Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-15
ELECT NEW
TRUSTEES.

There will be four new faces at
the next monthly meeting of the
City School Board. A joint session
Of the City Council elects one mem
her from each ward during the fall
months, the terms of that number
expiring each year. They are elect
ed for three years. Generally the IN
cumbents are chosen to succeed them
selyes, as no competitors appear, 1t
being as unlikely for fight to be
made for such positions as there IS
for seats upon the Board Of Health.
For the second time in our recol-
lection since the formation of the
City School Board, about forty live
years ago, there was a contest last
night, and the members whose terms
had expired on the first instant were
displaced by the selection of others
as their successors. This action upon
the part of the members of the Board
of Aldermen and Council was not
sctuated by any loss of confidence IN
the members of the board whose SER
vices were dispensed with, as they
have been energetic and faithful, but
the issue involved was simply d.
vergence of views at the present time,
when the financial burdens of the city
are being constantly increased. Every
member Of the two boards is an ar
dent. advocate of public schools, and
en- all matters which have come up
in recent years for the betterment OF
our school facilities Council has gene,
rally voted unanimous. 1t will be
recalled that the work of construct
ing new streets in our city was shelly
ed in order that the erection of the
new high school building might not
be retarded.
But the time, long foretold by the
cautious, has come when the city
is made to realize that while the
,.ublic school is a prime essential to
every community, there are other OBJ
legations which are pressing the fl
rance committee, matters which must
be adjusted at once, and some things
by no means unimportant, must wait.
The cost of operating the public
schools of Alexandria has increased
greatly during the past few years,
and should Council, laboring under
pressing burdens, be compelled to cut
the appropriation, wall would go UP
from all quarters. This will be avoid
ed if we move cautiously.
The cost is too often regarded as
a matter of secondary Importance by
most of us in our enthusiasm for pub
lie improvements, public schools etc.
But community should be as care
full as an individual in mourning OBJ
legations. Pay day is on the calendar,
standing out in bold red letters.
Half century ago public school
children were housed in a one tsory
brick building on south Washington
street with one teacher. To this hum
ble beginning Peabody Building was
added and subsequently the present
Washington School structure which
took the place of the first structure
nsed. The large and commodious
Lee school building on upper Prince
street was the next monument to oul
interest in public instruction, and by
the close of the year the new high
school building will be ready for use
Several years the finance committee
CT the City Council met a delegation
of citizens who were urging the build
ing of new school, One of those pre-
sent wanted building with fifteen
school rooms and an assembly hall,
and said the delegation would be salts
fled with nothing else. When atten-
tion was called to the cost of SUCH
structure. the rcpl:: was, "That is
up to Council; VIC nave nothing to
do with that"
The responsibility has been put up
On Council and they are feeling their
way with caution. The school board
will. of course. SEQ the necessity OF
upholding their hands.