Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-12-01
EDUCATIONAL.


Some Strong Facts and Whole
Some Advice.
The following circular, issued by
Superintendent Stryker is replete with
carefully prepared data with reference
to our public schools and should be Of
special interest to every citizen:
Topeka, Kan, Nov. II, 1897.
CIRCULAR NO. %.
TO county sHpeyintendests, teachers
and friends Of the public schools:
The following facts and su ggestions
are submitted, in the hope that the
thought and discussion that may be
aroused may result in more careful
study of the rural-school problem. ]
wish to urge the importance. not only
OF careful study of this subject and
more liberal support of the common
schools, but also of more judicious
expenditure of the funds now so gen.
erously provided. This is not submit.
ted in spirit of fault finding. At no
time or place in the worlds history
has public education been so literally
supported as at the present in our own
state. No system of education was
ever better; but it is capable of inn
provement.
There were in Kansas, as shown by
the county superintendents' reports
for the year ending, June 80, 1896, 14e
schools having for the year a three
months term or 1essa54o schools having
four months term; z89 schools having
five months term; 2,7O7 schools hav-
ing six months term; 2,436 schools
having seven months term; leaving
only 2,o84 schools having terms longer
than seven months. In this list are
all cities of the state having over
seven months school. Fully one-half
of the rural schools of the state had
terms of six months or less, the aver
age length of term not exceeding five
mouths. The average wages paid IN
the rural schools is between $50 and
S3o; am gathering facts and can tell
exactly soon. This expenditure of
only from 500 to $500 per school for
teachers wages is not so large an
amount as has generally been sup
posed was invested in education n the
rural schools. One reason why better
provision has not been made is that
there are too many small schools, and
that the burden of taxation falls with
unequal and crushing weight upon the
weaker districts under our system of
taxation.
The reports quoted from show that
732 schools had an average daily at
tendance of S or 1ess; 1,221 schools had
a daily average of to 10, inclusive;
1,712 schools had a daily average of 16
to 20, inclusive; and 1887 schools had
daily average of over 20. Less than
two-fiifths of the schools of the state
are in this last list, which also in
cludes all schools in the state employ.
ing more than one teacher. One-tenth
of the schools in the state have an at
tendance Of less than 6. No class of
people tax themselves more heavily
for school purposes than do those who
support the rural schools in Kansas
and no class of people pay more cheer
fully and are more willing to make
sacrifice in order to educate their chill
dren. After this is done, and the
limit of the burden possible to be
borne has been reached, it all results
in four or five months term, with a
teacher of limited experience, paid a
meager salary. A system under
which such conditions exist is in need
of correction.
The greatest injustice is in the pre-
sent method of school taxation. The
reports quoted above show further,
that S33 districts levy less than 9 mills
for school purposes; 3,679 levy from 6
to 10 mills; 2,777 districts levy from II
to IS mills; 546 districts levy from 16
to 19 mills, while 879 districts levy the
full 20 mills, the limit allowed by law,
The above does not include interest
and principal paid on bonds. Distric,
bonds can only be voted to build a
schoolhouse. Under existing condi.
tions. it often happens that a school
coming in the first group, with a levy
not exceeding mills. will be able to
have seven or eight months term
and pay good wages to the teacher
while district adjoining, with a levy
of 20 mills, can raise sufficient funds
for only four or five months term
and pay much smaller salary. In
the rural districts, where teachers
wages are SIS to $40 less per month
than in the cities, and where the aver.
age length of terms of school is little
if any over one-half as great as in the
cities, and with no high school privi
leges, the limit of taxation is % mills
and over one-half of all taxes paid
are for school purposes; while in cite.
of the second class the limit of tax fo,
school purposes is IS mills, and les.
than one-fourth of the total tax pait
is for school purposes.
This evident injustice is due to var
ious causes: First, the centering O,
the wealth in the cities; second, tn.
unequal size of districts; third. to<
many small and weak districts and thu
pavmeut of all rai1road school 49,, q.