The Dolores star., 1917-06-01
NEED OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDING

Say. friend. just go over the Old one
with me and let's see.
We can not visit the primary room
because it isn't there. Oh, No! Its
across the street up fight of stairs
which some of the little fellows feel
safer climbing on their hands and
knees. If fire were to start in that
building. those same little fellows
would be caught and several injured if
not killed.
That's nothing. they are only chill
dren. If they were calves or colts it
would be different and the Humane
Society would be getting busy.
The third and fourth grade room is
pleasant but the seats all face window.
Our children's 8 eyes are Of value. What
will those same children think of us
when they are grown up and can think.
Will they blame us for things we could
have prevented but didn't because of
our indifference and selfishness?
Now let's visit the furnace room.
Where is it? Oh, here just back of the
stairway. The furnace pipe leads under
the stairs. To be sure, it is covered
with asbestos, but is there no danger
of fire. Rather, if fire, what then?
Oh. just the stairway will be ablaze,
our young people up stairs cut off from
escape. What then? Just imagine
if you have the necessary machinery.
What about the fire escape. For
just half the year it is of use.
During the winter months when danger
from fire is greatest, the steps are
covered with ice and entirely unsafe.
After a rain you should visit the
Office which is used for a recitation
room. You will find all the available
pans from the domestic science depart
ment in use catching the water which
finds it's entrance through the roof.
There are several young people in
our town and rural schools who would
like to enter the eleventh grade. AS
things stand there is no room for them
and no place for them to recite. If
there would be no eleventh grade next
year, it might be different, but there
will be and for many years to come.
Is it fair for we older people who
have the power in our hands to prevent
the younger people from having these
advantages because we didn't?
OF course we could build three rooms
onto the present building. that would
be the least we could get along with
for the coming year not considering the
needs of the twelfth grade which would
have to be cared for later, then there
would have to be new roof, the fire es-
cape would need to be rebuild and the
furnace room fixed over. All this would
cost goodly amount and what would
we have in the end? Only botch of
schoolhouse which would be dis
grace to the community.
Some say think of the war and the
hard times? Granted, but you see we
have to pay only interest on the bonds
for several years before paying any of
the principle. That interest amounts
to only few dollars more than it cost
to run our school for one month during
the past year. It is to be hoped the
war will be over in less than fifteen
years and things swinging back to a
proper balance, then we can pay the
principle.
1t has been said we do not need a
high school yet. Why don't we? We
have young people already in the high
school grades and every year larger
classes coming on. A good equipment
cannot be provided in year nor in five.
If we wait five years. Where will we
be then? Just where we are now. Why
not give the little folks the chance of
having a well organized high school
when they reach that stage in their
development. .H
Just think of these things, friend,
before you vote June 5. Remember
there is little corner of Montezuma
county which we need to stand by as
well as grand big United States. *x*