The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1907-06-14
Question of Union High School
District Before the People.
Rev. Mr.. Newman's Thoue ehtful Re :
marks on Subject Which He
Has Given Much Time.


aDce Of this matter and then give it our
hearty support The principle of the
law providing for such district is sim
ply this: To give every boy and every
girl the same opportunities for a high
school education, whether he live in the
town or in the country. This is only
just and right. This same principle has
been applied to the normal schools, the
colleges and the universities of the state;
why should it not be applied to our high
schools, which in reality are only part
of our common school system? The
state has recognized the justice of such
an educational provision, and it's laws
permit two or more districts to unite for
the purpose of furnishing every child the
same advantages OF high school edu-
cation. without any additional cost.
Several such districts have already been
organized in our state and others are
being formed. 1t is only a matter Of
short time when such districts will be
formed in all the more thickly settled
parts Of the state. And some day law
should be passed that districts that do
not for any reason belong to a union
high school district shall pay the cost of
high school privileges for the pupils OF
their districts. Only in some such way
will all children have the same equal
chance Of high school education, which
is the foundation for business, for a col
lege education, and for technical and
professional training.
The high school education is needed
just as much on the farm, is just as USE
full there, has as large a field for itself as
in any place in the world. There is
doubtless a larger number of children in
the same number of families in the cOun-
try than in the towns and cities, and for
this reason the union high school offers
as great, if not greater, advantages to
the rural districts.
There is no section of this state more
in need of a union high school than are
the eight districts that will vote upon
this matter. This is shown by the large
number OF students in attendance at the
Colfax High school the past year, and in
the seven districts adjoining district No
l there are to-day between 30 and 40
boys and girls, not in the high school last
year, who are talking of coming next
year if they are permitted to do so. If
this plan is carried out believe that in
two years the number of pupils in the
high school from the rural districts will
be equal to that OF Colfax, and in a few
more years it will be greater. When
these districts come to have an interest
in the high school larger number OF pu-
pills in the rural districts will not only
finish the eighth grade, but will go on to
the high school. There will be many in
ducements to do this. One farmer with
whom | talked about this enterprise is so
much interested in his boys having a
high school education that he promised
to give him monthly wages if he would
go to school, and make him present of
thousand dollars the day he graduates
has not yet finished the eighth grade, but
will do so next year.
Now, in considering this plan for i'm
proving our school system it is a mis-
take, it is an injustice, to think that dis
trict No. l is trying to come any sharp
practice on the other districts, or that
the Colfax district will profit more than
the other districts by this organization,
When this plan is carried out we are not
districts" so far as our high school is
concerned, but we are one district on an
equal and just basis. If there is any dis
advantage in this plan to any district it
is to Colfax. We have maintained our
own high school for a good many years;
we have good library of more than
1000 volumes and a fine lot of appara-
tus. Our equipment of this kind could
not be purchased for less than $4,000;
all this, to enter into this union, we sur
render, with the honor of having high
school OF our own, and bear considerably
more than one half Of the whole cost OF
the union school, and yet, by the clear
provisions of the law, we have no more
control than the smallest district that
comes into the union. There is but one
reason for our consenting to do this.
We believe it is for the best interests of
this section. This is the only reason
why | am in favor of it and this is the
reason why every man and woman
should vote for it next Tuesday from 2
| to D. m. in his own school house.
In my personal canvass for this matter
there has not been man who, when it
had been explained to him, told me to
put him down as against it. There have
! been few who said they would not vote