The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-03-16
SCHOOL BEARD
IS ENDORSED
MASS MEETING Is WELL ATTENDED
Citizens are Found to Favor Building the
Of Even Better High School
Than That Proposed


The citizens who crowded the Com
mercial club assembly hall at the mass
meeting called last Friday night to
the proposed construction of
better buildings for the accommodation
Of city schools, were found to be IN
even a more enthusiastic state of mind
over buildings than the board itself,
and numerous suggestions we're made
that instead of expending a sum of
s25. 600 twice or three times such an
amount should be obtained by bond is
sue and high school building, to
which we might point with pride, be
erected.
The meeting was presided over by
Frank A. Cram, who in his introduc.
tory remarks stated that the members
Of the school board felt that as servants
Of the people they had no right to pro-
ceed with any definite plans without
first learning the will of the people.
Mr.. Cram said, however, that if it was
found to be the deisre of the citizens
and taxpayers to have better buildings
the board was IN position to secure
property. He told the citizens
present at the mass meeting that six
lots. known as the Mcdonald property
on Eugene street, and two lots belong.
ing to Mrs. E. E. Patterson adjoining
them, we're available for a structure to
take the place of the Park street build
ing. Additional adequate sites for
high school structures, he SAID, might
be secured by the purchase of full
block located just south of the present
high school building.
S. A. Mitchell, a member of the Par
Association committee
which recently made report as to the
lnadequacy of existing buildings, placed
lhe report before the meeting Friday
evening. adding to it his personal re-
marks to the effect that better build
ings were very much needed. He
called attention to the fact that at
present it is necessary for children to
cross Ninth street going to and from
the Christian church, where room has
been secured for the accommodation of
class of grade pupils. He further
pointed out that about 400 children were
attending school on plot of ground
about 200 feet square.
"This is far too small" said Mr..
Mitchell, "and we need at least block
for this number"
Mr.. Mitchell was followed by Mrs.
A Ina Howe. who MIR. Cram said in his
remarks, has given more
thought to schools than any ten mothers
in the district.
Mrs. Howe declared that the Park
street building was located at one Of
The most dangerous points in the city.
She pointed out that Ninth street was
one heavily travelled by automobiles
and teams from the entire West Side.
Furthermore, she said that since the
extension Of Eugene street to the east
had been opened there was danger of
The children being injured by possible
teams.
'If one child should be killed here"
said Mrs. Howe, "and l sincerely hope
that no such accident occurs, we would
forget about money matters"
Mrs. Howe told of the crowded con-
1ition of the grade schools, which, as
,he stated made it impossible for the
teachers to know the needs of indi-
vidual pupils. She said that every
last available bit of space, even to the
basement halls, had been utilized at
the high school.
"There is no room for exercise, she
said, ''and three grades at present
taught there should be moved to some
other quarters.
She proposed that stables should be
built conveniently for students who
ride insfrom the country. and that
plot of ground for agricultural exper-
iments be secured.
DR.. Jenkins, who will next year be
chairman of the school board, prefaced
his remarks with the statement that he
wished every one present would have
to serve six months on the body.
eve would then have no trouble" he
said. What are we working for?"
DR.. Jenkins. at is our chill
dren. We strive to give them better
than we had. This forms our greatest
pleasure in life."
He ended his statements by praising
the teaching force of the city schools,
declaring that in no place in Oregon of
the size we're better teachers to be
found.
DR.. Dumble, formerly chairman of
the school board. who stated that he had
probably served as long in school work
as any man present, said: 81 was
opposed to the building of gym
nasium several years ago, but when IL
comes to matter of school rooms, it is
quite different matter, and If we have
any assurance that we are going to
to have the patronage of coun-
try pupils for one am favorable to
the construction Of good school build
ings. The county pupils will contribute
sufficient funds to pay the interest on
[ ct US build good building while we
are about it. Our present structure is
no better adapted to the purposes of
high school than livery barn would
be. d"
DR.. Dumble also suggested that
small one or two room school, perhaps
in conjunction with the Pine Grove
school district, be constructed for the
accommodation of small children resid-
ing on the East Side.
Later in the evening DR.. Dumble
stated that he did not think the funds
being asked for in their tentative sug-
gestions by the board we're enough.
He stated that be thought it would take
at least $50, 900 for an adequate school
building.
c. d. Nickelsen recalled that he at
tended little school house near the
brewery at The Dalles. He remem-
bered the Importance of that little
building and heartily endorsed the East
Side small school. Mr.. Nickelsen ex-
pressed the opinion that Hood River to
have a structure that could be pointed
to with pride, should expend S5, 600 or
sl00. 900.
C. D. Hoyt, who declared that he
had been privileged to attend q very
good high school and the first manual
training school established in the coun-
try, said it went against the grain
with him to send his boys to a school
where the facilities for work were SO
poor. Mr.. Hoyt declared that he
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