The Delta independent., 1923-11-02
SURFACE CREEK PEOPLE
PLANNING UNION SCHOOL

A meeting Of representatives from
SIX school districts OF the Surface
Creek section was held in the base
ment of the Eckert Community
church Friday evening which was at
tended also by educators from outside
the district, experienced In school
surveys and similaf work.
The object Of the meeting was to
secure from the directors expression
Of their attitude toward the proposi-
tion of having school survey and
later possibly establishing a union
high school for the Surface Creek
district
Prof. A. ]. Foster. OF Delta, speak
ing on the value Of the school survey,
said that people pay great deal more
attention to purebred stock than they
do to having the right kind Of m
their children. That only during the
past quarter Of q century had the mat
ter Of school surveys been given any
attention. He said that he believed
these surveys should be held even II
they do sometimes hurt and in fact
It was necessary to dig deeper" IN
order to bring out certain facts which
must be unearthed.
Prof. J. P. Armstrong Of the Hotch-
kiss schools answering the question,
Does a School Survey Pay" gave
some very interesting figures and
spoke highly In favor of such a move
Mr.. Armstrong is superintendent Of
the Hotchkiss school. the only one on
the Western Slope which has adopted
the Smith-Hughes system.
Prof. Hurchel T. Manuel. who has
charge of the rural survey work at
the Western State college, gave a
most interesting talk along this line
He warned his hearers, however, that
he was glad to have preceded the
program with such a good dinner as
the feeding was an anasthetic for the
speeches which were to follow, par
ticular'v his own. however this did not
part: "The problem is not how to
keep from spending our money but
how to suend It TO the best advantage.
It is not an attempt to Justify a pro-
gram already adopted. There is q
tendency in human nature to start
something which win not bear inves-
tigatioa and then seek to justify It.
The school survey, n It 10 scientific
starts with questions; 1t starts with
nothing IN advance: II does not set
out to justify a program already
adopted. It 10 not a rotten apple but
rather a green apple. II Is e scientific
attempt to get at more or less scien-
tificaily the facts concerning the
schools and the facts of the commun-
ity ir., which the school is interested"
Mr.. J. A. Hunsicker, superintend-
ent OF Cedaredge school. stated that
surveys began In 1910 in the city Of
Boise. Idaho. on a very small scale
on a similar plan to that now en-
ployed-
Mr.. Joe E Hardy. superintendent
OF the Eckert school. urged the adopt
ION Of school survey and stated that
he had learned from county superin-
tendent's offices figures that Fairview
school paid out 5000 last year for
teachers. Eckert over $1,000, and
Cedaredge over $4,000. and stated
that by proper survey It could easily
be determined whether the people
who pay THE taxes and hire the teach
ers are getting what they should for
their money. in tho way Of properly
equipped teachers. Other speakers
who advanced splendid ideas were
Prof. Montgomery OF Cedaredge, A. C.
Tinsley OF Austin, and a number Of
the other directors.
Tho Ecker< ladies had served an
unusually zine chicken dinner as .
preface TO the evenings program, and
after q round table discussion the
meeting adjourned. Indications are
very favorable for having the survey.
II is estimated that the cost will not
be over $1,000. There are several ex-
perts maintained by the state. one of
whom can be secured. the only cost
being transportation. lodging an auto
for travelling over the district, and
publishing OF the survey.