Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

Page 12 text:

10 THE SPECTATOR has one class for outdoor recreation work while the other recites. Under this system, in winter where can accommo- dations be had for those who would ordinarily have outdoor recreation, but will be restrained from doing so on account of weather conditions? Half-time classes are looming omi- nously close. A conservative estimate of the population of Johnstown now is 82,000, a growth of 4826 since the 1910 census. Con- sidering a 2571 increase each decade, we may safely look forward to a population of 128,000 in 1938. These are sane, hard figures, and cannot be dodged. This will affect the school population so that from an enrollment of 13,912 last year, the enrollment in 1938 may be expected to exceed 21,- 400. It is a cold, hard fact that every year there are more entrants into the schools as beginners than there are gradu- ates. Last year, the first primary enrollment was 1,063, while the graduates numbered 636, leaving an excess of 427 pupils. Such an excess to look forward to next year means at least fourteen rooms of thirty pupils each, barring prob- able larger classes and withdrawals. Where are housing fa- cilities to be had and thru them educational facilities? Y A haphazard, here-and-there housing expedient is at best only a makeshift. While it may somewhat relieve that lo- cal crisis, it will not bring general relief and in the end be- comes a liability thru its uneconomical construction, ineffi- cient organization, and inadequate teaching equipment. The building program, as adopted by the board, provides for the completion of the Cochran junior High School, a new Central High School, Industrial Building in the central part of the city, Morrellville junior High School, Walnut Grove Elementary School Building, completion of Chestnut Street Building, auditorium, gymnasium, and swimming pool for fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, shower baths for primary grades, and an administration and supply building. In order to consummate this program, it must be financed. This financing may be done either of two ways prescribed

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THE SPECTATOR 9 Elin Emu illllillinn Bnllar Munn EBZIIP Wilbert C. Wehn, 19M The building program, adopted on June 25, 1917, by the Board of School Directors, has finally gone a step toward realization, thru the action of that same board to increase, with the sanction of the voters, the bonded indebtedness of the city S2,000,000, the money so bonded to be used for the betterment of the educational facilities of our city. Though the amount is large in itself, it is not a desperate undertaking, nor too ambitious for a progressive city like Johnstown, when the building operations of other cities are taken into consid- eration. Buffalo has authorized S8,000,00 for school purposes, Detroit, S3,292,000g Minneapolis, S4,750,000, and Harrisburg, 31,225,000 The need for such increase is imperative. The school authorities are facing a crisis which permits of absolutely no dalliance. A comprehensive, conservative building pro- gram is the only outlet from prevailing, threatening condi- tions, and such a program has been adopted and is now call- ing for the support of the people of Johnstown and the stu- dents in its schools. There are at present seventy-one rooms inadequately equipped, inadequately ventilated, and inadequately heated, housing 2,130 pupils, or about 15.522 of the school enroll- ment in 1918. Some of these rooms are single rooms, par- titioned so as to make two roomsg others are basement and hall rooms, and one whole building is artificailly lighted. Besides these, an abandoned school house and a store room have been put into operation. The schools at this time are alarmingly crowded. The Vocational School is accommodating its maximum number of pupils. The High School houses about 17.872 more than its comfortable capacity. The Garfield junior High, thru the elimination of the industrial shops to the Twentieth Ward Vocational Building, can hold out one more year. A platoon system is in use in the primary grades whereby a teacher

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THE SPECTATOR 11 by Pennsylvania law. Bonds may be issued or the entire burden thrown on the taxpayers. The bond issue is to be the method resorted to in financing the adopted program, and to put this bond issue thru, it will be necessary to en- lighten the public as to the dire necessity of its support. Realizing that the cost of ignorance is greater than the cost of education, the School Board is endeavoring to place the entire matter unreservedly before the voters. The question of more buildings and more adequate edu- cational facilities is not debatable. It must go ahead. The Government invades the sacred right of a parent over his child in only one respect, that of compelling the child to go to school. And in making such invasion, the Government must guarantee that the child will be taken care of just as well in the trusteeship of the State as it would be in its mother's arms. Unless immediate action is taken on this building program, the school authorities will soon be forced to waive that guarantee. This question of immediate action is one which the voters of Johnstown must decide. The necessity of action is obvious. It is the duty of every student in the Johnstown schools, and especially in the High School, to propagate this issue. Every High School student should acquaint himself with the preceding facts and boost the program to the ut- most. It is the High School student of today as well as the student of tomorrow who will receive the benefits of such added facilities. Every student should bring his influence to bear upon his parents and voters, so that early consumma- tion of the outlined program will be their most cherished wish. Such early consummation will be realized only thru the sanction of the voters, which sanction will be granted thru an ,X in the proper square on the ballot of the general election in November.