The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-16

and pressing need Of room. This
basement room is utterly unfit for
school purposes; the ceiling is only
about eight feet high, and it is poorly
lighted and ventilated. And yet, day
after day, this room is crowded with
class of more than sixty little child
rem. The furnace has been overtax-
ed by the addition Of extra rooms;
smoke and SCOT find their way into
the class rooms to such an extent that
cleanliness is out Of the question, and
teachers and children must breathe
foul air at the risk of their health.
The building is crowded not only
beyond the capacity Of the rooms, but
also beyond the capacity of the teach
ers. In the six lowest grades there
are four hundred pupils, making six
ty-six to the grade. Some Of the
grades have been subdivided, but all
of them ought to be; and they should
have adequate quarters in which to
work. It is little short Of criminal
that the town should compel the trus-
tees to conduct the schools under
these conditions.
New Buildings Needed.
Our school system is too important
to be developed by mere patchwork.
If we are going to make improve
ments at all, they should be in keep
ing with the Importance Of the work
and the size and growth of the COM
munity. We are of the opinion that
there should be two new buildings.
One new building should be equipped
for thorough graded school work up
to and through the sixth grade. And
it ought not to be on the present
school grounds; each Of the schools
should have adequate Fairgrounds.
The other building should be
thoroughly equipped for four grades,
beginning with the seventh, and
should be known as the High school
True, the upper grades Of the school
are now known as the high school
grades, but we believe that our town
should have a high school in high
school building. This expanded sys-
TEN would be of incalculable material
benefit in advertising our community
and adding to our population; but the
main thing is, that it would enable
our own children to get good school,
ing under comfortable and healthful
conditions.
The Cost
It is impossible to tell exactly what
the cost of the Improvement will be.
Lots must be bought and plans must
be prepared by architects before the
cost can be estimated at all accurate
", and the trustees cannot bargain
for grounds Or employ architects un-
til the election shall have decided
whether the bonds will b, issued. But
we have investigated the whole ques
ton carefully in the interest Of econo-
my and efficiency. We have consld-
cred the present cost of, supporting
the schools as compared with the In
come; we have estimated the probable
growth Of the schools and the increas-
ed income on the basis of an increase
in the taxable property Of the town
and of the tax levy; and we want
only enough money to erect and thor
oughly equip the buildings and only
enough income to conduct the schools
efficiently.
The point has been made that levy
of two mills for support would be too
much. The present income of the
schools is not sufficient for the work
as now conducted; the new buildings
will entail considerable annual ex-
pense; and decided improvements
must be made in other directions. Su-
perintendents and teachers are better
paid in other towns of this size;
whereas, under present conditions,
ours are underpaid and overworked.
But you must trust something to the
honesty and good judgment Of your
trustees. And they are ready to Civ.
the assurance that no more money will
be spent than is required to adminis-
ter the schools efficiently, and that
due regard will be had for the rights
Of the taxpayers.
Besides, an increase of two mills
i will only add two dollars to the taxes
of the man who pays on one thousand
dollars uorth Of rrnnartN: aud If he