The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-02-02
WILL VOTE ON
BOND ISSUE
School Building Question
For Solution.
MORE ROOM IS NEEDED
Many Grades Now Badly
Crowded.
Unless the Buildings Are Erected,
Still More Room Must be Rented
To Accommodate the Schools.

The proposed issue of bonds for the
construction of two new grade school
buildings In those parts of the city
which are greatest in need of more
room for the school children. is the
topic of general conversation among
those who are interested in the well
fare of the city and the citizens. The
election will be held next Tuesday,
the precinct voting places being open
during the usual hours for the bene-
fit of all those who desire to cast
their ballots.
It Is a difficult thing for many OF
the people to realize the condition
which confronts the school authori-
ties and in fact confronts every per-
son who has children in the schools
few years.ago. or during the recent
panic, there was ample room for all
Of the children, after the two build
ings had been built on Oak street and
Olney avenue. Then, too, there were
empty houses on almost every street
In the city. Now conditions have
changed. IL Is q difficult matter to
find an empty house on any street
and those who are in the business of
renting houses say they could dis
pose of many more to desirable ten
ants If they only had the houses.
There promises to be q building boom
In Marion just as soon as the weather
will permit and this will mean more
families coming and this will mean
more children TO attend the schools.
But the city is not prepared to care
for the children who are already
here. TO say nothing Of providing
school room for those OF the new
comers. Many OF the rooms of the
city are crowded now beyond their ca
paclty and beyond the limit which is
placed by the laws of hygiene and of
health. Some of the teachers have
many more pupils than they can
properly train and, as a result, the
work which can be done is not up
to the standard. In nearly all of the
first grades, the children are divided
into two sections, one attending I'm
the forenoon and the other in the aft
ernoon. In some sections 1t has been
necessary to rent rooms for school
purposes. separating the different
grades and in this again gripping the
effectiveness Of the schools.
There are just two courses open
TO the people of Marion. One is to
construct sufficient school buildings
for the accommodation of the chill
dren and the other is to rent rooms
in different parts OF the city for their
The first means
bringing the schools up to the stand
ard for a city OF the size and import
ance Of Marion and the second means
the system and retarding
the good work which is being done
There is no other solution. The chill
dren must go to school and the city
must furnish good, sanitary and COM
Portable school rooms.
With the true American instinct,
the people are not considering wheth-
er the buildings are needed, but are
rather counting the cost. This is 4
question which should be laid aside
entirely when dealing with so i'm
portant a matter as the schools, but
a little figuring will convince the
man with the most decided monetary
mind that the money which is being
expended in rents, extra fuel, extra
light, extra janitor service and extra
SupIiltat VIII iIlOIf pay lHt
terest on a bond issue such as is ask
ed for the construction of two new
grade buildings. The city offices are
now, largely, housed in rented quar-
ters and a number of school grades
are under rented roofs. The city as
whole urges men with capital in
the city to invest IL in real estate and
provide homes for the working men
who desire TO locate here. Now II Is
up to the city TO show that It has as
much confidence in Marion as It wish
es capital TO have. II the city can
not construct sufficient school build
ings to accommodate the school chill
dren already here, II should not ask
that the population be increased by
the addition of more men with fam
lilies, who must be educated, for the
first inquiry the Thoughtful parent
makes when considering a change in
location is concerning the schools and
the advantages which will be offered
to the children.
Next Tuesday Is the day for the
vote and It Is the duty of every voter
to go to the polls and register his
ballot. The man who stays at home
has no right 10 object II the outcome
of the election Is not to his liking.
The old rivals, Marion VS.. Mansfield.