Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-03-19
ABILENE's HIGH SCHOOL
OPPORTUNITY '"'f


looking town. II is ready to do the
things that will make 1t better In
every way. II has an opportunity at
this time to do one thing that Will
give It an impetus greater than any
action that has been taken In years.
The Reflector has interviewed many
leading business men and taxpayers
of the city and finds that there s
practically a unanimous agreement
that that thing should be done.
This ia the situation: Owing to
the fire which so badly damaged the
Lincoln building It will be neces-
sary to build q new school house on
south side. The walls are so weak
ened that they cannot be used
again. The insurance, about $4,000,
is only a part OF the sum needed.
Hence there must be an election to
vote school bonds. This is what
Abilene needs:
Vote an issue OF bonds that will
not only rebuild the south side
structure in a modern manner, with
attractive appearance and with
small auditorium for the use Of the
people in that growing section OF
the city but also bring our high
school up to the requirements of
this progressive city.
With an issue of $4,000 bonds
this could be done. All the land east
OF the high school grounds to Buck
eye could be purchased giving a
school ground from Cedar to Buck
eye. A new high school building,
facing east and connected with the
old building by corridor. making
It practically one structure could be
erected on modern lines with a CEN
trail heating plant. The new build
ing could have in the basement a
gymnasium for athletics of the
school, now badly needed. There
would be room in the double build
ing for the seventh and eighth
grades OF the schools, making this
q grammar school in accordance
with the best educational ideas Of
today All the basement rooms of
the Garfield could be vacated for
study purposes, which on the score
OF health should have been done
long ago. The rooms are " unsani-
tary, poorly heated and not the [
place for the little children. Then ,
the schools would have rooms for 1
the manual training and domestic
science departments, for the kinder
garten, for the commercial course ,
to be added next year and for the q
agricultural course which is to be- :
come part Of the states school {
system. 1t would accommodate the =
schools of the city in fine condition 9
for dozen years to come.
Abilene needs this. 1t owes 1t
to its children to give them the
best facilities for our splendid
schools possible. The district has
but $4,000 bonds. Supt Heusner
Of Salina has been tabulating the
financial condition of the cities of
the state and informs us that abb
lene has more wealth per pupil than
any city in the state. Salina Is
planning a 100000 grammar school
this year and $4,000 of other
and additions. Manhat-
tan is building a 100000 high
school, Mcpherson has a new $780,
900 high school. Abilene's high
school cost only $4,000 and is ad-
mitted to be inadequate for the
towns needs.
Nothing would add so much to
The city's pride as proper school
in buildings, such as could
be built at this time. Some day the
ground east Of the high school will
be built up with expensive homes
and cannot be bought. Now is the
lime and we hope to see, the school
board take prompt action. 1t will
have the hearty approval of the en-
ire city and district.