Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-09-14
GRADE SCHOOLS TO SHARE
IN THE NEW BOND lssen
What the Mckinley Patrons Declare
Are West Side Needs


Kinley school They are many anu
we hope our share of the sehooi
bonds to be issued may be means
n an end when we will have Only
praise and commendation for the
west side school.
The greatest need of the schooi =
,,,a which concerns the architecture
~ tbe building. The halls and stair
wav are poorly arranged. the very
gact that there is but one exit on the
ground floor is not in accordance
yitb modern school architecture
The patrons will certainly expect
room and full equipment for the
kindergarten next year There IS no
nossibilitv in the present building
FOR this room and remodeling wouid
olso include all other Requirements
of modern school building
The kindergarten as an integral
mart Of a child's education, shoulu
be incorporated in every ward school
ca as TO be accessible to each anu
eyerv child in Abilene. If this were
4be case the work Of the first grace
would be depended on and regulat-
cd by the work in the kindergarten
Much of first grade work could DC
eliminated as 1t is taken In the
kindergarten AS 1t is the chlio who
has had kindergarten experience ID
retarded by those who have not hao
anv such educational advantage
The patrons of the Mckinley are
Eager for a kindergarten in ther
building-and it would be possible
If we had the room
The lighting in every room IS poor
often making it impossible tor
the children to see the bIackboards
from their desks, also throwing the
light from three sides on the child s
book, instead of but one as IN tne
side lighting system.
The ventilation in this building Is
denlorable. The air is most generally
foul and impure. AS these windows
and doors are arranged, 1t is lmpos-
sible to air the rooms without caus-
ing draught over the chldreh'
There should be a system oil ven
tilation installed in conjunction win
the heating plant. The heating piah'
is not only inadequate and the wrong
kind of heating, with no provision
for ventilation, but even might De
dangerous AS it is we have two fur
naces in the building and in the
rold weather both furnaces are rti
TO full capacity in order to hea
four school rooms and two nails
The need for drinking fountain
IS most urgent. One, at least, shoui'
he in the building and two OUTSIDE
AS it is, we have very poor SUP
stitute. The flow Of water canno
be properly regulated by child
conseouently there is a constan
overflow, causing wet feet.
In rainy seasons or in the sprih
after the snow has melted waite
stands for weeks on the schoe
grounds and also upon the sidewal
in front, which is below grade Man
natrons have striven vainly to bette
the draining of the surrouhdin
district of the school. AS 1t is, Tor
hlock or more east and north tn
water drains onto the school grouh'
From the attached territory ives
southwest and northwest OF Abllen
40 children attend the Mckinle
school. Some live as far as two an
one-half miles from the school tht
having to leave home as early as
in the morning and not returnir
untn 1870 in the afternoon Whel
do these children eat their dinners
Where do they spend one and on
nalf to two hours each noon?
In the furnace room!l
Adjoining this room are the to
cts which make it most unpleasa
and unsanitary.
ON nice days the children pl
out doors except for the few minut
in which they eat their lunch'
which is most injurious to their
eestion: but on cold days or da
in which the Mckinley schC
grounds are covered with wat
and that is often, these 40 childr
bave to play in the furnace roo
Ten or twelve discarded seh'
desks constitute the furnishings
This room, except for the various
slightly things that usually go W
ranrn