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Show A Front Page Editorial . . . Vandals Break Ninety-Seven Windows Can't something be done to protect public property from a thoughtless gang of vandals, who during the past two months have broken ninety-seven (97) windows at the Roosevelt Junior Jun-ior High School. This is a question posed by the Duchesne County Board of Education, the details of which are contained in a letter to the editor over the signature of Rowan C. Stutz, superintendent which is a part of this editorial'. In his letter, Mr. Stutz clearly states the issue or problem. prob-lem. He has also written direct -to the mayor and city council coun-cil of Roosevelt City, and some action is anticipated at their next meeting on Aug. 15. When informed of the unbelievable destruction that had taken place at YOUR Junior High School, we took time to run up to the school to see for ourselves, just what had taken place. We carried along our camera for a photo, which accompanies this editorial. We were a day late for a photograph that would tell all of the story on the east side of the auditorium the custodian was already in the process of replacing the ground floor windows. However, if you'll study the photo closely, you can get some kind of an idea what has been done to the windows win-dows in YOUR SCHOOL. The custodian informed us that a large portion of the 97 windows had been broken with empty beer bottles. This proves that the damage was not done by a group of small kids, who might by accident, break an occasional window while playing around the school. . . It's the conclusion con-clusion of the school board and custodian that the greater portion of the damage was done by people old enough to know better. It's hard to imagine that sane, thinking people, young, or old, would become a party to such damaging antics to quench a desire to do something mean or degrading to society. The board also has concluded that the guilty ones have made it a habit of using the darkened, unobserved Junior High grounds as a place to drive to park at night, and after a few beers, the adversary influenced them to use the windows as targets of their throwing skill. Conservatively it will cost Y-O-U, Mr, Taxpayer, between $250 and $300 to replace the broken windows. It is Y-O-U and only Y-O-U who can help solve this problem won't Y-O-U be a good citizen, and help curtail the unnecessary destruction of property that belongs to all of us? May we suggest you read very carefully the letter written by Supt. Stutz, which is printed below: , Mr. Cliff Memmott, Editor Roosevelt Standard Roosevelt, Utah Deir Mr. Memmott: I wish to report to the citizens of Roosevelt a matter of ra. c -.cern to all of the people of Duchesne County. Those bve driven by the Roosevelt Junior High School during the few weeks, I'm sure, have been shocked by the' extendi? exten-di? breakage that has been done to the windows of.. that., school. Nearly a hundred windows have been broken with rocks and beer bottles during the month of July. We all know that this building is old and probably not the most attractive place to go to school, but this building has served well its function for many years and must still be used for many years to come. The remoteness, of the building, the absence of a fence and the darkness of the grounds at night make this building particularly par-ticularly vulnerable to vandalism. But the only real protection that property of this kind can be given is a deep sense of respect for public property on the part of all citizens. The increasing cost of public education is a matter of concern con-cern to all of us. The portion of these costs that go for better teachers, improved instructional materials and modern buildings is defensible, but the unnecessary expense incurred through vicious, useless destruction of public property is an expense we should all work to eliminate. It is estimated that the damage done to the windows of the Roosevelt Junior High School will cost the school district $230.00. I am in hopes, Mr. Memmott, your paper will bring this "latter to the attention of your subscribers, as I feel the most 1 effective solution to problems of this nature is public concern. Sincerely yours, ROWAN C. STUTZ, Supt. |