Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1895-09-07

AS intimated in another place Of
this paper, an extra effort will be
made during the coming year to not
only maintain the enyiable reputation
heretofore established by our public
schools but, if possible, to make them
even more efficient than in the past.
Not only is the present corps of eff
cient teachers and board of directors
determined to advance our public
schools, but the patrons OF the schools
are quite generally imbued with the
same laudable idea. This deduction
is the result of observation and of
conversation with many of our citi-
liens. The idea is quite generally en-
tertained and expressed that the Wa
Keeney schools should have a more
advanced and higher standerd, and
that our young men and women
should not be compelled to go away
to some high school or academy just
about the time they have fairly be-
gun to acquire an education. Many
of our citizens cannot afford the eX-
home and all would prefer to keep
them under the parental roof as long
as possible. That the standard has
not been raised before has not been
on account of expense. The question
of economy does not enter into the
question. We have had the teachers,
we have been provided with ample
room, and we have had the pupils.
The idea can be carried out with no
more expense than we have been in
curing for several years, and without
working any injury to any of the
pupils attending our public schools.
Then why not have such school?
That it would be benefit to the en-
tire community, in many ways, is APP
parent. With such school, many
would attend, not only from other
districts in the county, but from adj
joining counties as we'll; it would
naturally attract attention and fami-
lies would become residents Of our lit
tie city, drawn here by our superior
educational facilities. Something of
this kind is an absolute necessity and
if we don't secure it soon some of the
adjoining county seats will. From
this time on this county and western
Kansas generally will increase in pop
ulatiOn, and with better times, and
to meet the growing necessities, the
transition from high school to an
academy or higher institution of
learning will be most easy and nat
ural. We realize that it will take
time and work to accomplish all this
but it may be done and now is the
time to make the beginning and, we
believe, the most suspicious time we
will ever have. 1t may not be gener-
ally known but the board has en-
ployed, as principal, one of the very
best educators in the state. Mrs.
Best has been principal of one of the
best graded schools, in one of the best
cities in Kansas, giving entire salts
faction to the board of education as
we'll as to the patrons, and only re-
signed to accept the office of county
superintendent in the same county
and with population of more than
10000. She was also a member of the
state board of education and many of
our teachers will remember her name
when they think of the list of ques-
tions furnished for examination by
the state board. We speak of this
more particularly, at this time, for
the purpose of emphasizing our former
statement, that now is, perhaps, the
most auspicous time we will have for
making beginning towards elevat-
ing the standard of our public schools.
We trust these suggestions will be re-
ceived in the spirit in which they are
offered. We think we have said moth
ing that might be construed as find