Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1921-03-11
PEOPLES FORUM

NiAN iNAANI W. 49, 'CN''Ng t''4 -
w. Dunlap in last weeks edition
of this paper. | feel that it is
an imposition on the suffering
public who are not interested in
our differences of opinion to air
them in such a public way, but
having been misrepresented in
public | feel that it is the only
way to answer.
Your school board has done
the only thing possible under the
circumstances, please remember
that we are governed by the state
law in all things, the only thing
possible for us to do is to follow
instructions, which we have done.
These gentlemen accuse us of
having "let the school property
get out of repair, and into a run
down condition and a disreput-
able condition of filth" so that
it was condemned by the county
authorities. AT the beginning Of
each school year it has been
thoroughly cleaned and any
wiseable sign of needed repair was
attended to. Before the begin
ming of our last term of school
at Center, it was calsomine paint
washed, the floors cleaned and
oiled, and the floors were oiled
and cleaned several times during
the term. The building was not
condemned because of its condi-
ton Of filth but because it does
not come up to the requirements
of the state board of health in
the matter of light distribution,
feet of air space, indoor toilets,
heating, etc. They further state
that an impression was given out
that "no repairs what ever could
be made to remedy the defects
and satisfy the Inspector" We
told you exactly what DR.. Spar
ling told us-that the building
could be changed but he would
not advise us to do so, as it would
be very expensive and that it
would not be what we would
want in the end. The question
of whether we would repair the
Iold building or build a new one
was voted on, the result being
unanimous in favor of building
a new one, when the question of
bonds was voted on it was voted
down. The only road open to
us was transportation. If it has
been unsatisfactory to you it is
not our fault, we hired the best
jitney available for the Ellisport-
Portage run which has been very
satisfactory. The Vashon run
was taken out of our hands COM
pletely and arrangements were
made by committee Of self ap-
pointed men from Center with
the Vashon S. B. to which we
gave no objection, wishing in
all matters to allow you your
choice.
We gave out no erroneous i'm
preston, we were outspoken in
our beliefs, and were unanimous
in favor of consolidation in which
we were backed by the County
Superintendent, A. S. Burrows
and Deputy (now Superintendent
elect Thos. Hulse, the foremost
educators of the state including
State Superintendent Mrs. Pres
ton, are agreed that consolidation
makes more efficient schools. Your
vote March 5th. shows that you
do not agree with us. That is
your affair, [ hope you will be
pleased with the result of your
vote.
They further state that "Our
educational expenses nearly doub-
led when We were compelled to
change our educational method. )"
You have only to compare your
tax receipts to prove this false.
Our state and county aportion-
ment are still in our own district,
from which we are paying the
iitney service. We had $4,000
in the treasury at the beginning of
the school year left over and our
only expense has been H26000|
per month up to the beginning of
the second semister, when at the
advise of Superintendent Bur
rows we assisted Burton to hire
another teacher to relieve the over
crowded condition there caused
by our children coming after they
had their budget made.
The whole of expense figures of
these gentlemen are utterly un.
true, our expenses of maintain
ing a school up to the beginning
of this school year ranged from
do S00 M tn do 0nO m ,,,l