River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1923-04-19
State Inspector Visits
Local High School

Inspector Thomas of the state de-
partment of education visited the
nigh school last Friday, visited some
of the classes and made rather care
full Inspections of the building. He al
so took the opportunity to inform
himself of the relations between the
two schools. In the evening Ne met
with the Board of Education and a
committee of citizens who were inter-
ested in getting his views on the sit
uation.
His report on the condition of the
high school was very good in general.
He thought that in some spots the
work was not quite as strong as it
was last year, but that in other places
it was much stronger. He commented
especially on the great Improvement
that had been made in the English
work. He even went so far as to say
that when visiting other schools he
had frequently mentioned River Falls
as doing particularly good work in
certain lines. He had in mind the So
cialization of the clasework- mthe large
degree Of responsibility that TIE pua
pills take in the conduct OF the recl-
tation.
In speaking of the building he call
ed attention TO the fact that the pres
ent building is one that has been con-
structed gradually as the school popu-
lation OF River Falls has increased.
The original building has had a north
wing added on, the front of the build
ing has been extended to increase the
size of the main assembly hall, a new
heating plant was added, and in more
recent years, the south wing.
He called attention to the poor ven
tilation system in the older pant Of
the building, and to the very bad
lighting conditions in the lower
grades. He thinks that some of our
rooms are greatly over-crowded. lie
called attention to the inadequacy
OF, our present gymnasium, and sug-
gested that the fire Iisk on the old
or part of the building is much great
er than it would be on a modern build
ing.
1t was made clear to those who at
tended the meeting, that it is only
matter Of comparatively short time
until something will have to be done
about putting up a new high school
building, or making extensive repairs
on the old one. That this would have
to be done regardless of the grade
situation was clearly brought out by
the discussions. So far as the grade
situation is concerned, Mr.. Thomas
and most, if not all OF those present,
seemed to believe that no definite ac-
ton should be taken until the Normal
school has secured its appropriation
for a new training school.
He called attention to the fact that
the enrolment in the Senior High
school increased about 33 per cent
last year and that in all probability
there would be as great an increase
this year He was of the opinion that
this condition could be temporarily
handled by crowding the seats closer
together.
He recommended that agriculture
be offered in the Junior High School
rather than manual training, since
such course contains a considerable
amount of practical manual training.
and would probably appeal to more OF
our boys than the course usually offer
ed. He suggested that the domestic
science be taken care of, offering
cooking one year and sewing the next
-cooking to be offered next year 50
the cafeteria can continue to run. he
spoke of the cafeteria as very CONF
menable undertaking.
To work out this arrangement 1t
will be necessary to put the Com
mercial Department on the third floor
where it was fo.merly, and use the
present quarters of the Commercial
Department for the Domestic science.
This will leave the room now used for
the cafeteria for agriculture.
Attention was called to the fact
that the city OF River Falls has very
low tax rate, in all probability the
lowest tax rate in the state. Mr..
Thomas made the statement that II
this city were to tax itself an amount
equal to the tax in the average city
of this size, it would be possible to
put up a modern high school building
and pay for,it in period OF ten
years.
He pointed out very clearly the OBJ
legation of the city to the Normal
school in the way of facilities fol
practice teaching, calling attention to
the large number of teachers the Nor
NAL school is turning out, and the
need for enlarged opportunities for
practice if the school is to live up to
its reputation, and respond to the OPP
oortunities before it for extension.
After some discussion, however, It
appeared to be the concensus of opin-
ion that the grades should continue
to be maintained in the high school
building, and that enrolment in the
training school should continue to re-
main as it has been, on voluntary
basis.