, 1907-05-01
PROPOSITION FOR AN INCREASE
OF TAXES To COVER NEW
BUILDING FOR ADDITION
Al FACILITIES.
Principal Brown OF state Normal Gives
Notice of Resolutions To Be Sub
mitted to Annual Meeting Next
Monday Night, Making Some Radi-
cal Changes In Present Methods in
the Laramie School District.
To the Editor of The Republican:

To the Editor of The Republican:
Professionally 1 am interested in
schools and school work everywhere.
AS a citizen of Laramie l have great in
terest in cur own schools. l have given
some study to the local school situa-
tion, and l desire respectfully to sub
NIT the facts as l have found them, and
my W conclusions, to the readers OF
The Republican for such consideration
as they may deserve. If my remarks
seem to express some sense of dissatis-
faction with existing conditions, 1 wish
it distinctly understood that there is
in them no thought Of unkind criticism
upon any one. l have good reason to
believe that every person officially con-
nected with the work and management
of our schools is serving faithfully and
efficiently, to the limit Of his Or her
ability, and our schools are without
doubt in fair condition. But in order
that there may be progress there are
times when it is becoming to leave the
good for the better. Bread and milk
are good, and perhaps ought to be
satisfied with them, but somehow life
seems better with a good beefsteak
added occasionally.
Equal to the Best.
My discussion presupposes that the
people Of this school district desire edu-
cational facilities for their children
equal to the best, and that, SO far as
may be practicable, they are willing to
pay the legitimate cost of such facili-
ties. 1 believe such presupposition is
warranted by the facts.
From time to time in the annual
school meetings and elsewhere we have
heard urged the claims Of a four-year
high school, a kindergarten, manual
training work, and an ungraded school
for the benefit Of those pupils who, for
some unavoidable reason, are irregular
or deficient in their work. There is not
space here to discuss, the merits of
these proposed extensions Of our
school facilities. Every one who has
kept abreast of the times in the knowl-
edge of educational theory n prac-
tice knows that all of these things have
long ago passed the experimental stage
and that they have been incorporated
into all first-class school systems.
There is no question about their value.
There is no question about the value
for Laramie. The only questions are,
Can we afford them? and, Are we ready
to give the children of this community
the best that we can afford?
More School Room.
When the above improvements have
been suggested, the objection has been
urged that there is not room for them
in our school buildings. I believe the
objection is valid. Not only so, but
more room is needed for the work the
schools are now doing. Two factors
enter into the determination of the
number of pupils to be placed in one
room. First, the number that can be
proftably taught by one teacher. Sec
ond, the number of cubic feet of air
space to each pupil. 1t is conceded that
40 is the maximum number OF pupils
that can profitably be taught in one
room.
Superintendent W. E. Chancellor Of
Washington, D. c., n Of the foremost
superintendent in the country, writes:
"a class of 80 is reasonable, of 40 is
large, of SO is too large, OF 60 is sinful.
/. Every child needs at least
twenty square feet Of floor space and
200 cubic feet of air space"
Basement Rooms Crowded.
With small children n poor venti-