The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-05-29

: municipalities TO commence the Gre Z
auye process OF school systems which .
after statehood has been absorbed .
u-der the general authority Of the
state
Ardmcre resolved to take sjyan-
tage of this opportunity
|. There was opposition strong and
bitter.
Those who ,.r, impressed with
the idea found that this opposition in.
cluded many who were really good
citizens. but who favored the old
time system of private institutions.
10 vas urged tnlt the establish.
ment Of public schools would prove
ruinous 90 scholastic Institutions that
depended on the atter nee OF those
who were financially able for their
suppor-.
The question Of taxation loomed
mp with f-rbiddiag aspect and peo-
pie were 10Th 20 assume the burden
o. such taxation
Il was urged that a general dis
semination Of education among the
whites and the blacks would prove
disastrous to society and that only
those who by right OF superior
birth were entitled TO the benefit
OF an eiucatiin That to much edu-
cation would deplete the army OF
manual labor a-d leave the fields
and industries without sufficient
help.
That class and social grade should
be the standard and the effort to
uplift the poor from the mire OF ig-
norance would create dissatisfaction.
discomfort and general unhappy con.
diii-ns
All OF these things were thorough
~ weighed and discussed and those
who adhered to the policy OF free
schools. became all the more deter
mined to crown their efforts with
success.
IN 1899. on the eleventh day OF
March. the question was put TO a
vote. and after prolonged cam.
paign and hotly contested election, re-
suited in its being settled favorably
al to the free school idea by a small
III majority. At that election the fol-
ID lowing gentlemen were elected as
d. members of the first board of edu-
SIS cation: II. c. Potterf, G. H. Bruce.
IL DT. :. $. Carr, G. ID. Carter, w
d. S Wolyerton and J. w. Banks.
AT Elected. organized and on the
OIL right track, 1t was a dreary prospect
We the gentlemen who had been select
IL ed, had 10 face.
iE 1t was up 10 them to make good.
no having been selected as the admin
go istrators of the new school district:
er affairs, they found themselves with
en- out a dollar in the treasury witt
ey bitter opposition still rampant, anC
re with no facilities excepting those
10 that could be evolved from theiI
at brains. energy and determination.
re 1t took courage and persistence f.
an those days to go ahead. It required
an care and thought and unremittin.
work 20 formulate plan and put 4
he into effect that would create out o
,m the incohereut mass a system tha
of would prove the truth Of their asser
ial tl0ns. that free public school sys
sh. TEN would prove a gem of inestima
th ble worth, and silence the constan
Ie- mutterings OF their opponents.
IHnH.. .tfhaVft.r ,,f, no l.,
nd they proceeded TO issue bonds fo
re the sum OF $4,000 and by borrowin,
re- about $4,000 more for which indi
of yidual pledges We're given, they wer,
enabled t1 proceed to the purchas,
~, Of sites and construction of the flrs
-, school houses.
"a The first and third ward schoo
q, houses were The first buildings con
10, structed, 1t a cost Of about $4,000
No. each and were completed, ready To-
90 occupancy in 1903.
h. Fiueen tea hers were employ eC
,ar under the sgperintend,ncy of j. r
IA Hendricks and the public sch o
system had passed its embryo stag
ana became an actual fact
W., Ardmore could boast OF her school
and that was something to be prou,
Of, something to tell the world
something that would rebound 10 he
~ credit and place her in line witt
'' other mites
IL would ba impossible 10 rclat,
~ all OF the disc,uragcmeuts encounter
~ ed in those early years, by the gen
i, tlemen whose pertinacity ana fore
| sight eventually won out.
| j would be- story crcompasseC
| by many misgiymgs, by continued
| opposition hy much that stands t
| the discredi, o.. those who made N,