the trustees
had decided by this time to Offer only
the irst years course of high school
work. since majority of the graduates
0f the first years course had deter
mined 10 teach or attend school In some
other place.
stated. the attendance this year has
been. u must be admitted. discourage
ing light-at no timc exceeding nftecn
pupils enrolled. and tho average at
tendance being but eight.
During the early part OF this month
number ~ citizens who felt that the
support the hlgh school was receiving
hld not justify the expense Of main
tninlng n. held n nicotine that was but
aparccly attended by the taxpayers ~
the district. ana by n unanimous vote
expressed thcmrelVeH us being In favor
Of dircontinulng the hlgh school
Next, petition asking the trustees
10 clo'c said school with the present
year was circulated and received the
signatures ~ about one hundred tax
payers of the district. which represent.
cd not to exceed one-fourth OF the tax
payers here.
The astonishing thing about the petI.
tl0n was that u received the support of
many ~ our best and most energetic
citizens. thus. who have been noted IN
| the past FOR their zeal along the line ~
education. and this fact. more than
anything else. gives rise 10 alarm on
the part ~ those who favor contlnu.
ance of this much needed Institution In
our city. II the petition had been signed
only by those who do not appreciate
and advocate good schools. regardless
/ NJ the expense. but little attention
/ would have been paid 90 II. but NJ IL H.
/ the trustees feel that nm expression oi
the people should he taken at popular
meeting 10 determine this question. and
/ accordingly have called one FOR the pur.
pose TO be- held next Friday evening.
True. our high school has not received
| the support II should have done. nnd
yet no one questions the ability ~ ~
teachers nor the value Of the courses ol
study presented IN the same. n We had
not the students In our city and count,
| To maintain a high school. there woult
be little reason In urging It's continu
ance. hut what are the facts In The
mattcrf Why. the HlEncrH ~ the poti
tion 60 discontinue the school are thu
fathers ~ enough children who Hhoul,
attend the same. 90 double or treble tn
present enrolment. II the school II no
supported, whose fault " ~
Surprising We discontinue the school
| what are We going 10 do them VIII ",
| have N truthfully said next year. tn
year following. and FOR ten years q
come that Richneld docs not furnish
tho educational advantages that IN
ana year. two years. or ten year
nFo7 Lot Il not he sol what are W.
going 20 do with our children nfte
they complete the eighth grade Of on
public school NJ fourteen or fftc"i
years ~ age; Consider that they hnvl
enough education 10 do them1 No. VIII
we send them away from home to at
tend school. nt this DANGEROUS ncrl -
of their lives. 20 be out from undc: IN,
wntrhcnre ~ father ana mother
come parents are able and viii be vii
| ling 10 run the risk Of ~ doing. bu
| four out ~ every Ave ~ the gradu
ntes from the public school Will remain
right where they are, cducntlonnlly
| forever, na far as scholastic lcnrninl
| II conocrned-n condition which II doe
| not reem possible that our people vii
| permit 20 exist n any reasonable Hncri
lice on their part can avert such dole