Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-06
A GREATLY NEEDED INSTITUTION.

few years since, an effort was made,
through the medium of the school board, to
erect an academy in Wichita. The scheme
fell through, mainly, If not wholly, on ac-
count Of the school board using the funds
voted to erect the academy, and though the
editor Of this paper was sorry that the
project failed, he comedies that the school
board acted as it deemed for the best in
terests of Wichita, and that the money was
and is being used for needful purposes.
The method by which the academy, for
which bonds were voted, was to be built,
was at least questionable in law il not in
morals. The editor of this paper has, how
ever. always been firm in the conviction
that il Wichita wanted any thing, needed
any thing, and wanted il bad, the people
of this city could get it. Therefore the
erection Of the academy was, in the opin-
ion of the EAGLE, only question of time,
because the location and growth OF the city
! demanded and now demands an educational
institution far beyond that which the pub
lie school system affords, or should afford
| The time has arrived.
| A number OF gentlemen In this city met
at the Presbyterian Church last week to Sc
| riously consider what could be done in the
matter OF the erection and maintenance OF
an academy. The Presbyterian board OF
aid have offered to furnish funds for the |
principal teacher, or superintendent OF the
school, provided Wichita will do what it |
ought do; do that which is usual and Gus
tomary in such undertakings, viz: furnish |
the house and grounds and assist in the |
maintenance OF the school.
The Presbyterian Church will be the de- |
nominational head of the concern, and AS it |
is impossible to have a school of this char
acter under the charge Of all the various de- |
nominations in the city, and impossible to |
have more than one school Of this kind I'M
I'll we develop more, We say amen, to the |
Presbyterian brethren and their co-workers |
in other churches, and co-workers outside |
OF all churches. and trust the people Of this
city will join hands with them, and make a
school OF which all may be proud.
The supremacy OF God is the cardinal doc
trine of modern civilization and a school in
the hands Of evangelical forces in this city
is IN consonance with our reputation as a
city CT churches. school with a church
head is better than one without it. II is
notorious fact that church headship in
schools don't affect religious belief in chill
dren one-tenth as much rs the Sunday
schools and the attendance in youth of a
certain church. The church in which one
is raised is home and he drops in with his
own people wherever he may go. There
are one thousand men in Wichita who don't
attend church who have 'leanin" to some
particular one. This bias is from mother,
not from alma mater. The whole question
is shall we have a school to which to send
our children, who want a higher education,
after they have dawdled away they their
youth in the high schools of Wichita, or
shall we send them away trusting that they
will come educated, and yet uncontaminat-
ed by the temptations that environ children
when from under mothers protecting care.
Who will say that we had best keep our
money and run these risks. The mothers
in this city, If they carried the pocket book,
would subscribe to this project. Shall it be
the mother doess Nay! Let us build this
academy. Let us keep our children at
home. Too soon will they be gone from us. 7,
The committee appointed will call on the
citizens of this town as fast as they can get
TO them, and we trust that Wichita will do
herself proud, and that this school will be
built this year. 4,
There is u communication in another col
umn of this paper, on this question, which
Is readable.