The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-12

In another part of this message / have
something to saw on the question of
pauper children of the east being sent
to our state am in full accord with
the plan of caring for the poor and
needy children of our own state, but
when it comes to the question of caring
for the children of people of other states
that is a different proposition. Any
reasonable demands made by this in
stitution should receive attention, to
the end that throughout the borders of
our great state no child be allowed to
suffer from hunger or the need of raj
Inent.
SOLDIERS HOME AT DODGE CITY.
This home has been established and
maintained for years for the. care and
enjoyment of the INDECENT soldiers of
our civil war. It's board has been es-
tablished and kept separate from that
of all of the other institutions of this
state I would recommend that this
policy be continued, in order that those
who risked their lives in their coun-
try's defense may have the advantage
of the best treatment possible from our
people. Kansas is known as the great
soldier state of the Union, and, While
We have within our borders a national
home, the state home at Dodge City is
a matter of. pride to the citizens of our
state. Any reasonable request that
may be made for this institution should
be granted In a. few years the men
who now inhabit the home Will have
passed over into the unknown, and any
thing we might do at the present, I'M
=
which we feel at this time, might be
cause of regret in after years.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
The, public school system of Kansas
is the best evidence of the character of
our people and the best promise of our
future. That the percentage of litter
aey is lower and the average of gener-
al intelligence is higher in Kansas than
in New York and the New England
states, where great wealth command
ed admirable educational facilities be-
fore our state was founded, is most
gratifying to our people. We should
indeed be a most difident common
wealth if this admirable system, crown
ed by the several institutions of higher
learning, did not appeal to our state
pride. Ignorance and freedom never go
hand in hand. The founders of this
commonwealth were determined that
Kansas should not be ignorant and
should be free. In order to achieve that
general intelligence which is essential
to a successful citizenship, it is abso-
lutely necessary that we should main
tain a system of public schools that
shall give the youth of this state ample
opportunity to fit themselves for the
duties of citizenship. In dealing with
the educational institutions of the
state, no niggardly hand should be US
ed, whether you touch the humble coun-
try school or enter the halls of the great
state institutions. The condition of the
times demands strict economy, but the
economy that would take from any
child the right and privilege of receiv-
ing an education is false economy
against the best interests of society and
detrimental to the future of our state.
Some OF the chief educational inStitu-
tions notably the state university and
the state normal school, which are re-
ported crowded, will ask for certain i'm
provementS and additional buildings.
Several localities will ask that normal
schools be established. Should you con-
clude that an auxiliary normal school is
necessary, 1 would suggest that it be
| of fofn S.f
the largest population and in some CEN
trail city of that section
The report of the superintendent in
dictates that there are 1924 schools in
this state, with a school population OF
1851 OF these, 37S, 339 were enrolled
in the schools, while there was an ev-
erage daily attendance of 252, 727. Elev-
en- thousand seven hundred teachers
We're employed, with an average salary
for male teachers, of $43.S per month
and for female teachers of $35.5S per
month. The average number of mills
levied for all school purposes was IL 10
The school property of Kansas
including buildings and grounds is
valued at $10,145, 631 The bonded in
debtedness of the school districts was
81, 545, 708. Sixteen thousand eight hun
dred and thirty-seven persons were ex-
amined for teachers certificates of
whom 11,46S, with an average of 20
years, received certificates. Only 1856
districts have failed to maintain public
schools three months. One hundred and
five counties held teachers institutes,
each of which had an attendance of
over fifty members. These institutes
cost $38, IT'S.
The school system is the pride of the
state. AS Spartas strength was not
in her walls, but in her men, so the
wealth of Kansas lies not in her treas
ury, but in the storehouses of general
intelligence. We may not have amassed
such vast fortunes as are boosted by
the country's metropolis, but we can
M hot l., L
Kansas can go to school. The children
of Kansas are not shipped to eastern
states to be quartered upon others that
our name shall become a by-word and
kissing in the ears of the republic.
The schools for the blind deaf and
dumb are classed in the statutes as
charitable institutions In fact. they
are educational institutions and should
be so classified. Careful economy must
be practiced, but our schools must be
maintained. Kansas has not changed
her motto, and though the difficulties
| still remain, the stars are there also.
PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND.
The state permanent school funds
| have reached the munificent sum of &c.
| 1858, 9S7.79, the greater part of which has
| been invested in bonds. The intent and
| purpose of the law governing the pur-
| chase of bonds with this fund was to
| buy none but the best, and those on
which the interest and principal would
/ be promptly paid. Unfortunately many
| thousand dollars of this fund have been
| invested in worthless bonds on which
| not even the interest has been paid
| would suggest that the attorney gen
| eral, if necessary, be empowered to col
| lect the interest and principal on these
delinquent bonds If possible, and if not
possible to collect in full by and with
| the consent of the executive council to
J compromise on the best terms possible
! for the interests of this fund, the pro-
| ceeds to be turned into the permanent
| Enh Inn nc r1TYN ia o6 IxrI1
| There is another evil worthy of your
attention in connection with the invest
ment of the funds by the school fund
| commissioners. 1t has been a practice
| for this commission, instead of deal
ing directly with the authorized author
| ties of the different counties and NH