Henderson daily dispatch., 1933-10-12

Henderson Graded School Board,
Henderson. N. c. ~.
AS Superintendent of Public instruc-
ton, it is my duty to submit to you
the governing body of the schools,
their needs and demands.
After careful consideration and in
vestigation of the needs of our schools,
l recommend to you the following
building program, with the request
that YOU submit same to the proper
authorities, for their consideration, at
such time as you deem proper and
expedient. However am strongly of
the opinion that the people should be
given an opportunity to pass upon the
building program herein recommended
at an early date so that the congest-
ed condition Of the schools can be
eliminated a. an early date.
Only by your action in submitting
the question to the people can they
determine or decide whether or not
the children of your city shall be
provided with sufficient and adequate
school facilities. The schools belong to
the people. In the expenditure of
funds for the building program and
increased school facilities their opin-
ion, good will, and advice should be
sought by you, the governing body
of the schools.
One mas truly said, "The state that
has the men has the present, but the
state that has the schools has the
future" This is true and can we'll be
applied to any community. Children
are born just as fast IN times of de-
preston as in times of prosperity.
Their education should be provided
for by the community or they should
not be brought -into the world.
Ignora1 ce can build UP. nothingl it
may tear down everything. Why post
pcne the erection of a high school? 1t
can be built now for considerable less
money We know it must and will
eventually be built by the people. Why
not build it now when it can be built
for less money? At this time materials
are cheaper labor is cheaper, the in
terest rate on money for such pur-
poses is lower, and contractors will
build for less profit than in normal
times.
recommend for your consideration
the erection in Henderson Of a county
high school, supported by a county
wide plan of taxation, open to all
students of the county beyond the
seventh grade who desire to take such
vocational subjects as bookkeeping,
shorthand, domestic science, and
manual training.
The cost of these subjects is too
high when offered in schools with a
small enrolment. There is large
number cf students in the county who
are now required to go elsewhere at
great cost Ito take these. subjects, or
to pay for this training out of their
private means.
That suitable site of seven or eight
acres shall be secured for the school
in that part of the town or commun-
ity nos5 advantageously situated.
Owing to the fact that this will be
county high school, and the present
enrolment of the high school, includ-
ing the seventh grade pupils, which
should be transferred to the new high
school to form a part of the junior
high school, is now 562 pupils, suf-
ficient amount of land should be Sc
cured. The site shall be selected and
recommended to the Board of Trustees
for it's consideration by a committee
of school experts, appointed by the
Board of Trustees, who shall make a
careful and detailed survey of the
town to secure such information and
facts as will assist the Committee in
selecting an ample and well located
site; and said Committee shall make
it's recommendations to the Board of
Trustees for it's reconsideration. This
plan of selecting the site will, in my
opinion, avoid any controversy Or dis
pute thai might arise as to the loca-
ton of the proposed new high school.
Our schools are crowded. The Hen
derson High School for the present
term has an enrolment of 400
students. This building has only
eight standard class rooms. This
makes an average of fifty pupils for
each class room. The library is now
being used as class, room. There arel
only two small rooms that can now
be used for science, and there are en-
rolled in the science classes 24S stu
dents It requires well planned and
well equipped class room to do scien- |
tific work successfully.
Central Graded School.
This school this year has enrolled
491 pupils. There are only u class