The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-27
Legislature VIII Be Asked to Provide
S25O,OOO by Increasing Tax
Levy Ten Cents.
BETTERMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL
SHORTRIDGE AND TRAINING SCHOOL
ARE OvERCROWDED.
Additional Grounds and Modern
Salaries to BE EquaIized.

The Indianapolis Board of School Com
missioners will go before the next Legisla-
ture with plans of extensive improvements
of the city's schools-plans necessitating
the expenditure of about $25O,OO0 on the two
high schools within the next two years, and
of about $4,000 for other Improvements Of
a special nature. The announcement of the
purpose of the board was made public al
the meeting cf the commissioners last night
The Legislature will be asked to increase
the tax levy for school purposes 10 cents
on the 500; an increase that will bring in
TO the boards treasury about $126,00O an
nually The purpose of the board was dis
cussed by the commissioners informally
last night and estimates were made as to
the amounts of money that will be re-
quired to bring the city's schools up to
the standard of perfection desired and that
Is felt to be necessary.
The plans contemplate first, the i'm
prOvement of the Manual Training High
School and of the ShOrtridge High School.
Ii is desired to provide Shortridge with an
assembly hall large enough to accommO-
date not less than 1900. so that all the pu-
pills of the institution can be gathered into
one room a. the same time. The board
wishes also TO purchase ground north of
the present site which TO place or
two needed structures. y gymnasium is a
necessity, and altogether it is estimated
that the improvements to be made will cost
not less than $l25,O00. The same amount
is to be expended upon the Manual Train
ing School. if the board can secure the in
creased tax levy from the Legislature. At
present the school is crowded TO more than
twice its capacity. 1t was built originally
for 200 pupils and nearly 1900 are now ac-
commOdated. The commissioners wish to
enlarge the school so that 2,O00 pupils may
be instructed in the institution without
overcrowd1ng. The equipments of both the
Il
are not as modern and complete as the ia
cilitieS of schools of a city of this size
should be. and a good part of the money,
il obtained, will go toward better equip
ment in the way of laboratories, libraries
and furniture.
OTHER PLANS DISCUSSED.
In addition to improvements contemplated
in the two high schools, the board has dis
cussed, informally. other plans for better
ing the schools. 1t is desired TO place a
course of manual training in each of the
lower grade schools, and this will cost ac-
cording to the estimates of Commissioner
Moores and Superintendent Kendall last
night, about $4,000. Courses of manual
training for young pupils would work to
the best advantage, the members of the
board believe. and would be effective in re-
ducing the business of the Juvenile Police
Court. The board desires also TO equaliZe
the salaries of all teachers who are getting
less than $500 per year at the present time
Ii is proposed 10 make 5000 the minimum
salary. and TO bring about this reform
would necessitate an added expenditure of
$500, according 10 the figures of Mr.
MOOres.
Besides these specific improvements con-
tempiated, the board has in hand broad
plans for school grounds extension that
while necessitating the expenditure of a
large sum of money, would work for the
good of the schools in the future Many of
the schOOlyards are small and cramped
and the children have little or no oppor-
tunity Of getting exercise or of playing
School No. II. on the South Side and the
Harrison School on the North Side are
particular examples of schools without suf-
ficient grounds. The members of the board
feel that If the grounds are to be enlarged
IL should be done now before the value of
real estate that must be bought appreciates
with the passing of time. Business pirec-
tor CIeland and Commissioner Sweeney
both OF whom have given the matter OF
grounds extension much thought. advocate
the enlarging Of grounds as soon as possi-
BILE. Both say that the people would be
saved many thousands OF dollars III the i'm
provements are made now. rather than in
the indefinite future. That the grounds
generally must be enlarged is conceded
since they are too small at the present time
and with the addition Of pupils thai time