The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-04-12
SOME cold FACTS
On the School Situation in Princeton
Bond Issue Urged to
Build a School,
Contributor Says That Our Village is
Way Behind the Times in
School Matters.
(Contributed)

A'AS~SSSAHs
(Contributed)
The people of Princeton have now
become fully aware of the fact that a
new school building is not only desir-
able but that it is absolutely neces-
sary.
Because of lack of room, no manual
subjects have ever been added to the
high school course in the Princeton
schools. Princeton will receive this
year at least $4,174.00 less state aid
than some Of the state high schools.
If special state aids are paid in full
this year, the loss will be considerable
greater than this sum.
Of the 230 high schools in the state,
Princeton is the only one that has not
yet introduced any Of the manual sub
jects.
By thus failing to give the children
of Princeton the same opportunities
that are given the children of the other
229 high schools Of the state, Princeton
loses enough special aid each year to
pay the interest on $83,480.00. But
this is not all. At present the district
is paying $4,000 rent for two school
rooms and for the use of the Armory
auditorium. This sum will pay for the
services of an extra Eeacher for the
manual work, for it must be admitted
that PROBABLY another teacher in adj
dition to the present teaching force
will be required when new subjects
take the place of those now offered.
However, when boy takes manual
training, he takes it instead of some
other subject and the same is true of
the girl who takes domestic science.
But the greater the number of courses
offered the greater will be the ex-
pense Of the instruction. Reliable
figures covering the relative cost of
instruction in Minnesota show that
manual training instruction costs Ole
per pupil per year which is tri1e
below the average Of high school sub
jects. Domestic science costs SOC per
pupil and Latin $1.28 per pupil. The
cost of instruction in mathematics is
least, being 64c per pupil. The cost
Of instruction in German is $1.00 per
pupil.
Looking at this question from the
wrong standpoint alone, which is the
money standpoint, it does not pay
Princeton in dollars and cents to con-
duct a system of schools as it is now
being conducted, for we have not yet
struck at the root of this matter.
Neither of the Princeton school build
ings meets the state requirements and
it is by no means certain that Prince
ton school district No. will receive
the regular $18O00O for maintaining
a high school and the regular appor-
tionment given for attendance of each
pupil this year.
It must be taken as an assured fact
that we shall soon be treated as other
school districts have been treated and
lose our apportionment and regular
high school aid. This means the loss
of $5,87748 Chased on the figures of
last year) in addition to our present
loss Of $4,174.00.
Adding this impending loss to the
loss which we are already suffering
we have a total of $10,O51.48 of state
money that should be allotted to
Princeton.
With this sum Princeton could pay
the yearly interest on $201 ,129.6O or
can pay the interest on 100000 OF
bonds and still have enough money
left to take up a $4,000 bond each
year which will retire them in twenty
years without any additional taxation.
Can any man oppose the issuing of
bonds to build school building in
Princeton under the present deplorable
conditions? Would any business man
allow his business to reach such a
stage Of inefficiency as the people Of
Princeton have allowed their schools
to reach, simply because they have not
understood the conditions as they ex-
ist?' There is but one answer to this
question.
Furthermore there will be no opposi-
ton by any loyal citizen to the voting
of sufficient bonds to put Princeton
on the map educationally and start
her on the road to general improve
ment and advancement such as all
other high school communities of Min
nesota have long enjoyed.
We do not claim that new build
ing will cost this community nothing.
Anything worth having costs some
thing. Nothing is worth more to our
children than a thorough, practical
education and nothing of equal value
will cost Princeton less than an up
to-date system of schools. A new
building will cost Princeton less than