Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-08


schools were adopted Two schools
will be opened February /. The sal
aries of the teachers will be $1,000
annually. In order that local teachers
may have chance to qualify for the
new positions the board decided upon
motion of Mr.. Boyer, to give the local
teachers first chance to try for the
places.
Mr.. Stamm was interviewed to-day
by Telegraph representative regard
ing the preliminaries of the new Cen
trail high school movement. He said:
This high school question is one of
magnitude and Importance. l don't
know that there is any difference of
opinion as TO the necessity for the re-
lief of the Central high school build
ing. There hardly could be when it
is remembered that we are now trying
to teach $50 young men and young
women in that building, although 1t
was designed and is adapted for only
$50.
Questions Involved
The question isn't simply one of
going out and getting a lot and putting
building on it, There is involved,
for instance, the question of whether
the two sexes shall be taught in the
same school or whether there shall be
separate schools. There is involved,
also, the question of whether the
junior high school system shall be
adopted in Harrisburg, a junior high
school being one which shall include
in its course what is now the first year
in the high school ana the last TWO
years in the grade schools. There is
further involved the question, growing
out of these questions, whether there
shall be one new building or more,
and as we'll the size and equipment of
the building or buildings. Then there
to 10 To-, H.
building or buildings. and the question
of raising the necessary funds"
Not q Pipe-SmOklnS Matter
Have you any plan for getting the
data necessary to enable the board to
solve all these questions?" Mr.. Stamm
was asked.
NO, | have no particular plan," he
said. ut is important, as | said at the
School Board meeting yesterday, that
we make the right kind of n start. If
we do, we will get better results and
get them more quickly. The matter
obviously cant be disposed of as one
smokes pipe. 1t requires to be
looked at from Il great variety of
angles. ! did suggest yesterday for
the consideration OF the board and for
the consideration OF the public, that it
might be we'll for the School Board to
appoint n committee of three or five
to make a thorough investigation of
all the questions involved and a full
and complete report thereon, with
definite recommendation, this for the
consideration Of the full board. [ also
suggested the advisability of the Sc
lection by the board of a committee of
representative citizens, perhaps three
or five. to aid and advise with the
committee of the board. The School
Board appreciates its responsibility. l
don't know of single member of the
nd NsTlan ic Il Ia do aNN hi aeY
else than his full duty in this matter,
as we'll as in everything that has to do
with the affairs OF the school district.
Cooperation Needed
They are entitled to, and L bespeak
for them, the intelligent and sympa-
thetic interest and cooperation of
every citizen interested in the schools,
and that ought to include everybody.
In this particular high school matter,
we are entitled to, and we ought to
have, and [ think we will have, the
especial assistance of trained and sue
cessful businessmen, who are not
afraid to think in large figures, and
who at the same time know the impor-
tance Of avoiding extravaganza and how
TO avoid extravaganza. We need the
assistance of the best pedagosic and
architectural skill available. We need
the carefully thought-out suggestions
of parents and pupils and citizens gen.
orally. We need and will welcome the
advice and cooperation of every or
ganization in the city whose purpose is
the material and moral betterment Of
our people. While in the last instance
the responsibility belongs to the school
board, l know l am not wrong in say
ing that every member wants TO do
what will be for the very best good in
the district and what will appeal TO
the people as the very best thing.
Character, Real End in View
And in this connection may / say
a word that at first sight may not seem
to have any necessary relation to the
high school building. question, but it
has? In considering this question it is
just as important as in the consid-
Grafton of any other educational ques-
tion that we keep in mind, clearly and
constantly and actively, or else it won't
be effectively. that the real reason for
our high school and all our schools