Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-02-06
The Schools of Kansas.


The schools of Kansas are part of her
very structure. They begun with her life,
and have grown with her growth, and have
been woven into all her history. The plant
ing of schools was not an incident, nor an
afterthought, but part of the original pur-
pose of her first settlers. 1t was truth, as
well as poetry, that
'They came to plant the common school
On distant prairie swells."
Schools sprang up as soon as they touched
the soil. almost before there were children to
attend them. Lawrence WIS settled III Sep
TENDER, 1854, and i'll less than four months,
January =, 1855, a school was opened by Mr..
E. P. Fitch, of Massachusetts. March l.,
1857, the ''Quincy High School, was es-
tablished, and she has hardly had a
better school since. Topeka was settled
late in November, 1854 and early the
next summer a school was opened by Miss
Sarah Harland. and the ''Topeka Academy"
was established January 2, 1886. What hap
pened In these two places was repeated IN one
form or another in every town and hamlet In
the territory. These were all voluntary
movements as there were as yet no provis-
ions of law to aid in the matter. But these
local and voluntary movements sprang from
the same popular convictions which after
wards created our splendid school system,
and were prophetic of what was coming. AS
soon, and as fast as possible, even in terri
torial days. provision was made by law for
public education. But although schools
were everywhere, and interest was universal,
it could not be said that Kansas had system
of public schools until after her admission
into the Union.
the state was admitted twenty-five years ago
to-day provides that the legislature shall es-
tablish "a uniform system of common
schools, and schools of higher grade, EN-
bracing normal, preparatory, collegiate and
university department.
In accordance with this constitutional
provision the legislature has at different
times passed laws looking to the develop
ment of a complete system of schools. and
these laws have been carried out by hool
officials, elected under them. These laws
provide for a state superintendent of public
instruction, who shall supervise the schools
IF the state, and for county superintendent,
who shall supervise the schools of the county.
The state has been divided into school dis
tricts, small enough to make a school access
ibe to all the children, yet not so small as to
make the maintenance of a school burden
some.
Every district is encouraged to sustain a
school at least three months in the year, and
every parent is required by law to send his
children to school at least three months each
year. Cities and larger towns are authorized
to establish graded schools, including prlm-
airy, grammar and high school departing nts.
Every child who wishes, may secure, not only
the rudiments of learning, but good Eng
lish and business education, and also pre-
pare for further study in higher institutions
of learning.
Beyond the common schools, there have
been established schools of higher grade
and for special study.
At Emporia is the normal school, for
training teachers in the art of teaching. II
was founded by a grant OF nearly HUH
acres of land which is being sold to establish
a fund for its support. 1t employs eleven
professors and two assistants, and has an at
tendance of 5S7 students, making 1t the
largest school in the state. 1t has small
endowment, but grand and growing WORK
and it is to be hoped that the legislature VIII
hereafter supplement its endowment by ap-
preparations equal to its opportunity.
At Manhattan is the State Agricultural
college, for instruction in agriculture and
gressional grant of sc, GOO acres of land. The
sale of these lands has been admirably man.
aged, and has produced a permanent
fund of about half million of dollars. The
college is doing grand service in elevatine
the industries of the state. It now employs
twelve instructors and assistants, and seven
superintendent of different branches of in
dustry, and gives instruction to about &c
students.
At Lawrence ID the State University, de-
signed to give to all citizens The opportunity
for professional study, ard Tor H. puranit 0l
III branches q higtr - no HenpIoyl
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