Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1921-04-15
Tumwater, Wash, April 5, 1921.
Editor Washington Standard,
Olympia, Wash.

Editor Washington Standard,
Olympia, Wash.
Dear Sir: AS the proposed CONSOLE
dalton of Tumwater school district
303 and South Union school district
No 16 seems to be causing consider
able discussion, I would like to give
few facts concerning same, as
have lived along the north line of
South Union school district for the
past rs years, feel that l am in a
position to know whereof speak.
The proposed consolidation was
started something like a year or
more ago by the petition of South
Union residents. At that time it
carried in Tumwater, but failed in
South Union. A few months later
on the petition of South Union res
idents, another election was held at
which time, in spite Of false reports
to the effect that Tumwater district
was $4,000 in the hole and that
South Union would have to help pay
ried in South Union. but failed in
Tumwater. On March 26, 1921, an
other election was held. This election
also was petitioned for by South
Union residents. This petition was
signed by the parents Of 8 of the Fl
children who were considered in the
South Union district. The parents OF
these IS children supported consoli-
dalton while the parents OF the other
three children 1.-TWO families) voted
against consolidation. The main op-
position to consolidation in South
Union district comes from two or
three families, none of whom have
any children to go to school. Six
more of those opposing consolidation
find that their names fail to show
up as even taxpayers. One Of the par
ties who strenuously opposes consol-
idation admitted that 1t meant a bet
ter school for the children of South
Union and yet this same party was
guilty of circulating the report that
if South Union consolidated with
Tumwater, that they would have to
issue 100000 in bonds to build
new school house and that this would
raise their taxes unreasonably. It Is
perhaps needless for me to add that
this report was absolutely false, for
I, as chairman of Tumwater board
of directors, personally know that
such a bond issue was never even
thought Of, yet this shows the meth
DDS used by the opposition in their
attempt to defeat the means Of OBJ
tanning better educational facilities
for the children of the district.
Another means used was the bring
ing in of five persons who had voted
in the director election in another
district, at the annual school cleo
ton March s, 1921, yet these people
reside at the same place as they did
March s, 1921. Also another party, a
married man, who has resided in
Olympia for the past six or eight
months, was brought out to vote
against consolidation. I might enum-
crate several more stunts along the
same line as the above, but l do
not think 1t necessary. But suffice to
say that at the election, held on
March 26 they succeeded in defeat
ing consolidation, by three votes,
33 to30, in South Union, and unless
I am mistaken, at the election to be
held on the ninth day of this month
the. results will be somewhat differ
ent. would also like to call atten-
ton to school conditions as they ex-
list today in South Union:
No member of the school board
has any children Of their own going
to school. approximately IL schol-
lars attend school at South Union,
while 10 attend school outside the
district, while approximately three
do not attend school at all. During
the past year or so two or three fam
lilies have moved out of the district
on account Of school conditions, two
of these families are still taxpayers
in the district. In the past six years
believe there has been only one
eighth grade graduate who could
justly be claimed to have finished
the work at South Union school,
where there should have been from
one to three each year.
In view of the above facts, 1t seems
seems foolish to me for anyone to
make the statement that it is only
renters who will soon leave, who de-
sire consolidation, when, as a matter
of fact, there are more taxpayers
and more parents of school children
among those desiring it than there
are among those opposing it. One is
, oftimes compelled to think that many
times it is the grown up people who
need the education as we'll as the
children.
Now few words in regard to the
consolidated school. To those who
oppose consolidation: Do you real
ize the advantages of graded
school over a one-room school? Do
you realize that in a graded school
that in most instances the teacher is
specialist in her particular grade?
Do you realize that it Is much easier
and the results far better where a
70 ohor no fvrO doc tn,