The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-08-21
What viii Be ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Growth and Development in Edu-
cation In Washington During the
Last 25 Years.
During the past quarter a century
the growth and development in educa-
tin has kept pace. with the phenm email
growth and development industrially.
At that time there were about IS. 900
children of school age; today there
are $4,000. Then there were but
four high schools; today there are
240 with more than 10000 students.
Then there were $3.50 teachers not
very we'll prepared; today there are
10000 much better prepared teach
ers in the common schools and about
1000 in the high schools The school
buildings then were small, poorly
built, badly equipped, and with little
or not attention paid to lighting,
heating and sanitation. Today most
buildings are greatly improved H..
Everywhere there sis evidence of
anxiety on the part of directors of
school districts to provide the. best
buildings, wel1-lighted, scientifically
heated and sanitary3 n Old buildings
Which cannot be abandoned are being
refnodeled and made to conform to
better standards. The little red
schoolhouse is fast disappearing, and
its place is rapidly being taken by the
better one, surrounded by large, WE'LL
kept grounds which will soon include
shade and ornamental trees and
shrubbery, play ground and eqiup-
ment, school garden, and in many
places cottage home for the teacher
and family. The directors and pa
trons are working more and more
with the teacher in getting the whole
community interested in the welfare
of the children. the school, and the
general good and uplift of all. Par
ent-teacher organizations are spring
ing VI, everywhere and, give strong
evidence that the standard of the
school and the community is rising
and must Continue to rise
The trainers of the Constitution
wisely made ample provision for the
educational needs and future deyel-
opment of this state. BY the ena-
Ding act, section Is and So of all
state lands were set aside for adu-
cathonal purposes. This means that
one eighteenth of all public land at
the time of the admission of Wash
ington into the sisterhood of states
was forever set apart for the future
educational advantage of the boys and
girls of the state In the division of
these lands 10000 were set aside
for the State College, a like number
for the state University, and 100, 900
acres were the portion for the nor
NAL schools. OF the normal school
lands $4,000 acres have already been
sold, and there is at present in this
fund from such sale 1854, 900, bea
interest at from four to six per cent.
In addition to this some of the lands
are leased and a yearly revenue of
$4,000 is the present income. Then
there remain 1900 acres unsold.
still owned by the normals and worth
at least minimum price Of $40 per
acre. These lands are increasing in
value each year, and the future out
look is bright because of the wisdom
or the trainers of the constitution in
thus setting aside these lands for the
educational needs of the children of
the state. Another law, known as
the Barefoot Boys Act" provides
that the state and county each sew
orally shall provide for the collection
In the yearly taxes of $40 for every
boy and girl between the ages of five
and twenty-one. Nowhere in all the
land has better foresight been shown
for the growth and development of
adequate school facilities and advan-
tages
The Legislature of 1911 passed an
act by which each of the five higher
institutions of learning will for FIVE
years at least be free of legislative
interference with it's finances. Pro-
vision was made for a levy of frac-
ton of mill for each one. The
hundredths of n1dH and this levy
will provide an annual revenue Of
about 100000. and this added to that
from the land grant win make about
100000 yearly for the normal at
Cheney. This normal also has bright
hopes of being named one of the
beneficiaries of federal aid If the Page
bin now before congress passes that
body and becomes law, as its friends
have hope it win at the next session
of congress. This bill will enable
the normal at Cheney to do more
good for the rural schools and COM
munities than 1t has been doing, and
that good has been OF no inconsidera-
bile proportions. as witness many of
the school superintendents, school d.
rectors and teachers.