The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1913-10-30
|SUPT. NOTSON VISITS
NEW SCHOOL HOUSE
He Also Thinks People
of Oregon Should Sup
port State University.

A few days ago, the writer had the
pleasure of looking in on the Heppner
public school in the new building.
The new building and equipment
certainly constitute a fine working
plant for a school. The building
is we'll arranged for the purposes for
which it is intended. The pupils and
teachers certainly appreciate their
new surroundings. This building
represents the present geneation's in
vestment in the future That invest
ment is not in the building, in the
true sense, but in the Young life of
the community. Every hoy and girl
in this district ought to appreciate
that fact and resolve to do all in his
power TO make that investment pay
large dividends We are passing out
of the age Of intense commercialism
which has caused us to consider SO
largely tie commercial value of every
investments and are entering upon an
age in which the real value of man
hood and womanhood will be more
fully appreciated. But, even from
the commecial side, it paws to raise
the best citizens possible, and the
only material out of which we can
make the future citizens is the bows
and girls. The writer has no doubt
that this investment will prove a.
profitable one.
Along the same lines, the invest
ment in the State University is an
investment in the lives of our young
men and women. 1t seems to be a
very short-sighted policy to cripple
the University, by holding up the
appropriations for repairs and new
building. If we intend to have a
University at all, let us support it
deceEtly. as an eminent educator
once said, "Educated men and women
ara worth all they cost - 1t will not
pay us to compel our young people to
90 to other states for higher educa
tion. AS it appears to the writer,
every friend of education should vote
to sustain the appropriations made by
the legislature.
In keeping with what was said in
this column last week in regard to
heating and ventilation, | wish to say
few words about the foundations of
the schooIhouses. Many of the
schoolhOuses are built on blocks and
no adequate provisions are made to
keep the cold winds from blowing
under the building. If the wind can
blow under the floor, it is jmpssible
to keep tile room comfortable in cold
weather. In order to keep the feet
of the pupils warm. the temperature
of the room must be kept too high
Under such circumstances pupils can
not do good work A large part of
their time and that of the teachers is
wasted 1t is difficult, under such
circumstances, to maintain good order.
Then, such conditions favor bad colds
and other diseases, often resulting in
the loss of time by pupils who are too
sick to come to school. This is not
only loss to them, but it disorgan-
ICES the work, and when the pupils
return, those who were not out of
school are handicapped while the
work is being evened up. The school
officers and patrons should see that
the underpinning of the school house
is in good condition before the ground
freezes. 1t is matter of vital i'm
portanoe. Your children will be
young but once, hence you should give
them the best chance you possibly
can You may think the writer is
"kicking," but if he were defending
YOUR child against the attack of some
ferociOus animal, you would commend
him. And. if you will look at it
right, you will think it right to con-
tend for those things which afford
protection TO the health an morals of
the children.
The library books are at the office.
Teachers, officers, and patrons will
confer a favor 0pon their schools by
calling for the books. if thew happen
to be in town.
A gentleman in Pennsylvania who
has been making an investigation says
that the percentage of attendance at
school is higher in Oregon than in
any other state. A writer in the
Oregonian tries to discount the state
ment somewhat, but tue record is
correct. Last year the percentage
of attendance in this county was a
little lower than the wear before.
Let us try to bring our record up this
Year. This should be done. not sim
ply as a matter of pride. but also