The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-12
SHALL WE GO FORWARD?

The endorsement OF the Rotary Club given the
movement for bond issue for increased funds for
the high school building is another step toward
the consummaton Of the work started months ago
by the business men OF Pensacola determined 10 as
sure that the children Of Pensacola have equal ad-
vantages with the children of other communities.
There is a great deal OF talk about how extremely
expensive the education OF the children OF this
county has become. But, like a great many other
things, TO get the real value OF anything, we must
get it comparatively 1t is fact that compared to
other communities, Pensacola is not overwhelmed
by taxation, for its schools At this time for term
Of eight months. the tuition of the public schools OF
the county averages $3.50 per month. which includes
tuition and all other educational expenditures.
The coming bond issue will mean an increase in
this average, but it will mean also an increase In
values in every educational asset.
At this time the educational facilities Of the county
are absolutely inadequate to meet the county needs
The boys and girls of high school age are housed'ln
ramshackle building, veritable fire trap, badly
ventilated, l-lighted and unsanitary. Such an en-
vironment for the youth Of this city is disgrace to
Pensacola
OF the time warrant fund of $4,000 there remains
unexpended at this time about $4,000 which would
be only enough to start the work of the building,
which has been estimated at S2S6000 The thirty
thousand dollars raised through the special tax dis
trict has helped the school board to carry ON the
that fund to be used for the completion of the high
school.
So congested are the schools of the city at this
time that, spite of the fact that there have been
two additions OF eight rooms, at the opening of the
next term if each pupil is to have a full day with
no double session. it will be necessary to build more
than twenty additional rooms. not counting the high
school building.
Besides this. Pensacola has to face the fact that
unless Offer at least reasonably good educational
opportunities here; unless pay at least reasonable
salaries. shall not only fail to go FORWARD, put
we shall so backward
For the teachers Of this county, and particularly
the Cit teachers will not continue to work for the
lnadeq Y, salaries they have been receiving. This
does not mean that we shall not be able to secure
teachers 1t means that shall not be able to get
teachers that are trained; teachers of the higher
standards; teachers who Will give to the profession
the best that is in them.
There are principals in Pensacola today who are
averaging annually less than seventy dollars per
month These women we'll educated, women of
nigh character of ability, who have been teachers in
he city schools for years.
One of the best teachers thas this county has ever
produced. and one of the worst paid. is en-
oloyed by a large corporation Of West Florida in
clerical capacty-another is doing clerical work in
Pensacola; others are receiving offers daily from
other towns.
What are we going to do about it? We going
% put over the bond issue. and see that Pensacola
has the right kind of buildings and the right kind
If teachers
We are going to do this not because Of some vague
yeneraties but becauce of concrete facts. We are
going to do it so that will not lose what we
rave and so that we may have better things in the
uture, own children.