The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-04-28


It strikes big nail squarely on the
head and points out one of the most
glaring defects in our school system,
unjust to taxpayers and operating
to the very great disadvantage of
school children in rural communities.
Your article also reminds me of a
request made to me some weeks ago
by one of our worthiest and most
public spirited citizens that l write
an article for the Islander expressing
my views upon the school question,
with especial reference to the needs
Of this community. While by no
means convinced that my opinions
upon the school question will be of
any particular value or interest to
any considerable number of people
have no objection to giving them,
and would like to read in the Is
lander the views Of other citizens
upon the same subject.
Wendell Phillips, one of the most
accomplished men of his time, said
that Education is the only interest
worthy the deep, controlling anxiety
of the thoughtful man" Edmund
Burke, the great English orator and
statesman, called education the
cheap defense of nations and said
that Every days experience shows
how much more actively education
goes on out Of the schoolroom than
in it." 1t was the opinion of Glib
bon, the great historian, that Every
person has two educations one
which he receives from others and
one. more important, which he gives
himself. It is with the former
that we are chiefly concerned in
considering the question Of good
schools.
1t is seldom in our day that we
find any person who does not readily
coneele the importance of education
or who objects seriously to the liberia
expenditure of public money for the
support Of educational institutions.
The average taxpayer, however
gives little thought to the manner
in which his money and that Of his
neighbors is expended for school
purposes nor does he pretend to be an
expert on the question of efficiency
I in instruction. Considering the
tremendous Importance Of good
schools in their relation to the moral
and material welfare of the com
munity, whether it be large or small
rich or poor, the Indifference of the
general public as to their manage
ment and the levy Of taxes for their
equipment and maintenance is
astonishing. In many, if not most
districts. unless some personal ele-
ment is injected into the contest. not
one tenth Of the qualified electors
go to the polls to vote for school
directors, and bonds for very large
sums are often voted by a very small
fraction of the electorate, as was
the case at Spokane few weeks age
when a bond issue for $500, 900 for
school purposes was authorized by
a vote of less than $50 out of total
voting population Of more thar
$4,000.
The Islander calls attention to the
high per capita cost Of school main
tenance in this county and suggests
that There are some districts in the
county which might be united to
their mutual advantage, relieve the
taxpayer Of part Of his burden and
give the pupil the worth of the
money expended for his education. .
While consolidation Of districts
is not practicable in some parts
Of the county on account of rough
topography, sparse population and
poor roads, it is practicable on San
Juan island. With only about 1900
people on the island there are eight
school districts. The aggregate
assessed valuation Of property in
these districts is nearly three quar-
tiers Of million dollars, ranging
from $3O, 900, in round numbers, in
district No. 20, to about $220, 600
| IN No. 8 Friday Harbor, the second
highest being the Roche Harbof
district assessed at annrnximatnlv