The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-28
oil. XNIII.


building it would be necessary to
take out and rebuild the entire inte-
rior of the building which would be
so expensive an undertaking that it
would be prohibitve even if any ar
rangement could be made for hous-
ing the scholars while such "A tran
sltion is in progress. But there is q
graver problem than that involved in
any attempted remodeing of this
building. AS is well known, the
building was constructed more than
20 years ago. That the foundations
nave settled is apparent by large
cracks on the exterior of the build
ing on all sides of it. We are assur-
ed that the building is perfectly safe
in it's present condition, but if the in
her supports were removed and at
tempt made to rebuild the interior
we are extremely doubtful if a
building safe for public school pur-
poses would result.
Aside from the fact that the cree
ton of ward schools at this time
would not relieve the situation any,
is the further fact that the conduct
of ward schools about the community
would be impracticable with the pres
ent school population of the district
M a oh f.t1
enough pupils are found in the i'm
mediate vicinity of any school to
make grammar school of eight
grades in eight rooms; in other
words. with one complete grade to
& room and teacher. That such a
condition does not exist at present in
this vicinity must be acknowledged
by anyone who gives serious consid
Grafton to the matter. For the pres
ent year the Board has made a de-
parture along this line and has es-
tablished a portable ward school in
that portion of the School District
lying west of the Northern Pacific
railway tracks, and even there where
the school population is as heavy as
it is in any region of similar area in
the community, We have one teacher
teaching % pupils made up of three
distinct grades. In other words, a
ward school of such a character is
nothing more or less than the ordin-
airy ungraded country school. We
have no criticism to offer of the
country school as an institution, but
we submit to the people of this COM
munity that the graded school has
proven, in the eyes of the educators,
to be more efficient and much more
satisfactory both to pupil and teach
err than is a school of one teacher
and many grades.
So much for the need of high
school, and now passing to the
much discussed question Of site. For
the original selection of any site all
that is required is a majority Of the
voters participating. At the school
meeting held August 10th the pres
ent site was selected, not only by
majority of the voters present, but
by full three-fifths vote. At the
time of the bond election held Sep
TENDER End the selection of the site
was again ratified by more than the
required majority.
Some objection has been express
ed to the meeting at which the site
was selected. Sections 1864, 1868
and 1866 of the Remington & Bal
lineer code of Washington, pres
cribe the manner and the purpose
of such meeting. These sections are
as follows:
Section 1864: amy Board of Di-
rectors mays, at its discretion ana
shall upon . petition of a majority OF
the legal voters of their district. call
special meeting of the voters or
the district to determine the length
OF time III tNttSS VI th'
length of time prescribed by law that
such school shall be maintained III
the district during the year; TO de-
tcrmine whether or not the district
shall purchase any school house site
ar sites. and to determine the loca-
tion thereof; or to determine wheth-
or or not the district shall build one
or more school houses; or to deter
mine whether or not the district
shall maintain one or more free XIII
dergartens: or to determine Whether
or not the district shall sell any
real or personal property belonging
to the district borrow money or es-
tablisb and maintain school district
library"
Section 1865: "All such special
nootings shall be held at the school
house. if there be one, or II there are
none. or more than one, then at such
hoo1bouca mr. Mace as the board OF