The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-06-07
A UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Problem for Voters of Several
School Districts to Solve.
Overflow at High School Presents
Condition Shall Nom Resi-
dent Pupils Be Eliminated?

The patrons OF the city schools are
well aware of the remarkable improve
ment made in the quality of work and
the standard of scholarship at the local
high school during the past two or three
years. Much new apparatus and many
reference books have been added during
this period and new methods have been
introduced in many of the subjects. The
school has been examined a number Of
times by representatives of the higher
educational institutions and as a result
of these visits the Colfax High school has
been placed on the permanent accredited
list of the State College, the State Uni
versity, the three state normal schools
and number Of institutions in other
states.
In consequence of the better facilities
and improved methods there is no longer
the same incentive for pupils to drop out
at the close OF the eighth grade or before.
Instead, there is every inducement for
those possessing the requisite qualfica-
tiOns TO enter and to complete a course
in the high school. A marked increase
in the graduating classes and the total
enrolment has been experienced. Not
only have these conditions been taken
advantage of by the young people OF the
city, but a great many from the sur
rounding rural districts and even from
neighbOring cities have availed them
selves Of the opportunities offered at the
local school. During the year just past
there were thirty seven rural students en-
rolled in the high school alone, and many
more are preparing to come at the open
ing OF the fall semester. These, with a
promised increase of some fifty or sixty
from the eighth grade during the coming
year, have placed a most perDlexing prob
lem before the Colfax Board of Education,
and q problem, the solution of which,
cannot be postponed.
The cOngested condition Of the grades,
the inadequate and deplored facilities OF
the Ducheman building are familiar to
all, but the threatened overflow at the
High school is of more recent origin and
presents condition demanding imme-
date and final action. At first there ap-
peared but one sOlution-the elimination
of resident students. The cost of
high school instruction is about 81 cents
per day per pupil, while the state pays
I q
cents per day per pupil. 1t will thus be
seen that the Colfax district has, as a re-
suit of not charging tuition to nOn-resi-
dent pupils, been educating such pupils
at an actual and considerable loss. in
addition to making a very great sacrifice
as to seating capacity. The elimination
OF non resident pupils would therefore
settle matters for the Colfax district and
place it in very fair condition.
Before taking such action, however,
the Colfax Board Of Education author
ized somewhat haety canvass Of the
citizens of the local district and a very
| thorough canvass of the voters OF the
neighboring rural districts and has
| everywhere been confronted with a de-
cided opinion against the proposed elm
| inatiOn of the nonresident students
In both city and country there is a
unanimous sentiment that some other
| solution must be found.
In number of communities this same
| problem has been satisfactorily solv ed
| by the union Of number of the inter-
ested districts for high school purposes,
| while these same districts retain their
original identity for grade purposes.
Such a solution is now under consider
alton by the voters Of the several dis
tricts adjoining and including the Colfax
district At a meeting of the directo ors
of the interested districts, held at the