Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-12-09
.ROTARIANS HEAR
new CITY HIGH
SCHOOL DEMAND
City System Has Never Spent
Cent More Than Charter
Provides, They Are Told

building, modern ande sufficient, with
the present building turned into a
junior high school, was made yester-
Eday by City Supt. j. e. Mathis on the
occasion of the visit of the Rotary
Club to the high school just before
the clubs regular luncheon at l pm.
His suggestion was endorsed by Col.
George R. Ellis, a member of the
school board, who said the "duty is
ours and we must discharge it like
men. Get the money as you may, we
must have these things.
Supt. Mathis and Colonel Ellis both
declared that, while the eity's present
finances may be in an embarrassed
condition, the schools had never re-
ceived one penny more than the one
half of one per cent levy set aside
for them by the charter, and Colonel
Ellis asserted not even all Of this had
, at times been received.
The Rotarians were greeted as they
| filed into the high school assembly
room at noon by song, Welcome
Rotarlans,' sung by the entire as
sembled student body, led by Miss
Ella Polk. A yell was given and
Principal C. NJ. Hale introduced the
visitors in body to the school. Pres
ident Lanier, of the Rotary club, pre-
sented Rev. Silas Johnson, who spoke
briefly and entertainly, concluding
with a pledge to the high school that
| if there was anything for the school
or students that the Rotary Club
could do, it would be glar to under
take it,
Character the Test.
Colonel George r. Ellis, Rotarian
and member of the school board, spoke
briefly in the absence of w. W.
Dykes, president Of the board, who
was absent, impressing the Importance
of character building in getting an
education, and said that one man is
better than another only to the cx-
tent that he has more character than
the other.
AS he concluded Miss Ira Gatewood,
leader Of the girls basket ball squad,
rose and challenged the statement of
Rev. Silas johnson that the club was
ready to do anything for the students
or school She asked the club if this
were true, to intercede with Dr.
! Grubbs" to permit the use of the Y
NJ. C. A. gymnasium for basketball
games SO that games with larger
schools could be scheduled here. This
tchallenge met with sweeping applause.
When called for, DR.. Grubbs explain
ed that certain negotiations by the
| physicians who own the building for
its disposition, of which Superintend-
ent Mathis had been informed, had
prevented the granting Of the request
but assured the students that if a
way could be worked out whereby
their desires could be met, they
would be.
Allen McNeill, a high school stu
dent, was called for. He expressed
appreciation on behalf of the student
body for the visit of the Rotarians,
and pleasure that they had come to
lsee what they could of the school and
conditions that exist in it. The school
orchestra played, Frank Harold, Ro-
tartan song leader, led in couple of
cheers and the gathering sang ,,Ev-
erybody Neighbors." As adjournment
was about to take place, Supt. Mathis
| rose for Just a word to his fellow
club members.
Never Exceeded Allotment.
eve are glad to have you here to-
day to see what we have and what
1--WE have not" said he. "Never in
the history of the Americus schools
have we spent one cent more than the
one per cent levy provided for the
schools in the city charter, while 9th
en- city departments have gone on and
exceeded their allowances. IF the
city treasury is now in an embarrass-
ed condition it IS no fault Of ours. .
! he pointed out that every good thing
the world has, every modern appli-
ance, every bit Of equipment, all the
machinery, all inventions, are the re-
suit of education. "Our science de-
partment is most poorly equipped, .
he said. 'It occupies a small room
| in dark corner Of the basement. We
have no gymnasium, and we all know
that physical development plays an
important part in our modern system
4 of education. Our domestic science
department occupies room in the
i basement next to the boiler room, and
this should not be- Our class rooms
are crowded and our classes too large
for proper teaching of the students.
What we need in Americas today
is a modern new high school building
with all appointments, large enough
to serve the needs Of Americus for
years to come, and let us turn this
building in ota junior high school. II
| would just about serve the needs foi
this purpose and relieve the grammar
school congestion we have elsewhere
Teen we could begin to give our chill
dren the advantages they need and
SHOULD have.
i "The treasury report Of the Amer