Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-01-04
Educational Column,
CONDUCTED BY SUPERINTENDENT ]. o. RAHN.

NONDIN1hD B1 j. y. HAHN.
1.-THE educational column is intended to ben
eft the schools of the county, by helping espe-
cially the teachers and school officers. We so
Hcit the contribution of pointed articles on
school subjects. Come, let us reason to-
gether."l
Cloud county took the flag and the
library offered by the state teachers
association for the largest represen-
tation at Topeka, distance also being
taken iuto account.
The enrolment at the state teachers
association was 497, much less than
usual. In all probability however, not
more than one half of those attending
were enrolled, and the stormy weather
kept many away.
Prof. Bushey and John p. Wallace have re-
turned from the State Teachers Association
and report pleasant time and a profitable
session. There were about 600 teachers and
superintendent in attendance-only about
half the usual number. however. Mrs. Elva
(Blick) Beals also attended the association &C
companied by her husband, and these COM
plete the list from this county 50 far as we
have heard. Mr.. Wallace in reporting to us
spoke very highly of some of the discourses he
heard and thinks it great help to teachers to
see and hear the leading educational people Of
our state.
Geo. w. Winans, the retiring State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, was presented
solid gold chain by the teachers present as a
testimonial of esteem. Mr.. Winans has held
the Office four years and has indeed been a
popular and efficient superintendent and the
business relations between his office and our
own have been entirely satisfactory to us.
Supt. -elect Gaines will assume control of the
State Supts Office this month, and, as we have
both seen him and heard him speak in public,
we know him to be man of more than ordi-
nary ability. and therefore we predict that the
educational interests of the state will lose
nothing by the change.
-
THE SUPREME COURT OF KANSAS AND THE
TEACHER.
The law in its relation to teachers is q sub
ject not often found In educational journals.
Yet to the progressive teacher, it is of little
Importance, for he is always interested in
knowing his rights, privileges and powers.
With the hope of serving our profession, the
following article was written. The writer OBJ
tanned the material by carefully examining
the first forty-five Kansas reports. Matter not
Of general interest has been rejected.
The first question concerning teachers, that
our supreme court passed upon, was one of
compensation. Judge Brewer announced that
though the statutes require written contract
between teacher and board, if the teaching is
done on verbal contract, the teacher may re-
cover of the district-not what was agreed
upon-but what his services was reasonably
worth Is Kan. 362).
A year later, in 1872, it was fdecided that a
board may discharge teacher at any time
that he fails to give satisfaction, if they place
clause to that effect In the contract. They
must pay him for the time he has taught. He
cannot recover for the residue of the term.
90 Kan. 2S3) This doctrine was reaffirmed in
1882. lady made contract with the proviso
that the directors might discharge her if she
proved incompetent negligent. They re-
lieved her of ner position on the ground that
"she crocheted and wrote letters too much
during school hours" The unsympathetic
court decided that the board had right to do
so undcr agreement.
In the early part of the last decade young
man took blank teachers contract to the
clerk of the district and secured the official
signature. He then went to the directors
house and procured his autograph. He did
AOb plCoCHI IL W Tic lTedsuToE Ut dll n us
pute arose. The law was appealed to. Chief
Justice Horton said that before a CONTRACT
with teacher can be legally entered into SO
as to bind the school district, all three men,
bers of the district board must meet together
or be notified to meet together or have the
opportunity of meeting to consult over the
employment of a teacher. All of the board
need not be present. Nor need all concur in
mi q f.0Df witt foo
to bind the district, but the contract should be
agreed upon at meeting of the board where all
are present or have an opportunity to be pres
ent. CT Kan. 1872
In 1883 it was held that if a board in conjunc-
ton with the county superintendent dismiss a
teacher for just cause he cannot recover
wages for the unfinished term. Nor need
charges preferred against him be in writing
Nor need the evidence concerning him be
given under oath before the county super
intendent. go Kan. 26S).
at is best for all parties, il a contract is
made in writing and signed at meeting of the
Board. But verbal contract, made with the
Board in session, will be binding if directions
are then given to draw up the instrument
after the meeting, AID accordingly the con-
tract is written and then signed by the parties
az Kan. $3.50.
In 1885, five large pupils in O Wilson county
school determined to make the teacher treat"
He refused. While he was out getting wood
that day. the pupils locked him out The d.
rectors came and opened the school house.
The embryo anarchists left, but returned
after school was dismissed. Two of them were
larger and stronger than the teacher Two
more were each about the same size With
little difficulty they marched him to a creek
about half mile from the school house. The
boys chopped trough in the ice and let it fill
with water. Then they immersed the luckIess
pedagog. After his clothes had been thoroughly
saturated, he was pulled out and allowed to
mount his horse. He rode to his home about
three miles away, The thermometer mean
while stood several degrees below zero. This
terrible exposure gave the teacher a lame
back, partially paPalized his left arm and leg
produced chronic cerebro-spinal meng1tis and
aggravated a malady in his ears causing rum
Mug sores 10 break out in them 1t soon
transpired that Mr., the father of one of
boys had said some time before than IL the,
boys got into trouble by "ducking the teacher"
he would pay half the costs, provided the
grandfather OF another of the boys would pay
the other half The five boys and Mr.-were
arrested, taken before a justice of the peace
and fined. Then the teacher brought suit for
damages against Mr.. The jury awarded
$3000. This was cut down ky the judge to
$500. Mr. appealed to the Supreme Court.
In 1889. toey curtly announced that the
Judgement for $500 was reasonable in
amount" al Kan. So Were such poetic
retrlbntion always melted out 10 those who
encourage INSTRUMENTATION on part OF their
children, the pedagogic pathway would be
strcwn with fewer stumbling blocks in the
shape Of parentalIy encouraged acts OF dis
obedience and disrespect.