Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1916-04-07
TAXPAYERS FACE
KNOTTY BROBLEM
Matter of Teachers Building at
Alberta Starts Chain of Live
ly Discussions

Whether or not to reject an offer of
three thousand dollars as a special
gift to the Alberta schools is agitat-
ing the tax payers at Alberta and
school district No. 10 in this county.
President Vincent of the state uni
versity is one of the prominent edu
Gators of the state who is urging the
Alberta district to accept the offer
which comes from. the General Educa-
tion Board of New York, created by
the Rockefeller foundation. The offer
is made on condition that the district
raise an additional So, 900 for the pur-
pose of building a teachers manse
near the handsome Alberta consolidat-
ed school,. These who have investi-
gated the matter say the building can
be built and partly furnished without
one cent of actual outlay to the tax
payers of the district. The matter
is creating considerable discussion at
Alberta where there is lively interest
in the proposition. They feel a &c.
900 building cannot be had practically
free of cost any time it is wanted.
Three weeks ago there was violent
opposition to the proposition but it is
winning converts and the matter
will be voted on at a near future
time. -
81 don't, like the idea of more
taxes" said a prominent farmer
who resides in. the district. "But
if there is any advantage in this
building. 1 shall not oppose the
building. We often look for the
pennies and miss the dollars, and
this may be case of this kind. /
see some merit to the proposition, all
right and hope we shall get an in
telligent vote on it,
j The school district owns residence
n IN which Prof. Grafelman now lives.
Il 1t is proposed to sell this place at
4 81 900 which leaves So, 900 for the
district to raise in order to receive the
So, 900 from the Rockefeller Founda-
ton. It is proposed to build teach
ers' manse which will be rented to
teachers at the rate of Sc per month
to each teacher except the principal
who will pay $40 per month. This
leaves a net profit Of $3.50 per year
which goes into sinking fund which,
in about eight years, pays off the
total indebtedness, land makes the
manse self-supporting and self-pay-
ing proposition. - - ~
Bd'tThe whole proposition was ex-
planned at mass meeting held last
; month when Supt. A..V. Storm,
) director of agricultural education, and
! Miss Josephine Berry,, director of
home economics training at the state
university, were present. Because of
bad roads and threatening weather
i very few of the country people were
able to attend. Those who favor the
manse hope those who have not looked
into the matter thoroughly do so be-
fore the school election for. they feel
it will be really too bad to turn down
the greatest offer and opportunity
which has come to Alberta in, or
which is likely to come for some time.
''Six dollars per month for a nice,
warm room is a price every teacher
will be glad to pay said prom
inent far;nerin discussing the matter.
"We have set the price SO low in or
! der to get a low estimate on what the
sinking fund will be. If the teachers
pay more we will have the building
! paid in less than eight years. We
have set the estimate on expenses
!, higher than what it will really be.
] We need a place for teachers. Every
year we are turned down by the old
!, teachers because of inadequate accom-
modations.. A new teacher loses about
half the time the first year in getting
, started and this is serious handicap
; to the children we try to educate.
! The building will not be for the teach
ers alone but in reality for better
! work for the children. Is business
proposition and think it will be the
height of folly to turn down the
f chance. It will only be a matter of
few years when the state legisla
ture will compel country districts to
r erect homes for teachers and at such
Ella time the chances are that there will
4 be no Sc, 900 gifts lying around.
| .
Miller Attends Banquet
4 Frank Miller returned Saturday