Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-10-26
For q High school.

Mr. Editor:
In the Democrat Of Oct.
II, 1906, appears an article under the
above title, which seems to be, 10 saw
the least, ill-ehosen, as the trend of
said article appears TO be rather more
AGAINST High School. Let US pre-
coed TO an analysis of said article.
1t begins with the statement that
"the voters Of Mill Creek District will
have the privilege of voting, at the
coming election, upon the question of
establishing High School at Bunker
Hill for the use of the entire District, "
which is true. So far, so good
Next, it asserts that "some people
are anxiously supporting the PROPOSE
tion, while MANY OTHERS WHO ARE
HEAVY TAXPAYERS are opposing the
matter" The Caps are our own
throughoat.)
The meaning seems TO be that some,
who pay no taxes and are of no con
s.quedee whatever, are about the only
ones who support the proposition,
while the taxpayers are arrayed
against 1t.
zone thing is certain, High School
would be rice To have.r Notice the
sweeping and conclusive manner of
enumerating the advantages such n
school would offer to those who have
self-respect enough to desire respec-
taoie education for their children.
Another thing is equally certain,
the cost would be MORE THAN
SOME PEOPLE CLAIM" Who claim?
aIit. how much do they claim?
"A good principal will alone cost
as much as the Board is estimating as
tue cost of running the whole school. ;"
/ he Boards estimate is $1,000 per year,
which, couHting eight months school,
iuld be 1925 per month.
'sThe principal of the Martinsburg
iiigh school has always cost about
$40 per year, and the four assistants,
800 TO $50 per month. IF Martinsburg
pays $1,000 per year need Mill Greek do
III same? If it employs four assistants,
need Mil Creek do likewise? If SO,
why?
"1f it is not to be run s al RI School
why not improve the present graded
school to meet the needs of the Dis
trict?" Why not, indeed?
Is the writer then so uniformed as
to the affairs of the District? If SO, we
beg to state that in 1908 the Board or.
gained what some were pleased to
term graded school and some High
School, for advanced pupils of the en-
tire district. II was run thus for two
terms in spite CT the protests of some
who seemed to think them selves great
ly Interested in the educational well
fare of their community. These, who
may perhaps be known TO the writer
In question, finally succeeded in en-
Guiding all pupils except those Of their
own sub-district, and also in putting
an end to the teaching Of several high
er branches, which upon the teachers
own testimony did Lot interfere in the
least with the common school branches
Thus they succC eded i'm frustrating
the plans of the Board, of which fhos.
e. Miller, then State Superintendent
of schools, said in letter 10 ore of the
patrons. 81 think your motive is good
and | believe you can work out the
problem to the betterment of the con-
dition of yourcommunity.n
We do not wish this to be consid.
cred in any sense an answer to the said
article, as answer implies argument,
and 10 argument has as yet been for
mulated by the opposition
As it is usually conceded the priyi-
lege of the affirmative to open debate
we beg to submit a short statement.
We give an estimate of the cost OF
sending ones children to a boarding
school to complete the education which
the Public School system of their coun-
try owes them. 1t was made By pa
tron OF the public schools who knows
from experience, and who declares il
to be a low estimate.
Tuition, S5O
s mos. board at SIS sl20
Incidentals $50
Total s22o
Multiplying by three for an average
family, we have 5000, considerably