Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-29
WORKMEN FOR
BETTER SCHOOLS
Association Calls Upon City
Council to Provide Adequate
Buildings at Once
PRESENT CONDITIONS
DISGRACE TO TOWN
Action of Popular Organization
Indicative of Public Feeling in
Most Important Matter

Most Important Matter
With an energy characteristic OF
that hustling organization, the
Workingmen's Fraternal Association
Monday night took hold of the publ ic
school building problem and unani-
mously adopted motion to press
the matter of new school structures
to the limit. With President Geor-
ge A. NEWMAN in the chair, the COM
mittee appointed for the purpose
submitted the following declaration
of the Associations stand in the mat
ter, the same meeting with the ap-
prevail of the other members pres
ent:
The Workingmen's Fraternal AS
ISOLATION being organized for the
purpose of advancing the mental,
moral, and material interests of it's
members and of the City of Staun-
ton, and being DESTROYS of promoting
in every way these interests begs
leave to bring to the attention of
the people of Staunton the following
facts: This city is known far and
wide as an educational centre. Its
private institutions of learning rank
among the best of the country and
are constantly advancing. The cur
riculum of it's public schools is re-
cognized as being of very high
order, and of a most practical kind,
and is frequently used as model
by other cities and towns; the public
school teachers are competent, &C
tive, faithful and efficient, and these
conditions are highly satisfactory,
but the school buildings are entirely
and wholly out of date. They are
inadequate in capacity, unsanitary
in arrangement, unfortunate in To-
cation, and not in any way up to the
standard of approved modern school
houses. The present building can
not accommodate the pupils who
ought to attend. Pupils of the high
school and lower grammar grades
are in too close contact as both are
compelled to use the same very limit
ed recreation ground because of
lack of room pupils arriving before
the opening time have to remain
outside, exposed to the elements,
until the opening bell rings. Abund-
ance of room and plenty of light are
essential to the best interests of
school children. The same may be
said as to the grounds surrounding
the buildings and which may be used
for exercise and recreation. The
physical development of the child is
so important, and so closely allied
to its proper mental and moral de-
velopment, that modern education
al methods demand that these re-
quirements shall be taken into con-
whenever new school houses
are to be built. 1t is only necessary
to hint at the necessity for perfect
sanitary conditions. This fact is re-
cognized without argument. In the
matter of location, while convenience
is of great Importance, there are
other things to be considered of
equal Importance abudanee of
sunlight, freedom from noises that
would disturb, and such surroundings
as do not appear when the houses
are located in the business sections.
1t is true that Station suffers
by comparison when her public school
buildings are mentioned in connec-
School Board and the City Council,
20 prepare adequate, comfortable,
buildings for the pupils of it's pub
ic schools, and it is of the opinion |
hat the pupils of the high school
ought to be segregated from those of |
he lower grades, it is further of |
he opinion that the Old Academy |
building and grounds afford at least |
one possible solution of the |
question of locating the high |
school building but this Association |
makes no suggestion as to location
hat might hamper or interfere with
he proper authorities in making a
choice of suitable places. 1t does,
however, call upon the good people
If the city, and it's School Board, and |
City Council to take such steps as
will give to the people of Staunton
he relief that is so badly needed,
md promises to do all in it's
power to support the authorities in
heir efforts to secure these desirable
'esults.
ion with those of other cities of the
State.
This A..Sciation believes that the
,est interests of the children who at
end the public schools of Staunton
lemand that, without delay, the
proper steps be taken, by the City
Dismiss Mahrey Case
The case against A. c. Mabrey, the
'olored upholsterer, charged with re-
moving bicycle from the Crowder