The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-08-05
SOME PROGRESSIVENESS
GOING AFTER A BIG SCHOOL
PROPOS SITLON FOR HIGH
POINT TOWNSHIP-A BIG
SHRIDE FORWARD.

Friday night representatives of the
city school board in a meeting with
other representatives from the MB,
! county, and state, decided to request
Guilford members of the legislature to
introduce at the special session of
that body in August a biIl authorizing
a township bond issue election where
! by High Point township might vote
| on the proposition of bonding itself
to the extent of $50O,OOO or more
with which to build central, town
ship high school in the city of High
Point for the use of all the tax
payers in the township, according to
) statements made by those attending.
The meetings was attended by w.
M. Mari, superintendent of city
schools, S. l.. Davis, and Mrs. w. c..
Jones, members of the school board,
the three representing the city school
| board; T. G. Faust, county superin-
tendent of schools; T. j. Gold, local
attorney and member of the legisla-
ture from Guilford, DR.. Dred Peacock,
city attorney, and Carter Dalton, at
torney for the board
The proposition which the school
OOoAU w III AOAuCoC NIL 0OIu W
duce into the legislature is a bill
authorizing the school board at it's
discretion, probably in September
to propose to High Point township a
bond issue to raise school funds with,
which to erect central, township
high school. The voters and taxpay-
ers of the township would of course,
have the last authority to say wheth-
er or not they would bond them
selves to pay for such an institution.
The state constitutions requires such
matters to he passed upon by the
legislature before being presented to
the voters. Legal details Of the bill
itself will be drawn up by T J. Gold
as member Of the legislature. Car
ter Dalton, attorney for the board
and John N. Wilson, attorney for the
county of Guilford.
A recent act of the legislature, in
tended to prevent cities or counties
from exceeding their ability to bay in
bond issues, requires careful check
ing on the present financial condition
Of the community. Records show, it
was stated, that no such a. proposition
had ever been undertaken by town
ship before. The township of High
Point has a bonded Indebtedness of
only $4,000, while the city of High
Point has only $1,O5O00O. OF the
amount of bonds against the city,
only $4,000 was voted for and has
been put into schools.
Discussion of the need of a new
high school for High Point was be-
gun over a'year ago. School autnorj-
ties began an investigation of various
systems in the state, and the way
they were acquired. Professor wv. NJ.
Mari is given credit for originating
the idea of a township high school.
There are at present six high schools
in the township. Not one of them is
modern and up-to-date. His theory
was that by combining the strength
of the city with that of the township,
a school adequate for the entire town.
ship for years to come could be erect
ed. If the issue should be passed by
the people and $4,000 voted to build
a school. an institution complete and
modern in every detail could be
erected The truck system would be
instituted to bring the children from
the rural districts into the city. High
Point is centrally located, and the
township does not extend more than
five miles in any direction. Such
systems are used in many localities
having state high schools and have
proven very satisfactory. 1t is esti-
mated that the burden of the tax pay
ers would be 1ightened in the long
run; since combining the students in
one building would enable a wider
range of courses with fewer teachers
than it takes to conduct several
schools. The proposed bond issue
would erect a school with capacity
of 1000 students, while the entire en-
rollment of high schools in the town
ship next fall will be only something
over 500, according to the statements
of Professor MARI.
Authorities of the school board
said that a definite time for the bond
election had not been decided upon,
in case the bill was introduced in the
special session Some of them seem
ed to think the questions before the
special session would prevent its
taking up the matter at the meeting
in August, which would mean post
poRement of the election until spring.