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Show pf Battle Creek A- One of tlie cardinal principles of thrift and good common sense is to use what we have to the best advantage before spending money for something new. This sound advice could well be followed fol-lowed by individuals and public agencies as well. If present pans materialize, Pleasant Grove's new Senior High School will be ready for occupancy occu-pancy next September. It will be quite an institution, considering size, appointments, and cost By the time the last spear of grass is growing on the football field, the total outlay in tax dollars will be near the million and one-half one-half mark. In a school of this size, the 350 Senior High students who expect to be transferred there will rattle around like the proverbial "rat's tail in a quart cup." At the same time, the Elementary Elemen-tary Schools, are overcrowded and it won't be long before a clamor will be raised for either a new one or at least enlargement of tire two we already have. It doesn't require much reasoning reas-oning to decide that the only thing to do is to make more efficient effic-ient use of our newest building instead of building additional classrooms that we don't actually need. There's nothing sacred about the 6-3-3 plan of dividing stu dents according to age-grade groups. A few years ago we used the 8-4 arrangement and got along wonderfully well. What's wrong .with a 5-3-4 plan, at least until we need to change back to the conventional 6-3-3? Grades one to five, plus kindergarten kinder-garten could be housed in the Elementary Schools and one less grade would relieve the congestion conges-tion there. Grades six. seven, and eight could attend Junior High School and the old building would accommodate ac-commodate them all with room to spare for some time to come. Certainly the Ninth grade students stu-dents would be happy to attend the new Senior High and with the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth grades would make a reasonably efficient administrative unit. Where boys and girls g'o to school is not so important as what happens to them after they get there. Good teachers and intelligent in-telligent and aleit students make for an ideal learning situation wherever they are. It's not what we have; but what we do with what we have that accomplishes the best results. re-sults. Certainly the new Senior High will be a model of educational education-al facilities and equipment. Why not use it to near-capacity. So long 'til Thursday. |