The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-11-29
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20, 1922
BUILD FOR THE FUTURE, MON
DAY, DEC. 4TH.

Next Monday, December 4th, is
the date set for an election to de-
termine whether a majority of the
citizens of Brookhaven desire the is
suance of hundred and fifty thous-
and dollars worth ofsbonds for the
building Of new High School.
To those conversant with condit-
ions at the school, the election is
simply formality in the securing
of badly needed, an absolutely ne
cessary provision for our school chill
dren, and not to be regarded as an
occasion for the exercise of personal
preference or choice.
The problem of additional school
accommodations is chronic. recurring
at least three times annually, and
this session it is already acute.
The problem of providing for the
normal growth in numbers of the
student body was solved in the past
by several additions to and interior
changes of, single building. Ev-
cry time an addition was made, the
light, ventilation and general desir-
ability Of several good class rooms
in the older portion was lessened by
the addition.
In recent years, the school auditor
ium has been partitioned into class
rooms, and the superintendent's Of
fee removed to a cloak room, in a
conscientious effort to use every a.
valuable bit of space for pupils.
This session, frame school build
ing of bungalow construction had to
be built on the playground in order
to accommodate three roomfuls of
students who were unprovided for.
The yearly growth in the number
of students enrolled leaves no room
for doubt that next session will re-
quire school quarters larger than
those now in use. Are we to con-
tinue building frame bungalows for
school rooms and depriving students
of a school auditorium indefinitely?
Our very need for the building is
en- indication of the growth of Brook
haven's commercial interests, of a
prosperous community, of a hopeful
future. Not to need it would indi-
cate stagnation. and decay.
The present school quarters are
not creditable to our progress
i've town, with it's splendid church
es and other worthy buildings, but
no plea need be based upon this fact.
The new building is for the purpose
of relieving overcrowded conditions
and supplying an environment con-
= ducive to more efficient school work,
better health and greater safety of
the pupils. The present quarters
will be thriftily retained and, with
desirable changes, continue in use.
Objections upon the score that we
have already heavy bonded indebt-
edness must be met with the reflec-
tion that the education of our future
citizens is not matter in which we
can begin curtailment Of expense.
The increase in taxation will be
comparatively slight.
The public school is the very foun-
dation of democratic government.
To continue to have a shabby
High School in progressive town
would indicate an outlook that would
ultimately check progress.
An objection frequently made, that
the large number of country students
are the cause of the crowded oondit-
ions and of unnecessary expense, is
refuted by school officers. They
state that the situation would not
be appreciably altered by the with
drawal of these students, who pay
tuition except during the months of
the county free term, and that 1t
would be prejudicial to the good feel
ing existing between Brookhaven
and other portions of the county to
refuse school privileges to children
from other districts.
The issue of hundred and fifty
thousand dollars worth of bonds is
indeed a weighty transaction, but it
is for purpose practical and bene-
ficent in every respect.
We who have given to the Red
Cross, the Salvation Army, the Kings
Daughters charities, foreign mission
aries and mission schools in China,
Korea and Japan, to dozen good
causes in distant places, will surely
recognize the right of our own boys
and girls to school opportunities
worthy of them and of Brookhaven.
In the end it is only being good to
ourselves"
Vote for the bond issue!
-e-Mm-S-
A prohibition law more drastic