The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-13

VI those from the Inlrd and Ninth
wards. It is my belief that if this is
done, the building properly equipped
and the excellent corps of teachers now
! at the Cleveland placed in charsNe, that
| at least 300 pupils will be taken from
/ the Central high school If it is real
lied by the pupils that the facilities at
| this school, location for which has
| been proposed somewhere in the vi
entity of Minnehaha and Edgerton
! streets, are equal to those of the Cen
| trail, they will flock there if the school
| is nearer their home.
There are many arguments in favor
| of some such location. The ground
| for the site can be purchased cheaply,
| the surroundings are moral and health
| full, as opposed to the very opposite
| conditions that prevail in the heart of
| the city. 1t has been admitted at
various times during this discussion,
and by the superintendent of schools
| himself, that if the number of scholars
| in the Central high school is increased,
| that the per capita cost will remain
where it is-that the teachers now
have all that they can do, and if there
are more pupils there must be more
/ teachers and more rooms, more sup
| plies, more desks more of everything.
Our district is peculiar. The people
are proud of the Cleveland high school.
and when pupil has finished the
eighth grade the entrance to the high
school is not accompanied with the
fear and trembling that occurs when
1t is necessary to go down town in
| district that is and should be devoted
to mercantile pursuits and is honey
combed with places that may prove
| temptation to the young
Plea for Definite Policy.
Gen. Bishop made plea for the es-
tablishment of a definite policy to be
followed by the board in the future,
| and urged that the only lasting solu-
ton is to determine upon the estab-
lishment of grand central high
school. He said:
There are a great many people who
believe, even at this time, that they
should not be taxed for higher educa-
ton, from which the children of others
will benefit, and if this policy of main
tanning a number of high schools at a
cost that is much greater than would
be the case with one grand school
there will be revolt. The result will
be that the demands from the other
sections of the city will be granted and
the cost of maintaining the high school
system will become unbearable to the
taxpayers and at great cost it will be
necessary to go back to the central
school.
at has been said that If the branch
high schools are abolished it will be
necessary for the children of compare
lively poor parents to spend large
amount of money for street car fare.
1t would be cheaper for the city to pay
the fare of all the children from the
outskirts rather than continue the
Wasteful method now in vogue. But
the street car argument does not strike
me as being well grounded as at most
the expense will be put so cents
week, while believe that an arrange
ment could be made whereby this
could be reduced to rs cents week.
1t is we'll known that the cost of edu-
cation in the Cleveland and the Hum
boldt is much less than in the Central,
while their facilities are much in
ferior / believe that the only proper
solution of the question is the erection
of great central high school build
ing, in which will be placed not only
the high school proper, but the Me-
chanic Arts, an excellent institution,
also.'
Answers Gen. Bishop.
Rev. o. P. Peterson, pastor of the
First Swedish Baptist church, an
swered the arguments of Gen. Bishop,
among other things saying:
TT is within my personal knowledge
that a close relationship between the pa
rent and the teacher is of great advan
vantage to the pupil, and if there is to be
one Central high school this would be
Impossible, ana mucn OF the SOOO lHdl
comes from individual instruction and all
the benefits that result from such would
be lost. We are proud OF the Cleveland
high school, and have every reason to
have confidence in the ability and integ-
rity of the teachers, whom we have learn
ed to love. 1t has been said that there
are not a sufficient numbe! OF pupils IN
the school to justify its maintenance, but
it should be remembered that it is grow
ing, and that great majority OF our peo-
pie are young. If better facilities are
y-Oxri1n Lad ic No inn hITt a
there will be a greatly increased attend
ance, and If the plan that has been pro-
posed is carried out there is no reason to
believe but that the crowded condition of
the Central high school will be greatly re-
lieved."
L. W. Fahlgren made an eloquent plea
Cleveland school, indorsing the plan of
erecting a new building. He argued that
a great majority of the people living in
the First ward are woTkfngmen, and with
them every cent counts. If it was nee
essary to pay car fare for their children
the result would be great hardship on
many. "They have money and mansions
in the Seventh ward and in Merriam
Park he concluded. but we have what
is better, muscle and ambition.
Objection to Central High.
Judge J. W. Finehout based his argu-
ment for the proposed new high school
building largely on moral grounds, con-
tending that the location of the Central
high school is such that there will al
ways be objection to sending children
there. He said:
1.-The baseball park is but short dis
lance away, and will doubtless remain
there; the public market is near by and
will stay where it is; variety theater is
being started In the neighborhood and
will doubtless remain; there are numerous
other good and sufficient moral reasons
why the location is not what it should
be from moral standpoint. To purchase
land here will cost more than 1t will at
the location that is proposed by the cit
liens of the First and Second wards who
are here tonight to urge the construc-
ton of high school at location where
it will not only be well patronized. but
will be where the pupils will be free from
evil surroundings. There are numerous
other arguments that can be made for
the retention of the school, among which
is the well known fact that a great ma
jority of the people of the First and Sec
ond wards come from the middle classes
and many of the pupils who would at
tend a school near home will not go if
they are compelled to go down town"
William Pitt Murray brought out the
fact that there are PA pupils in the
Cleveland high school at the present time
and that forty-four of the number will
graduate this year, Prof Farnsworth as
sorting that this was much the largest
class in the history of the school, and al
most twice as large as in any previous
year. Mr.. Murray thought that sentiment
should be put aside in a matter of such