Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-06-08
WE WILL FIRST TAKE UP THE QUESTION
OF THE NEED OF A NEW BUILDING.

II Our present building was erected in 1885, twenty
five years ago. before the time of Kindergarten Manual
II Training Domestic Science Agriculture, Normal Train
H ing, and Commercial Departments 1t the in
tenton that the basement should be used for grade pur
poses but the gradual addition of other departments and
the steady increase in enrolment required the use of
every portion of the building several years ago The
II library has been vacated to make class ROOM The de
parments of Manual Training Domestic Science Kinder
II garten and Primary in the basement While the two
former may be taken of with fair results and ill
effects it is not right that children should pass the first
two three years of their school life in basement
The toilets all located in the basement Immediately
adjoining the entrance to other Their presence is
II less noticeable all the time Toilet facilities
II should be readily accessible every floor and
sructed and ventilated that their presence cannot be de-
II tected Accommodations and equipment for laboratory
II work woefully lacking.
II During the year just closed 698 pupils were enrolled
and in attendance at this building Do you realize this
means that more than sixth of the entire population
of DEBORAH live in these quarters most OF their days for
nine months of the year? Do you know that according to
the best authorities that this building, aside from the
vaS ;o ft Fec st a sq
only half that number?
Last year the High School numbered 226 There are |
seats in the assembly for 154 The Freshman class
obliged to two adjoining rooms that sadly II
needed for other purposes To provide temporary relief
the board has engaged for the ensuing year out
side the school premises that will house the Normal
framing department
This arrangement will not be satisfactory but addi H
tional room must be procured in some way.
Athletics and Physical Training plays important II
part in the school life Properly managed and with II
adequate facilities it offers inducement that will hold
many pupil thro the high school and make them
filter and women for all the duties of life.
During the late a very large portion of our II
young rejected for service physically unfit
Most of these defects could have been by proper
and training during their school life.
Our present building offers opportunity for the II
development of athletic activities and physical training
The present arrangement is waste of time and peril
the health In this connection would like to say that
in the past year the Athletic committee of the High
School hired their Accommodations for practice and
games and paid all their expenses amounting to
nearly $500 If maintain the required standard
and keep place with the schools of Iowa must have
a well equipped gymnasium II
The board of directors believe they have engaged the
services of men and the personnel of faculty
that has been exceed the history OF the school
Let us give them plant that will produce results
The foregoing is statement of fact. 1t cannot
be refued and easily be verified by anyone who will
take the trouble Next week will take up the matter
of the pupil from outside district
WI. BAKER, President of the Board