The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-20

same Time As That OF Other schools.
There has been considerable talk re-
Gently about closing all the city schools
for the holidays and allowing them TO re-
main closed during the month Of jan
uaTy. Whether or not this will be done
is at ye. matter OF conjecture. But
there are excellent reasons for the move
TO be made. AS is comparatively We'll
known the city school funds are not as
plentiful this year az they have been in
previous years. and al the beginning or
the schools III the fail il was decided 10
hold only an eight months school. rather
than TO run into debt for the other month.
Funds were available 70 keep things CO.
ing for the eight months by cutting down
the salaries of the teachers and reirencE-
ing in other ways as much as possible.
But il would have required such heavy
eur 10 make the schools run the full nine
months that many Of the best teachers
would have refused TO sign the contract.
IL was therefore decided 10 make Il only
eight months
In the matter Of Closing and allowing
them 10 remain closed during tie month
or January. Il is thought that by So do
ing the scholars will not be compelled 20
20 20 and from school during the coolest
month % the year. and thereby much
sickness among the children may be pre-
vented. OF course the children viii be out
OF doors Il not N school. but the strong
er ones will be the ones who do SO. while
the ones more delicate Will remain IN
doors. ana the parents, if they will can
regulate the amount of exposure the
children vii se subject 10. Another
reason. and perhaps the one which is
more prominent. is the saving Of fuel
The coal bill for the month of January Is
not small ITEM, being larger that month
than any other, and by thus avaiding the
Necessity of heating, TIE city VIII save
just that mucn. There is some trouble
also in keeping the water pipes from
bursting. These can. be turned off and
drained and thus avoid any I.sk.
The Senior class of the city High school
are also lending what influence they may
possess 10 tie proposed vacation. The
argument they bring forth is that without
the vacation in the winter and the school
year being only eight months In length,
the commencement exercises viii be 50
much earlier than the other schools. that
they viii feel totally out Of place. When
all schools hold their commencement ex-
eTcises near together. the peculiar atmos-
phere OF the closing of their last year a,
school becomes intensified by the COM
radship in finding students from other
scnool planning along the same lines.
This is not the case when one school is
preparing for their annual Commences
ment, and all the others are stin IN their
regular routine school work. There is
about this unifcation OF work
which can be understood by an old col
legiate better than by any one else.
y number of the teachers also would
like to leave the city 10 spend the holi-
day season with friends in other places.
Dr. at their own parental fireeide. II the
schools open again Immediately after
New Years this viii be impossible to
great many. 1t is somewhat OF an limo
walton but kansans are continually
spr1nsinS something new upon the
country, and this move will he a great
saving to the city. and the school child
rem as we'll as the teachers can avoid the
great inconvenience Of being compelled
TO attend during the most uncomfortable
month OF the entire year.