Cloverdale Union High School - Spectator Yearbook (Cloverdale, CA)

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(Hatt We Mfnrfc tn Nrglnt Slits Matter? There are in California, as well as in every state, countless small towns whose populations hover around the one thousand mark. They are situated in small valleys in the mountains, where it is impossible to become a large city or even to develop into an active commercial center, and yet they must exist to supply the farmers and the few inhabitants of the vicinity with their daily necessities. I have said that such towns cannot hope to become large cities, but that does not mean that they should deteriorate or lose any of their progressiveness. They should focus their ambitious thoughts on their own sphere. Why hope for the impossible? Then when they find enlargement hopeless they should strive to become the best small town in that section of the state. But what are the qualities that constitute a good town? In a small place, where commercial greatness cannot be attained, the most important feature is the school. A place that has an active and progressive school organization pos¬ sesses one of the most essential requisites for an advancing community. Much in that same line is the organization of social centers, which might be connected with the school or with Young Men’s Christian Associations and similar lodges and societies. Then there are the municipal requirements, a conscientious legis¬ lative body, and an efficient executive force, not to omit the necessities of good water, sewer and lighting systems. These things, together with the climate and surroundings of the town, make it what it is. In Cloverdale we have the majority of these, but of the more vital features, such as the school building and social developments, we are almost destitute. We lack the very things that are absolutely necessary to advancement and thus we keep away many desirable citizens and eventually destroy all hope of being a progressive, modern town, our only justifiable ideal. We advertise the value of the products of our fertile land by the Citrus Fair. The purpose of this is to attract the people to the town so that they may see the fine points of the country as well as of the city. But when the people visit the town and see that it lacks one of the essential functions, especially if it be the school organization, the conscientious person, who always looks into such details before choosing his family’s residence, would notice the folly of such management. Thus his visit would not arouse any thoughts of buying property, simply because it would be absurd to take his family away from a town with all the modern advantages for an education to a place almost destitute of even the necessi ties. In this way the noted fair loses its real meaning and becomes merely a money making proposition for the momentary gain of a few paltry dollars. Then, at the close, the crowds leave and the town assumes an almost monotonous dullness aside from the slight influx of summer visitors. Such a condition should be changed. The citizens should strive to build up their town in up to the minute style, then when they bring people into it they can show their achievements and the people will be interested and contemplate investing in property, instead of just coming in for a day and leaving without even a good word to speak in its behalf.

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man, it is responsible to society for the condition of its wheel in the great mill of education. Supposing you neglect your part of the machinery, the article may leave it only half as good as it should be and will finally emerge ruined. Are you ready to assume this responsibility? Are you eager for condemnation? You cannot expect the machinery always to run without attention. This is the position you are assuming; this the responsibility which you cannot evade and maintain your place in the respect of the world. The little redwood school house met the needs of its time. But the leaders of that day could realize the importance of the part that instrument of education was to play in the advance of the town and they were quick to recognize the importance of a change and, what is more, the time when such a change was necessary. For a long time the present school house has been falling into a condition which, as well as being detrimental to the appearances of the com¬ munity, is a menace to the health of the pupils. A great deal is judged by ap¬ pearances and we wish to rank high in the opinion of those who pass judgment on us. We wish to attract people to our town. The present school house is not a comfortable place to study in. There is no systemized order of ventilation; the heating system is not efficient and, furthermore, it is in such a condition that when working it is a constant annoy¬ ance , by the noises it makes, to anyone attempting to study. It may seem that at present it would be impossible to erect a building which would be within the means of the community and yet would meet all of these requirements. But with a little planning I think that this could be accomplished to the satisfaction of everyone. We cannot hope in our present state of finances to segregate the grammar school from the high. By certain arrangements of the building it would be possible to eliminate many of the disadvantages arising from this connection. We must have an auditorium in which the school enter¬ tainments can be given, singing classes conducted and in which both schools can assemble. This large room could be the upper story of the middle section of the structure. The lower rooms of this section could be used by the high school for drawing classes, typing and other studies not so easily disturbed. On either side, respectively, could be conducted the high and grammar schools effectively divided by this middle section. The first thing about which a possible resident inquires when he is con¬ sidering settling in a town, is the school and the environment in which his chil¬ dren would be reared. A good school is one of the greatest assets that a town can possess. It will attract desirable families where the absence of it keeps them away. A better school would have a great influence on the social life of the town. If we were better equipped for such purposes, the dramatic talent of the school could be trained and utilized in the production of many entertainments. Even with its great lack of advantages the high school has been remarkably successful in this line. Dramatics is a part of high school education as well as the other subjects taken. At the present time neither the school nor the town offers any place in which entertainments of this sort can be given. So let us provide a well warmed and ventilated building for our school and let us have it arranged to the best advantage. In doing this we shall be pro¬ viding an institution to which we can point with pride and to which strangers will be desirous of sending their children. E. Melvin Hall.

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But, you say, a new school house and municipal buildings will cost a great deal of money. Out taxes will be increased. It is natural for people to want to accumulate and save money, but some of us go to the extreme and the idea that is uppermost in our minds is to take in all the money we can without spending any. We are forcing that hateful, “mercantile theory” of colonial times upon ourselves. When any local improve¬ ment is mentioned certain short-sighted but influential factions declare that their expenses and taxes are so high that they cannot possibly afford to give more to any purpose. They have kept this up so long that very needy things are wanting and still they deceive themselves into thinking that they cannot afford even the utmost necessities. Of course, the financial problem of any undertaking is a most important feature, but there are several ways in which the paying of hard money for the object may be evaded. For instance, in the matter of a new school house, the grammar school district of Cloverdale could build a good, substantial building with the agreement of taking the high school as a tenant, for approximately $500 per year. This sum would be borne by the union high school district and would thus not be a burden on any one. In this way not only would the people get a much needed improvement from which there could be derived an unlimited amount of good, but at the same time they would invest in a proposition that all sagacious business men would recommend. Many of us do not realize the disadvantage under which the children are working because of the inadequacy of the school building. If we would visit other schools and become thoroughly acquainted with modern structures of this kind and then come home and compare them with our school, we would pass through a short period of confused thought and come out of our dream only to find ourselves standing on the barren ledges and jagged cliffs of true facts. If we could then stop a moment and think of the possibilities we would realize that we have a field of boundless room for improvement. The really difficult part of such a problem is to get the movement started. But isn ' t there one progressive man among us? Let that one keep the matter a subject of conversation, discuss all sides of it and when we arrive at a decision of what we want, explain it to the public and report it to some committee which has the power to act. After the first movement is started and completed with success, others will follow with surprising rapidity and ease, for when there is something we all want and need there is always a way to get it. Let us so act that when the golden name of Cloverdale is spoken we shall enjoy the indescribable pleasure of thinking of our town with a thriving popula¬ tion, numbers of comfortable homes, an active school organization, both literary and athletic, various societies and clubs and all the developments of the modern and progressive town. This is the keynote to the happiness of any people. “FACTA PROBANT.” 30 Harold E. Thompson.