The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-27
SAVE SCHOOLS
FISHERS PLEA
To ROTARIANS
Board Of Educators Campaign for
Increased School Facilities
Explained.

E. c. Fisher, superintendent of
the Rock Island public schools, car
ried the board of education's Save
the Schools" campaign for increas-
ed school facilities to more than
100 members of the Rock Island
Rotary club at the regular weekly
luncheon this noon at the Rock Is
land club. The school proposition
will be voted on at a special cleo
ton Oct. 10.
Mr. Fisher quoted statistics in
pointing out the increase in school
enrolment as compared to the in
crease in population. and illustrat-
ed his statements on a blackboard
with figures and diagrams. 'tIn
1910 the population OF the city of
Rock Island was approximately
$4,000" Mr.. Fisher stated, 'and in
1920 it was over $4,000, an increase
OF A per cent During that same
period enrolment in the local high
school increased from 551 to 975,
or n per cent. In 1910 there were
2S rooms utilized in the high school
building Today we have expanded
far as it is humanity possible in
the present structure, and Te have
80 rooms. While the high school
enrolment increased II per cent.
the rooms increased only Ia per
cent, and we have now reached tho
limit. If the same proportion Of
increase is maintained during the
next 10 years, we shall have high
school enrolment OF between. 1900
and 1000. and we shall need GO
rooms to accommodate them.
High school education was so
per cent more popular in 1920 than
in 1910 A decade ago an average
of 10 families of every 100 sent one
child. while today Is families Of
every hundred are represented with
one or more children at the high
school.
Under the new education law Of
Illinois, whereby the ages at which
children must attend school is
yearly extended until in 1928 the
limit will be reached at IS, enroll
ment in the high school will be in
! creased by 400 within three years.
and that without any gain in popu-
| lation."
Grade Problem Acute.
The problem in the grade school
| is almost as acute as in the high
school. Superintendent Fisher stat
/ ed. and in the ten-year building
program. which is provided for In
: the special proposition before the
voters, will add a number of new
grade schools to the present sys-
| TEN. The high school, however,
! will receive the first consideration,
I he said.
1.-THE same proposition is being
placed before the voters in several
other cities in the state" Mr.. Fisher
declared, "among them being Mo
I line. Great many cities have al
ready voted on the question since
the new law became effective, and
in not a single instance have the
schools been defeated"
| In conclusion, Mr.. Fisher told OF
/ visiting schools of foreign countries
: during his European trip last sum-
mer. in England after the child
has reached the third or fourth
/ grade, free tuition ceases, and the
parents must pay, if their children
are to receive higher education. IN
{ America we boast of our democ-
racy and the very foundation OF
that democracy is our free educa-
tional system. All l ask of the men
and women of Rock Island is to
weigh their children against their
dollars, and then vote as their con-
+ sciences dictate"