The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-04-22
OPEN LETTER TO TAX PAYERS

The question Of adequate high
school accommodations for Gunnison
County will be submitted to the quail
flied voters ON May third.
The County, with valuation Of
over sixteen million, has never taxed
itself cent for any kind Of high
school building. When the high
school pupils moved into the Normal
building in the fall Of 1911, there
were only 83 enrolled; now there are
twice that number. During the same
period the Normal School enrolment
has increased three hundred percent
With this increase in numbers and
the extension of courses it has now
become almost impossible to give a
first-class school to either the high
school or Normal students. The pro-
gram is SO extensive that there are
not recitation rooms sufficient Many
classes are held in the corridors. The
teachers have no individual rooms;
they are obliged to place their desks
and do their office work in the open
Railways. There is only one labora-
tory room for all sciences, and it Is
almost impossible to provide for the
courses without serious conflict. The
library is so small that it is impossi-
BILE to put all the books in it. The
assembly room is so small that three
or four students are obliged to keep
their belongings in one seat-desk. 1t
is quite out of the question to have
any sort Of school meeting or enter
tainment in the building. It is nee
essary to rent church or the theatre
whenever the school gives any sort Of
entertainment There is only half
enough room for the manual training
and domestic science. No provision
whatever has been made for metal
work, blacksmithing, ETC., and no pro-
vision for agricultural laboratories.
At first the Normal School was
glad to have tho High School with
it. 1t is still glad; yet there can be
no doubt that each school should be
working on a separate program with
q separate assembly. The interests Of
high-school students and Normal
School students are not identical.
When the two groups must be packed
In together, it is quite impossible to
give either group tho kind Of inspira-
tion. instruction. or disciplinary IN
fiuence required. For proper devel-
opment the high-school students must
have their own things 10 their own
place; they must cooperate with their
contemporaries; they must not be
mixed In with older students who
have distinctly different aims and
different outlook on life.
1t Is true too, that the college stu
dents object to being too closely as
sociated with those Of the high
school. After q boy or girl has grad
uated from the high school there is
feeling that the next step should be
taken in real college. In Gunnison
County we have been throwing all
students back into the high-school at
mosphere. 1t does not work well and
students from other parts Of the
state object to attending college in a
high school.
So from the standpoint Of both
schools the time has come for sepa-
rate buildings and separate programs.
The crowded condition makes more
room necescary anyway; and unless
the room can be had, we shall be
obliged to continue q condition which
is unsatisfactory to both schools. II
We can get the room, better work can
be done in each school, and tho young
people Of this county will be attracted
to remain for college work after they
have completed the high school
course.
Contrary to the contention Of some
persons less thoroughly informed
than they should be, tho State has not
been and is not trying to steal the
County High. School. The land upon
which the proposed building is to be
erected has been given to the County
High School Committee by the Board
Of Normal Trustees, and the High
School Committee has clear title and
deed for the property. The close CO.
operation between the Normal School
and the High School is of great ad-
vantage to both The benefits have
been mutual, and they will be con-
ttnued and multiplied greatly II each
school develops an adequate plant. II
the County puts up good plant, the
the possibility of the States absorb
ing the High School will be entirely
removed. Both will continue to BEN