Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1928-01-27
UNION HIGH SCHOOL
FOUNDATION STONES
BY E. Pluribus Unum

against itself cannot stand. y
This may seem like the begin
ming of a sermon-and perhaps it
is, since there are sermons in stor-
les, but what ] am endeavoring to
put into words are few thoughts
upon a subject of present lively IN
terest to every single resident Of
Vashon and Maury Islands. Upon
invitation to set down some ideas
and thoughts upon the subject of
an all-Island Union High School.
| find so much to be said that |
know where to begin nor how to
say it. open the good Book Of
Matthew and Immediately caught
this thought" Every city or town
divided against itself shall not
stand" and from this / CLEAN that
if we want this Union High School
every individual must pull to-
gether and put it over. We'r@.44et
accomplish it while divided.
Let us take slant into our heart
Of hearts and if we find that we
lean ever so little towards disinter
estedness in the progress of the Is
lands then should each of us about
face right now and come out shiny
for practical unity of purpose, and
the more disinterested We may find
ourselves to have been the stronger
we now should be in our purpose
TO put our shoulder to the wheel
Of general community progress.
Perhaps you will say at this
point what has all this to do with
Union High School for the en-
tire Islands, this is what | am driv-
ing at, we all know that the i'm
pressions of childhood, of young
manhood and young girlhood, are
the lasting ones. Ask any minister
of the gospel why his heart rests
first of all with the Sunday School
he will tell you that then is the
time TO instill into the hearts of
the young, lasting impressions in
ihe way Of truth.
Now apply this idea to the Gen
eral Education of our young men
and women. An all-Islands Union
High School will instill in the edu-
cational system Of the Islands a
unity Of purpose and concentrate
tie interests of all school children,
as well as parents to the advantage
ous cause by cooperative endeav-
ors, in all walks of life.
The prejudice in matters Of com
mumiiy welfare will be broken
down. So much for the abstract
benefits of Union High School.
Now for the concrete benef...s for
immediate necessities in our school
work.
First: One Union High School
for the entire Island of Yashon
and Maury would do away with
the dual system now employed,
whereby we spend more money and
get less for it in giving our child
ren a high school course than we
would were they all housed in one
building under one system of in
struction.
Second: We have at the present
time POS high school pupils en-
rolled in our two systems and over
them we have twelve instructors
caring for their education. 1t has
been estimated that a Union High
School caring for the same number
of pupils will reduce the teaching
staff by at least three instructors,
that is, we would be saving at once
fully one quarter of the money
now paid out for teachers salar-
les.
Third: A diversity Of subjects
could be added without additional
teaching expense that neither of
our present high schools can now
undertake.
Fourth: Many parents would
gladly remain on onr islands
throughout the entire year were
they able 10 send their children
10 a High School equal to those in
nearby large cities
Fifth: Vashon Island, which of
course, includes Maury as well,
needs Union High School right
now. Burton is at the present time
facing a building problem and is
contemplating going before the
voters at the next election to ask
for a special levy just for that
purpose. The yashon school is
oycrcrowded at the present time,
its entire basement having been
built over and filled with class
rooms.
Sixth: The present is an oppor-
tune time to work out our Union
High School problem. District No