Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-16
WORKING DAY.
MANY QUESTIONS OF INTEREST DIS
CUSSED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
The County Superlntendents Act in
Favor Of County Institutes-An In
tereSting Paper on the School
Book question

number of county superintendent for the
state convention. During the day twenty.
four more arrived, placing the attendance
at about fifty. or nearly half the countie:
In the state represented.
a few minutes before the morning session
commenced it was happy crowd that was
shaking hands and talking over expe-
| riences.
OF the late arrivals were: G. w. Graham
Brooks; j. r. Bickerdyke, Russell; p. r.
Harmon, Brown; L. McKinlay, Haskell
j. W. Hoover, sumner; John Mcbride
Rice; H. W. Mills, Harper; A. Chatterton,
Mcpherson; W. T. Garrett, Cherokee; c
2. White, Reno; G. w. Kendrich, Green
wood; S. G. Heaton, Lynn.
MORNING SESSION.
The convention was called to order
promptly at 9:15 by State Superintendent
/ Geo. W. Williams, who opened the bust
ness OF the session by few remarks. On
/ motion that the chairman appoint a secre-
tary pro tenn, Superintendent Ed. T.
! Barber OF Allen county, was appointed,
and took his position at the desk. The
first paper of the session was presented by
Superintendent Ford of Dickinson
county. Subject, Changing District
boundaries. The paper showed care
ful study Of the subject, and was full of
good points on this exceedingly knotty
question. The discussion was opened by
| superintendent j. r. Beckerdyke of
Russell county, followed by Superinten-
dents B. D. Van Ostrand, of Marion
county, j. H. Lee of Riley county, D. W.
I Kingsley of Mon; goIlefy county, L. Nc
kinley of Haskell county and John Nc
Donald, OF the Western School Journal
Supt. Mckinlay asked State Supt
Winans if the right of county
superintendent to divide joint district
on the county line had been settled by the
courts. Superintendent Winaus replied
that the question had never been brought
up in a court that he knew of, but that
such case had been presented to the at
torney general and also to his assistant
that both of them had given an unquali-
fed opinion that such an action on the
part of county superintendent involved
the disorganization of joint district,
thing which. could be done only by legis-
lative action.
After recess the subject, Duties of
County SuperinUendents; Possible and I'M
paper by Superintendent Julia Cation, of
Cowley county. The discussion OF this
was opened by Superintendent Biggs, of
Lincoln county, those appointed on the
discussion being absent, the discussion be-
/. & continued by Superintendent Annie S.
Woods, of Finney county; Alvin Chatter
ton, of Mcpherson county; d. B. Van
Ostrand, Of Marion county; z. r. Har-
mon, of Brown county; s. L. Darmer, of
Harvey county, and others.
A motion then prevailed that the con-
vention proceed to miscellaneous business,
and uuder that head the chairman was
Instructed to appoint committee of three
on resolutions, as follows: S. T. Danner,
of Harvey county; Annie S. Woods, OF
Finney county, and J. N. Cox, of Mitchell
county.
a motion was then made by Superin-
tendent Van Ostrand that This conven-
ton express itself as opposed to the present
system of changing school district boun-
diaries" After some discussion the motion
was tabled.
The convention adjourned until o. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
In addition to the members of the asso-
citation there were a number of visitors
present. Mr.. Winans took the chair at
p. N. j. 5. Harkins, of Geary, read
paper on County uniformity of text
books; its advantages-how secured" 1t
was considered of rare merit and quite a
number requested its publication in the
EAGLE. 1t is given complete and is as
follows:
The law says, Counties may adopt
text book for their Schools" and provides
that the question may be voted upon at
the annual meeting; a majority of the dis
tricts must vote in favor of adoption
This seems plain sailing but the question
Is How to haYe the majority vote for uni |
formity?"
livery much doubt if in any county |
where fair test has been made, that the |
proposition has ever been defeated by a
vote; the failure has BEEN l think |
IN every case, to the fact that a number of
districts took no action whatever and thus |
defeated the measure.
Ia my county (Geary) when the first |
vote, IN August, 1885, was taken, only |
about half dozen districts voted. They |
voted tor 1t. The county superintendent |
cared nothing about whether it carried or |
not. In 1SS6 the same districts voted for |
1t again. In January, 1887, | took the |
office. Our annual meetings in that year |
were in June. l began the campaign in |
March. held an evening meeting in
nearly every district. At these meetings / |
showed up 5he condition Of our school in |
regard 10 text books, the complaints /
Of teachers, boards and patrons generally /
/ pointed out the advantages TO the teach (
er, the money saved to the patrons and /
showed the boards the relief they would /
experience by having this burden taken
from them. l made special point to |
overcome the fear of expense that they
TO be connected with its adop-
lion, this you viii tiud regular night
mare with many OF your people. 1 first
figured up the cost TO purchase books
necessary for the GeXt year, even
though they failed TO adopt, at the then
retail prices. Against this l took the old
books III possession of every family. books
IF no value whatever, as they were old
editions not in use. | put these in part
payment or exchange for new ones, gave
the reduced prices and struck balance !
showing as ii must, IN favor of adoption:
giving all new book and yet expending
eSs money. 1t is said, ''All things are fair
n love aud war, so are all things fair in
I county superintendent when be has the
best interests Of his schools at heart and
Jet knows he must work against ignorance
ind prejudice that arguments viii not
each. / did what1 assure you that every
county superintendent can 90 between
Iow and the last Thursday of July next.
: isit YOUR districts, hold meetings where
-ou think it best. Consult your most in
elligent voters, and after con-
ultatiou you think better results
AN be reached without a meeting do not
loid one. You, as superintendent. know
number OF districts in your county
where there is no question about il carry
NJ; do not concern yourself or waste time
N these. You know other districts that
are little or nothius about it, but you
now Of one or more who are in favor of
doption. but if left TO their own action