The Ordway new era., 1913-04-18
Coming High
Should Be Separate
Proper Location Is Away From
Center of Town---Patching
Up Expensive Scheme

Now that School District No. IL has
voted bonds to the amount Of $4,000
for the purpose of erecting a new
school building, with $500 for the
purchase Of additional ground, it Is
time to look the situation over and
offer some suggestions as to the best
way Of spending this money.
One proposition now being con-
sidered is q, save the rear or new part
Of the present building and add to IT
q front. We do not believe that this
will be true economy, for three
reasons: First, the newer part will
probably be of light colored brick,
while the older part IL Of red brick,
and thus the structure when finished
will look considerably like crazy
quilt and be forever an eyesore.
Second. we do not believe that the
present location is the proper one for
. high school building, rs 1t will be
much too near the center Of the town
when Ordway attains a little more
growth. Third, we do not believe
that it is good thing to put all ones
eggs 10 the same basket and that
what is known as the "ward system"
OF schools Is far Better than the
centralized system.
To elaborate upon these objections
In the order stated, we will say that
the patchwork system of adding ad-
ditions to an older base has been tried
In Pueblo and other towns with dis
astrous result, both from an artistic
and q financial standpoint. The
Centennial school In Pueblo Is case
In point The rear part of the build
ing was saved" and 40 addition of
light pressed brick built In front.
The result was such an eyesore to the
people that the rear portion was
finally veneered 10 brick Of similar
character and when the work was
completed IL was found that the
patched building had cost as much,
nearly, as 1t would have done to have
built from the ground up. So much
for the economy" OF the affair.
The second objection is one of much
force and has been recognized by all
cities where any thUught has been
given to this phase of the question.
The middle of town Is not proper
place for the location of school. and
no one knowing the 'lay Of the land"
In Ordw way doubts that the natural
tendepcy Of growth here is to the
north and west, as the railroad shuts
of any spread to the south, while
there seems to be no trend toward the
east OF where the town is now built,
Colleges and schools OF any coDse-
Quence in the east are always located
well away from the centers of pOpu-
lation, as 1t is not desirable that
pupils should have too ready access to
the business part of town at recess
and noon times.
The last objection is the most i'm
portant by far. Nearly every year
the schools are closed for longer or
shorter period because of epidemics
TO which the younger children are
subject. For over thirty years the
high school of Pueblo has not been
closed for single day because OF
your mind.
The contagious diseases to which
children are subject are confined to
those who are included In not above
the sixth grade. These children are
young and have plenty OF time 10
which to recoup lost time. The
higher grades, especially the high
school, are composed Of those who are
about ready to 20 forth into the
world, and time lost by them is often
time lost forever. as they must leave
school before their education is
finished. Therefore, II the high
school building is built by itself, with
the other schools segregated, in case
OF an epidemic 1t will not be neces-
sary To close the former, but the
finishing work can go on.
As to the question of cost, the
system we suggest will not be a penny
more expensive than the present an
tiquated and inefficient system OF
grouping the schools. An acre OF
ground can be purchased and new,
modern building put up couple Of
blocks from the present location, and
there will still be enough left to tear
down the front part Of the present
building. place new front on II, and
as result we will have neat build
ing OF four rooms, with plenty OF light
anr ventilation, which cannot be the
case II new building is backed up