The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-04-10
G|LA VALLEY TOWNS
MAY CONSOLIDATE
ALL SCHOOLS

Election Soon to Be Held for Purpose
of Consolidating Schools of all Com
munities of Upper GiIa Valley that
Modern High School Might be
Built at Duncan-To be of Benefit
to All Children in District Affected.
Plans are now being followed for the
holding, probably about May 1, OF an
election throughout all the communf-
ties of the upper ella Valley, from
Guthrie to the New Mexico state line.
to determine as to whether the COM
munities affected shall through a
special tax erect at some point, pre-
ferably Duncan, in the district con-
cerned modern high school that will
supplement the education facilities
that at present are not to the stand
ard desired by the citizens of the val
! ley.
Briefly, the Ian of consolidation is
that the taxpayers levy upon themselv
es a special tax of two cents on the
hundred dollars of taxable property,
and that the proceeds of this tax be
used for the maintenance, probably at
Duncan, of a high school department
that is of the most modern in appoint
ments and the staff of instructors
at the head of this high school de-
partment will be principal whose du-
ties will include supervision not only
over the high school, but also over
the entire school system of the
valley communities Through follow
ing this plan, the benefits accruing to
all children of the eight schools of
the valley will in the opinion of the
proponents of the consolidation idea
be such that the educational advance
ment of the children will be materi-
ally fastened over the progress at
present made. The advantages of a
P1nSnr nj in n TO -
instruction, etc., will no doubt result
from such operation. Especially i'm
portant in regard to the courses of in
structiOn at the proposed high school
will be the departments devoted to
manual training and agriculture, for
which departments provisions will be
made that will offer to the children
of the eight school districts oppor-
tunities to master, under the best in
struction, these two so important and
practical subjects. The fact that
agriculture is the principal industry
Of the districts affected demonstrates
the necessity of training the children
in the most advanced knowledge and
practice of the subject. Domestic
science and other forms of manual
training instruction will with the
course in agriculture offer to the peo-
ole affected advantages for which
here is now an urgent need.
The operation of such school.
which would be for the free attendance
If all children in the eight school dis
riots, would obviate the necessity OF
ending children to schools at other
'oints, often distant, in the state. A
Conservative estimate is that annually
he parents of the Valley are required
o spend at least $4,000. 90 in bearing
he expenses of children attending,
sually at Tempa and Tucson, schools
hat offer educational facilities that
annot be obtained at the Valley
chools. And in addition, the child
en- are of necessity often thrown
nder influences that at their young
ges, are not for their good, the re-
ming influences of home not being
ossible to obtain. Should the high
chool be built, the parents of the
ntire Valley could maintain their
hildren at Duncan, and have the
nowledge that the courses of in
-ruction obtained were the equal OF
lose offered at schools that at pres
Mt are attended by the children who
ave passed to the more advanced
rades.
The schools embraced in the pro-
0sed change are Toledo, Guthrie,
ork, Sheldon, Chiffon, Day, Franklin.
Id Duncan. These schools embrace
i communities between Guthrie and
lie New Mexico. state line at Rich
ond, including all of the Gila valley
ithin Greenlee county. In all these
there are at present no
cilities for education higher than
e eighth grade, this being the
CHEST grade taught at Duncan, the
rongest school of all the Valley.
be plans of the proponents of the
idea include the erec-
On of a school building, probably at
mean, to cost at the minimum not
SIS than $4,000. 90. In this build
g there will be rooms for the ac-
of the ninth, tenth elev-
tn, and twelfth grades, and in addi-
IN full conveniences for the two
partments of manual training and
riculture.
Tickets for the balloting have al
ady been prepared, and the ques-
IN is expected to be placed before
e voters at some time near the first
May. The fact that more than
1ety per cent of the qualified voters
We already signed the petition con-
rning the election, circulated by Su-
rintendent Aker and other friends
higher education is taken as strong
1ications that the measure will
silly succeed which will be the
use for qualification on the port of
2 citizens of the Valley, they hav-
: for a number of years tried anx-
lsly for the consummation of the
nsolidation plan, which will be for
2 strength and union of the schools
the eight communities.
etcalf, was this week arrested on
II.