The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-04
THAT SCHOOL ouEs ZION.


To the Editor of the Wichita Eagle
| have been watching the course pursued
By the school board toward DR.. Stephen
son and must say l am very much sur
prised and disappointed at the result.
Had there been any considerable move
menr by the taxpayers or the general pub
lie in opposition to the payment OF Dr..
Stephensou's salary, or had the question
OF the continuance OF Dr.. Stephenson SIS
superintendent been raised and made an
issue of at our recent elections aud the re-
Gently elected members OF the school
board elected CT this issue, ii would have
been eninently proper 20 have taken
stand in harmony with sEch an Issue.
But no such an issue was thought or or
made, for the people generally are well
pleased ard proud CT fke advanced posi-
tion occGpiesi by eur city schools ana the
work accom- DlislleG during DR.. Stephen
sons superinteaGencY. l. 5 not fair to
the people TO raise the question or economy
and the saving of $500 over DR.. Stephenson 8
and az the same time elect without cues
tiou or reserve all the old teachers AT their
old salaries, Tor If Il was proper thing 10
question the value OF d. STEPHENSON
salary it would have been equally proper
to enquire into not only the salaries but
the efficiency OF some OF the old teachers,
MANY of whom have not improved with
the Years OF experience ana the p easAnt
ways aud winning smiles OF younger
asDirants is not percepube, ana close
scrutiny might deyeIope the TACT that IL
would be difficult for some 81 them to get
| a school. and yet they have all been re-
! turned without question as 10 Illness or
salary.
| Then WHY should economy" be raised
! over the head of the most accomplished
| educator we have ever had, Tor the fact
| that the board Ii willing TO retain Dr.
I Stephenson is proof they consider HIM
competent and qualified. What we COM
plain of Is that a member or the
school board should on the one hand
advocate and persue a policy of careless
| ness aud extravaganza on one hand AMI
! then raise the hypocritlcai howl OF econ
omy over Dr. Stephenson's salary. Il our
| schools have gone backward under DIT.
! Stephenson's superintendency, or II the
/ kicking members of the board know where
they can duplicate DR.. Stephenson for less
money, then they are justified IN the posi-
ton taken. But when it Is admitted on
! all hands thai the schools OF Wichita oc-
! cupv higher standing today than they
| have ever done before and no friction eX-
lists to impede their prosperity In the
| future | question very much the right oil
any member of the board 70 interpose his
faction for ueighbor. II can not, there
fore, be economy that prompts the action
of these obstructionists. tor careful bus
mess view OF the question Will SHOW
that with new superintendent
comes new methods and new books that
vouId cost the people many times mors
than her cut of $500 on DR.. Stephenson :
salary why Mr.. Editor, the change o.
&C., boot,,, in our public schools wouic
cost thousands TO the people. while the
scbooi boar5 is cutting the Superintendent
a., s1oo and 7 cannot resist the tempta
ticn to cali il bad fnanciering to grasp a.
- no,in1r IF 500 and wink at loss O
The neonle of Wichita are proud CT oul
public schools The taxpayers Oh W lcnl I
are neither niggardly nor coinpIaI u -l, -
and do not demand cheaper or less 4.'al !;
fed teachers. No pulling down game i |.
wanted. but if possible to raise the sIShd
ard higher and give the people the Des
nossible opportunity for Aberai eouc'
tion Our normal department oiTers u
every aspirant whether rlcn OF POI
annie opportunity TO become qoaiI He'
to teach and thereby earn iNeIi1loo'
that could not be had by onr poorer cIasse
were they obliged to send their chlld ava!
and nav their board. The people deman'
the best schools, the best teachers ana IN
hest opDortunities for full equipment 10
the battles of life. Let the school ooaf'
when they meet again do the handsom
thing and saw to DR.. Stephenson
fully appreciate your ablntles' auu -
superior skill manifested by you IN IN
past and You are hereby retu a! you
oId salary IF the question of $500 is IN tn
,rov the writer will guarantees to raise Tn
! same by private subscription raSner lhai
in any way change at the coming year: >,
''BoOTBLACK."