Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
SCHOOLS SHOW.
LARGE GROWTH
IN YEAR 1919
Many Perplexing Problems Result
In Matter Of Providing Neces-
sary Facilities.
By ]. l.. VERNON.

years, nor the many ana peFplexlnS
problems that are involved in pro-
viding the necessary facilities ade-
quately and satisfactorily to meet
the increased demands.
The world war and the conditions
which it brought about prevented
the carrying out of plans for ex-
tensions and betterments In the
chOOl system, which otherw.ce
build have been completed, and In
eonsequence some sections OF the
district have not been as adequate.
ly provided for as the board of edn-
\ cation desired, or to which the resi-
Edents therein were entitled. With
4conditi0ns now returning to more
normal state and with more lib
eral taxing power, enabling the
board to secure the necessary
funds. plans for necessary exten-.I
si0ns and improvements will doubt
less be completed in the near
future.
While conditions have not per-
mitted the erection OF several
needed buildings, the board has
been able to provide satisfactory
accommodations by the use Of sew
eral portable buildings. These
buildings are substantially con-
structed, well heated, lighted and
ventilated, and fully as comfort
able and healthful as any room in
thu permanent structures. In fact,
30 deeirable are the portable rooms
that Mere 10 considerable rivalry
TDetweN the teachers to be assign
ed to hem. Seven such portable
Du1ldin1 are in use, two at Audu-
bon, tw) at Horace Mann, two at
Edison I'D one at Irving.
The NECESSITY of using such tenn
porary stuctures is the best proof
OF the ned of new permanent struc-
lures andsuch new buildings will
have to lbe provided in the very
near futuf. The rapid growth Of
the schoolpopulation will necessi-
tate new buildings in each Of the
above dist3cts. but perhaps the
most pressing situation is in the
Edison distact (Sears and vicinity
and the Audubon district, Twenty-
sixth street And Eighteenth avenuc,
where new buildings are now need,
Ell and will have to be built as
soon as the finances permit.
Looking forward to future r.
quirements, the board has acquired
several new building sites. 1t was
deemed advisable to secure these
sites before expensive improve
ments had been made, and in each
ease the purchases have been maize
on reasonable terms. These sites
are located as follows:
On Eighteenth avenue between
Thirty second and Thirty-third
streets, 275x6S4 feet. The erection
Of over two hundred houses in this
district by the United States hous-
/. ing corporation, together with many
now homes built by private cari-
tai, necessitated the immediate
construction OF building on this
size. This building will be large
! and commodious intermediate
school and will be completed in
1890.
On Twenty-hfth avenue between
y Ninth and Tenth streets, a site ap-
prox.mately 305x518 feet was pur
chased. On Forty-second avenue
between Ninth and Eleventh streets
tract of ground approximately
525x525 feet was also purchased.
So far as can now be determined,
these additional sites for future
buildings should take care of the
requirements for some years, ex-
cept for additional accommOda-
tions for the high school.
High School.
II will be necessary to give early
attention to additional facilities for
our high school. The present build
ing is now over-crowded. and is in
adequate to take care of the pres
en-. enrolment. Built to accommo-
date about five hundred pupils. it is
now taking care of an enrolment
Of over eight hundred. This num-
her is rapidly increasing and 1t is
imperative that provision be made
for these rapidly increasing mum
hers. The present building site
does not offer advantages for ex-
mansion, although an extension to
the south, or perhaps, the acquisi-
tion of adjacent property, may
make it possible to provide for ad
ditional capacity that will suffice
for a number of years. A new AMI
more commodious site, with a new
and up-to-date building may. how
ever, be the wisest solution OF his
very difficult situation. Such L
plan would permit using the pre-
ent high school building for a
much needed intermediate school
to accommodate the central pa
OF the city.
Teachers Compensation.
The board has long recognizes
the fact that the pay Of Our teach
ers is inadequate. While salaries
have been advanced from time t,
time and the salaries paid in Rock
Island school district compare
favorably with other cities of rels-
lively the same size. yet the teac..:
ers' salary has not been and is not
vet commensurate with the exact
ing qualifications nor the arduous
duties required. The new state law
authorizing an increased levy for
educational purposes. and ap-
proved by the voters of this district
at the last election, has enabled Tie
board partially to correct this sit-
uation. Even with the substantial
increase recently made. the pay Of
r our teachers is still out of line with
thu pay received in commercial and
other lines of endeavor and o
further increase should be made to
compensate the faithful and efIic-
lent teachers now engaged in this
laudable profession and to attract