Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1906-06-08
FOR A HIGH SCHOOL.

The widespread sentiment in Dallas
in favor Of public High School will
probably take definite shape at the
annual school meeting one week from
next Monday, when it is believed the
voters will authorize the school board
TO add at least two, and possibly three
grades, to the present public school
course. The matter Of providing a
suitable building to accommodate the
increased number Of pupils that the
extra grades would add, will, in all
probability, be considered at that time.
The sentiment in favor OF good
High School in Dallas has been
steadily growing for many years, and
such an institution is now looked up
on as public necessity. 1t is doubt
full If a dozen voters could be found in
the district who would oppose such an
institution for the free education Of
the boys and girls of Dallas in the
higher branches of study. Nor could
any move be made that would add
more to the growth and prosperity Of
Polk's county seat town than the
location of such an institution of
higher education in the district
Dallas already has an excellent
public school, where nine grades are
taught by corps of competent in
structors. The work of this school is
thorough and efficient as far as it
goes, but there is general feeling
among the parents of the district that
it does not go far enough. The people
feel that town of the size and COM
mercial Importance of Dallas should
maintain higher and better free in
stitution for the training Of the boys
and girls of the county. Dallas is
the proper place for first class high
school, as it is centrally located and
would draw support from all parts Of
the county.
The business men and property
owners Of Dallas could not make a
better move than to secure the estab-
lishment Of first-class High School
in the city 1t would mean steadily
increasing population from the day it
was opened, and would prove an in
valuable factor in advancing the
prosperity Of the town. Dallas is
already one of the important manu-
featuring centers Of Western Oregon,
and its population is destined to be
made up largely of the laboring class.
These are honest, hard working people
who depend upon their daily wages
for livelihood, and few, if any, of
them are able to give their children a
college education. While these parents
are anxious to give their children a
good start la the world, only small
number are able to give their boys
and girls any educational advantages
beyond the present rudimentary
course. With good free High School
in Dallas, the children of the poor
would be given equal educational ad-
vantages with those of the rich, and
the result would be to the best interest
of all.
Public high schools are rapidly
growing in favor in Oregon, for the
reason that a large per centage Of the
pupils now attending college have not
advanced beyond the common school
studies, and the tuition and incidental
expenses of these students is much
heavier burden on the parents than
their share Of the taxes would be in
maintaining good free High School.
There will always be room for the
colleges that are doing strictly col
legiate work, and such institutions
need have no fear Of being injured by
the growth Of the high school move
ment The high school has its place
in the educational world, and no town
of Importance should be without one.
With the establishment of good
twelve-grade school, free to all the
boys and girls of Dallas, the people Of
the district will have taken an i'm
portant step in the right direction,
and 1t now seems certain that the
voters will authorize this greatly
needed improvement in the public
school system at the meeting to be ,
held on Monday, June IS.