The Adair County news., 1908-11-18
Some Reasons Why | Favor The
Graded School in Our Town.

Ufd0eQ SCn00l IN Uur Town.
The question is before the citizens of
the town now as to whether we will
have a graded school or not. The vote
is to be taken the 18th, inst, to decide
the question. If should view it from
a financial and selfish view point
would vote against the measure, for the
reason that have no children here who
could derive any benefit from it, Meth
er grandchildren or kinpeople. So l
do not see how it could benefit me in
any way from any selfish stanpoint.
But feeling that every good citizen
ought to look in deciding question like
this to the greatest good to the great
est number.
Our common schools can never ac-
complish in the town, much greater
good then are now doing. Two teach
ers can't do justice to three hundred
pupils in the school under any circum-
stance. There is not room enough in
the two school buildings here to accom-
modate them all, if they should all at
tend. There will not be the present
year perhaps more than 33s per cent
of an average attendance, during the
six months. So the State now pays
eleven hundred dollars to the two teach
ers of Columbia for 100 pupils six
months. 1t is not the fault of the
teachers. 1t is the same all over the
county, and has been for years.
The Graded School, will make great
change in this respect. There will be
plenty of room provided the in graded
school building to accommodate all the
pupils in the district and plenty of
teachers to do them justice. Then the
attendance will be greater because of
these additional accommodations.
Then my observation and experience
has been that when parents realize they
are paying directly out of their pockets
a part of the tuition for their children,
they will take more interest in sending
their children to school The attend
-s1ce, | feel safe in saying from the ex-
perience of other towns, will reach an
average of Is per cent.
By the system of the graded schools
there will be created in the children an
inspiration to do their best in passing
the grades, and an ambition to excel
each other in their attainments. When
the graded school system is once in
operation the population of our town
will increase in wholesome and healthy
degree.
| say this because it is the experience
of all the towns that have tried it: 1t
will increase the business of the town,
and the churches and Sunday schools
will be greatly strengthened. There
will be in the future a better citizen
ship, higher moral standard. and a
purer Christianity. / believe all these
things will be true if we decide to have
the graded school,
Then the Lindsey Wilson school will
be benefited by it if they will raise their
standard to collegiate course, and
take pupils from the graded school on
through the higher branches They will
have the advantage now in favor of the
country pupils in the rate of board and
tuition and would hold their present ad-
vantage in cheaper board than could be
secured in town for the graded school.
Let every citizen consider well what
the present opportunity means to the
future upbuilding of the town. If we
would keep apace with our neighboring
towns, and with the demand for a high
er and more universal education of the
future generations we must avail our
selves of these modern and better ad-
vantages. Don't vote against the meas
ure because of the little money it may
cost you. We can not have advance
ment on any line without money. If
you have plenty of money and no child.
rem, count it God given privilege to
help bear the burdens of others, "Bear
We one an others burdens and so fulfill
the law of Christ" 2. T. Williams.