The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-13
Quit Knocking Adequate
School Facilities!
Taxes Are High, But Don't Cut Them at
the Expense of the Children


TAXES ARE HIGH, but The Star has no sympathy
none whatever-with the attempt to make
school children the scapcgoats.
There are plenty of directions to raise storm of
protest, without pursuing penny punching policy in
the education of boys and girls who, by very laws
are, up to a certain age, COMPELLED to attend
school,
There is at this moment an elaborate capitol build
ing program under way in Olympia. Millions of dol
lars have been spent and be SPENT to house po
litcal Offices. In thousands of dollars be-
ing expended to make alterations -ALTERATlONS,
MIND youth building that has not yet been &C.
cupied. As much money is being spent for capitol
buildings, more for all the high schools in the
principal cities of this state.
There, indeed, is something to protest against
NEARLY AS MUCH MONEY has been invested in
~ the Sand Point aviation field the new high
school would cost 1t is lying idle, waiting for the day
when Uncle Sam may choose to accept it. Even then
the benefits would be speculative.
Perhaps that investment be justified, but in the
name Of common decency how can it be compared
with an investment to educate our children?
We engaged in this city with the Skagit
project involving many millions of dollars. Let Us
grant that the project is feasible but in the end what
will have? lot of electrical energy furnished by
the city that otherwise would be furnished by private
companies Can that be compared in the same
breath with adequate school facilities for young
sters?
VIVA. shall i. prof. u. to have aviation fields. and
beautiful buildings and grounds and city-owned light
and power if must pay for these doubtful benefits
by stealing from kiddies benefits they
titled to?
THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL proposes to teach
printing, among other things; a good, useful
trade. Vocational training needs all best
agement instead of knocking II is not enough to
~~h lU,v1. H. IL -. g. ~NN~
that there should not be single university in the state
than to deprive children of the opportunity to get
full and needed elementary education in the grammar
and high schools.
What's all the roar about?
There might be justice to the protest il the
plans called for ornate building for lavish expend
itures merely ornamental features. The kick does
not lie in that respect, however.
If il did, The Star would join in.
But If read the protest right il is that the
school will have six for science studies two for
art and design, gymnaSums, assembly room large
enough to accommodate the pupils, and two study"
rooms. These provided in ALL high schools
What's wrong with science studies in high schools?
Far more useful for practical life than Latin and
Greek; and the may be said for the study of art
and design BY pupils who have talent for these things
1t would, indeed be the greatest economy to teach
more and more OF practical subjects than the merely
lacademic-to teach good trades and commercial sub
jects instead of dead languages.
And when a high school 10 to house than
thousand pupils It is false economy to deprive them Of
an adequate assembly adequate gymnasiums
These far from merely ornamental adjuncts They
afford the proper mediums in high school life for the
widening of character that cannot be gained in geom-
etry books chemistry courses
y y
THE STAR does not know whether the high school
at Cowen park, furnishing nothing that other
high schools do not already furnish except the print
ing course be built for less than the estimated
81 That is up to the contractors of this city
be built for less it should be- but il must not
be at the expense of deprving the boys and girls Of
adequate housing or studies.
Taxes high to be sure. But the place to WELD
the is at wasteful politics. whether they be Gov
Harris capitol building program, Sand Point or any
other non-essential Do not make our school children
the scapegoats.
not a on "inaba to shoc profit