The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-02-15
FACILITIES FOR
BETTER SCHOOLS
NEEDED, IS VIEW
CITY Superintendent Advocates $780,
900 Worth Of improvements
Here, In His Address to
klwanls Club.
SHOWS BUILDINGS HERE
ARE NOW OVERCROWDED
Shows indebtedness Of District,
Sinking Fund and Brings Out
Fact Of Very slight In.
crease In Taxes.

In need OF improvements which
would cost approximately 100000.
7. 7. Montgomery. city superintend.
ent, declared In an address at the
MONDAY luncheon OF the kiwanIs
club, held In the banquet room Of
the Manhattan cafe yesterday.
There has been no construction
OF school buildings In Chickasha
curing tho past five years" Mr..
Montgomery declared. THE school
population has steadily increased
curing this time. and now every
school In the city has an enrolment
greater than a reasonable maximum.
and several schools are badly crowd.
3D." he continued.
"Since January 81, 1919, the en-
Iollment in the five ward schools
here has increased IL per cent; in
the Junior high school. SO per cent
aud in the Senior high school. 81
per cent.
while the enrolment has IN
creased, the average daily attend
ance has increased more rapidly
than the enrolment.
THE increase in the average daily
attendance In the Senior high school
for three years has been 10 per
cent; In the Junior high school. 81
per cent; in the elementary schools,
Ii rer cent.
No Modern Facilities.
THE elementary schools are ov.
,rcrowded but there Is still another
problem to be met beside the
crowded condition of the classrooms.
There are practically no modern ia.
cilities In any of the five elemen-
tary schools. There is not q single
auditorium. gymnasium, shower
bath. library, music room, or kin
oergarten in any of them.
Il believe II important that the
children of Chickasha have the op-
portunity to attend kindergarten.
We find that in those cities whose
educational systems have long been
known for their general excellence.
the advocacy of the kindergarten
amounting an enthusiasm rarely ex-
pressed in regard to any other phase
OF school work.
Mr.. Montgomery quoted the super
inten6ent of schools of Hammond,
Ind. who said: I'VE have had the
kindergarten as part of the regu-
lar school in every school building
IN our city for 20 years. We feel
that its results are vital; that chill
dren enter the first grade more in
tell gent than those who have not
had that training; that their minds
and bodies respond to the needs Oh
the regular work to such an extent
that the time necessary for adjust
nlent is materially decreased
IN my opinion" Superintendent
Montgomery asserted "A child is
robbed Of part Of his birthright
when deprived of at least one year
In kindergarten.
1T is a generally accepted prin-
ciplc Of school administration that
every school should have an audi
torium OF sufficient capacity to seat
all pupils enrolled. The assembly
room is the spiritual center OF the
school. Here the children meet for
regular chapel exercises, instruction
in. discipline, pupils programs, lect-
ures and exercises Of all kinds.
MANY schools have found it prac-
tical to construct room that may
be used for both auditorium and
gymnasium. Kansas City. Mo-, and
ponca City. Okla, use and recon-
mend the combination auditorium
gymnasium.
"No school should be without a
good shower bath. Many school
children rarely have access to q
bath tub. The shower bath in the
Junior high school here has been
used to advantage.
Should Enlarge J. II. s.
"The Junior high school IS noused
in a very fine building but the rea-
sondble maximum capacity Of this
building is only 500 students whils
the present enrolment is eS5. The
seating capacity of the auditorium
is about 4od. TO take care OF tho
present enrolment, four additional
class-rooms should be provided and
the seating capacity of the audi
forum should be increased at least
200.
Improvement of the Junior high
school building would not present
any serious architectural problems.
The erection of balcony in the
auditorium will provide ample AZ
sembly facilities. The classroom
ooulo be built on the wings or
second story could be added to .