The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-25
VIM. STRIKERS PLAN.
What the Newly Elected Super
intendent Of Schools
Intends to Urge When He Gets
Into Office.
First He Desires Uniformity of Text
Books-Next he Wants Longer
Normal Institutes WhichWiu
No Doubt Make the
Teachers Sigh.


has been in the city attending the
meeting Of the state officials, ana when
asked what his plans for the future
We're, said.
= shall sever all connection with the
school at Great Bend and dispose Of
everything except my home and win
move to Topeka. soon and be ready to
give my whole time and attention to
the duties of the Office. 1 have not
taken a vacation in ten years and do
not care for any. have a great ca
pacity for labor and I shall try and see
not now easily can get through with
my work in the office, but how much 4
can accomplish. If I have any ambi-
ton, any desire above another, it is to
improve the common schools They are
the IOunQaE1On upon which all else
rests. The Importance of the very best
foundation and some ways Of improy-
ing 1T viii claim large part Of my
time and attention. 7 think I shall
ask some things of the legislature
Many Of the member of the coming
legislature have been teachers and
some of them pupils of mine, and y
think that by beginning early shall
succeed in getting through at least
some of the measures asked for"
What measures do you think are
needed r.
Thousands Of dollars can be saved
to the people of the state and, think
better results attained by county or
state uniformity of text books, either
by contract or publication, and the dis
trict should purchase all the books
The use of text books should be as free
as the instruction. BY state contract
the same books in Indiana cost only "a
little over One-half the retail price ia
Kansas AS a result of the reduced
price and less number of books pur-
chased. One-haff of the money now paid
out for text books might be saved
Many districts are now furnishing
books. New York city not only fur
nishes books. but pencils paper ana
everything needed in the schools. 1T
is much more satisfactory. a little
more trouble to the teacher, perhaps,
but everyone is provided and there IS
an absolute uniformity, which mueh
more than makes up for it,
Have you ever seen the practical
workings of such q. system2'f
Yes, I was the principal of a school
two years where everything was fur
nished. If the teacher is careful and
the pupils are held accountable for
useless destruction many fewer books
viii be bought than under the present
system or rather, lack Of system. More
system in this and many other direc-
lions is what our school system needs.
"OuF school system should be a unit
leaving all necessary discretionary
powers with the teacher where cOndi-
lions differ much from the ordinary,
but at the same time retaining suffi-
cient direction. discipline and control to
prevent the great waste Of energy due
best schools in the world and have
made great progress from the days i'm
which the teacher boarded around and
each school was a nation to ITSELF 1t
has all been in the direction j have in
dictated and viii continue in that di-
rection anyway. What I want is ac-
ton by our legislature along certain
lines that viii result in doing ia a few
years what otherwise Will come, but
viii require as many decades.
II think there ought to be more
just and uniform system Of taxation
for school purposes The state owes it
to every child that he be given good
school privileges, whether he lives on
the prairie. far removed from any rail-
road, or in a district Where the taxes
are largely paid by the railroad COM
pany 1t is not just that one man be
taxed many times as much as another
and more than he is possibly able 70
pay and still not be able TO provide
One-half as long term Of school as the
other with his tax often not one-fourth
as great.
s.Encoura cement should be given to
each county to hold Institutes eight or
more weeks in length Much more
than twice as much can be ac-
cOmplfshed i'm eight weeks as can i'm
four and the expense is relatively
less Kansas took the lead in this
matter when the law was passed pro-
viding for a four weeks institute Sew
era1 other states have initiated our eN-
ample and are now UP with us and IT
IS LlIIlG t4leAA W E zane rAAA-NAA1A - A-A
advance for them to follow. Time has
become too valuable in these closing
wears Of the century for teachers or
anyone else who hopes to keep up with
the procession to let any portion of It
20 to waste Most of those who attend
the county Institutes would not receive
any instruction at all if it We're not
brought to their doors and in this way
made comparatively Inexpensive Two
davs should be given for county exam
nations. and literature and one or two
other subjects added to the list. The
annual school meetings should be held
III April and May. before the schools
close. as they are in many other states.
So that teachers can make contracts
and shane their work for the summer
and not be compelled to waste It in the
anxious search for schools This would
relieve school officers as we'll as teach
ers County superintendent should
have more power. Of course with the
possibility Of an appeal to the county
commissioners. This is needed espe-
ciaIly ia the western districts. where
the rearranging of districts is neces-
sary for the best interests Of taXpay-
ers and pupils"