The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-05-18

| IN auultlOn Sucn DullulnR SnOuiu con-
tain basement, toilets, cloak and sup
ply rooms. and n suitable auditorium.
Each year the school plays. gradu-
alton exercises. and similar entertain
ments which IL l. necessary to hold in
the Opera House require an expcndi-
ture Of from one TO two hundred dol
lars. This sum could be saved IL
suitable auditorium were available in
any of our school buildings The as
sembly room in the High School will
seat only one hundred and fifty peo-
pie. and has such small stage that no
entertainment of any consequence can
be given there. The Board proposes
then to include large and well ar
ranged assembly room in the build
ing specified above.
Such building properly equipped
will cost approximately as much as
our present High School building, and
I think that no one will deny that we
need il and need il badly. You will
please remember that the figures on
attendance given above are the aver
age for the year and not the total As
was stated IN n previous announce
ment the total enrolment for the year
was l006 pupils.
When the domestic science and man
ual training departments were estab-
lished in our high school three years
ago they were located in unsuitable
rooms without proper and complete
'qupment. with the idea Of providing
more fully for them at an early date.
Interest in both departments has now
grown so that the present equipment
and rooms cannot accommodate the
pupils enrolled in the High School. In
addition TO this growth, parents are
demanding that these subjects be Of
fered in the seventh and eighth grades
The State Department of Education
has also recommended that the work
he offered in grades below the regular
High School.
The department Of science has sut-
fercd for want Of regular laboratory
and regular apparatus To perform the
required experiments. The state course
of study demands that we offer gen
eral science. agriculture. physiog-
raphy. physics and chemistry, IL we
are to maintain the approved stan
dard in this department Of our High
School work No high school can do
credible work in these subjects with
out well-equipped laboratory. Such
a laboratory as we need would he used
by the seventh and eighth grades rs
well as by pupils in the high school.
Schools all over the country are en-
phasizing more and more the import
ance Of the study Of science. Shall
we allow our own school TO remain be-
hind in this important field?
Athletic games havesbecome fixed
part Of all secondary school life, and
gymnasium q necessity to the well
equipped high school. Our school has
made n credible showing in athletics
during the past few years, and could
have dore much better had the pupils
had the advantage Of gymnasium.
The High School Athletic Association
spends more than one hundred dollars
each year for building in which to
hold its athletic contests. This sum
would he saved and an added attrac-
ton given 10 the school life ny pro-
viding gymnasium for the upper
grades and high school A gymnasium
can he of more service to the young
men of the community than any other
part of the school buildings or equip
ment.
These needs for better equipment
laboratory and equipment, and for n
suitable gymnasium have become 80
imparitive that the Board plans to
build and equip "A suitable addition to
the present High School building
which shall he devoted to these inn
portant departments of secondary
| school work. Such an addition would
cost very little compared 10 he re-
turns which il will bring To- the pupils
and to the community. Any man who
l. acquainted with present day prob
lens in education will tell you that
the proper development, Of these de-
partmcnts of secondary educnt0n ic
vital to the life OF high school
No man doubts that our school will
grow rapidly during the ncXr five
years. The Board realizes that 'hi,
growth Is inevitable, and plans 10 be
prepared TO care for such an increased
enrolment without having to resort
to the erection Of temporary annexes
or the rental and equipment of private
buildings. That is why the Board has
recommended that the patrons Of the
district vote bonds AT this time. We
should satisfy not only present needs,
but should also provide for reason
able period in the future.
/ II has been suggested that our pub
lie schools are overcrowded because
On-resident pupils in the county were
admitted without payment of tuition.
II is true that the Board Of Education
admitted pupils from the entire coun-
" to the Tucumcari schools without
the payment Of tuition. There are sew
eral reasons why this action was TAX
en-. In the first place, the Board has
| II, l,a