The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-06-05
Needs of the Public Schools.


Quite number of citizens have ex-
pressed desire to know more about the
actual condition of the schools as regards
che need of more room, and probably
there are many more who would like to
know the actual and prospective needs
of the schools in this respect,
1t has been suggested that | take up
this matter in the newspaper for the
purpose of bringing these needs to the
attention of the public. / have hestated
to do this, fearing that my motives
would be misinterpreted by some, but
believing that the majority of the citi-
zens have the interest of the schools at
heart and wish to know just what their
needs are, | shall try to set them forth
as clearly and accurately as possible.
When the present building was erected
provision was made in it for a high
school study ROOM two recitation rooms,
a laboratory, and library and office
room. These rooms were intended for
the use of the high school and are no
more than are absolutely necessary for
carrying on high school work efficiently.
In fact you will find any we'll equipped
high school anywhere provided with at
least this many rooms, and usually more.
But the Edgerton high school no longer
has all of these rooms When the new
part was added the Office and library
was converted into hallway and ward
robe. For time room in the new
part was used as principals room and
library, but eventually this had to be
given up to the increasing needs of the
grade schools and the library was turned
out into dark hall where our fine col
lection of nearly 900 volumes was made
almost useless for reference purposes.
This year we have had book cases in
the study room but to do this it was
necessary to remove some of the seats.
With the increased attendance already
in sight for next year it will be necessary
to replace the seats and remove the
books, and a suitable room should be
provided for them.
Again, year ago it became necessary
to separate the seventh and eighth
grades and the eighth grade was placed
in one of the high school recitation
rooms, thus leaving the high school with
only one recitation room. There are
twenty-five recltatiOns on our daily pro-
gram besides two laboratory periods and
in order to provide for these classes have
to be held in the study room nearly
every period, thus interfering with the
preparation of lessons by pupils not re-
citing, in the laboratory thus making
any preparation of experimental work
impossible, and in the kindergarten room
when it is available Sometimes it is
impossible to find enough available
rooms and then some class must miss
recitation.
1t is not hard to understand that this
haphazard, catch-as- catch-c can way of
holding classes must be discouraging to
both teachers and pupils. Sufficient
recitation room is not a luxury but
necessity.
At the same time the eighth grade is
crowded into a room too small for its
purposes and should be provided with a
suitable room The primary grades are
all crowded to their utmost capacity and
it is only question of short time be-
fore one or more of them must be di-
vided.
There is imperative need of four more
grade rooms this year to properly house
all the grades and give the high school
the room that it needs and that prop.
erly belongs to it. To those who think
we ought to try and get along some way
for another year Or two, l would say, we
have been getting along "some way" for
two years, and anyone who has tried
to accomplish definite results by indef-
mite means knows how unsatisfactory
and discouraging this way is.
Is not this problem worthy of the best
thought of every citizen?
w. A. CLARK.