The Weekly orb., 1899-02-05
Division of Bisbee School District.

f0oC 70 dlvldo tho EloDO0 Scnooi DistTict,
 and petition is, believe, being circu-
 lated for that purpose, which is sad to
 have the signatures of the parents of
 some fifty children.
 The school law is quite clear on thi'
 subject. Section A, Chapter VII on
 School Districts, says: ."No new dis
 trict can be formed unless the parents
 or guardians of at least ten school cen
 sua children, residents of such proposed
 now district, and residing at 8 greater
 distance than two @ miles from any
 district school house, present & petition
 to the county school superintendent set
 ting forth the boundaries of tho new
 district asked for; provided, however,
 that in districts containing more than
 250 school census children, as shown by
 the proceeding school census, upon peti-
 tion signed by the residents of the dis.
 trict who pay e majority of the taxes in
 said district, new district may bs
 formed by the subdivision of the old one even if the distance be less than two
 m les from the district school house."
 The movement for a new district finds
 it's friends among the residents of upper Tombstone canyon. The crowded con. dition of our schools seems to be the
 main ground for action. So far l can learn, no pupils come . greater distance than two miles to school. can learn of none who come much over one mile i; 80 the new district cannot be formed under the first provision of the law. Icannot see . a single reason why the residents of the district in any other part of town should sign this pstition. If those who pay the majority of the taxes in this district should aign the petition it would then have to be grant cd and the district divided. But those inaugurating any new school movement should always look at the consequences. It is will established principle of our American life that all public affairs should be conducted as to do the great est good to the greatest number. ..
 If this district were divided as indicat- led, the main district would lose probably $500 or $500 year, which would be spent for 7 or months school for 25 or 30 children. There would not enough pupils leave the main school to relieve it of its crowded state. nor would there be enough money received by the new district to secure superior teacher. The new school would contain pupils of all grades, and less time would be given to the primary pupils than they now receive. The main district would lose $500 or $500, and little more than that would enable it to secure q superior teacher for 50 or 60 pupils, instead of an inferior teacher for 25 or 30 in a new district. -...
 While some children in Bisbee must walk mile to school, there is no town in Arizona where the school is so con- venient to majority, because our town is built over very small space. While the crowded condition of our schools is to be deplored and should be remsdlcd, it cannot be helped by a division ot the district. In this instance. as in many other cases, the remedy is worse than the disease,
 There are but two ways of securing funds for relieving our schools by the addition of more teachers. The first is for our citizens to keep faithfully after the hoard of Supervisors of Go. chise Co. until the county school tax ia put at not less than 69; That will enable the trustees to add two or three more good teachers, and then there will be no reason why as good work should not be done here as anywhere. But this cannot be done before next year and will likely never be thought of by ono half dozen school patrons again. It IS constant interest in schools that produces valuable results, and not spasmodic efforts for a brief time in any direction well meaning or otherwise.
 The other way is for the Bisbse school trustees to call for the levy of special tax for school purposes. This tax must be passed upon favorably by majority vots of the taxpayers in a regular school election to be calle | by the school trustses when they see fit to do so.
 No thoug htful parent will complain of the work done in our primary grades under present conditions. The teachers are making an honest effort to do the best work. I doubt whether any teach CTS could be foun in Arizona who could produce superior results under the conditions which exist, with 300 l school children enrolled in the three pri- 1 mary rooms.
 When parents. whose children can attend but three hours each day complain of the shortness Of the time they should remember that under the Arizona school law no child less than 8 years of age can be kept in nChOOl lnnuor than 1 hpura The l