The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-03
report of the retiring president, S. B.
Herman.
DnEcrDE-,rr,,c pNP0RT
Wichita, Kan, Aug. 2, L

Wichita, Kan, Aug. ?, 1897.
| Gentlemen Of the Board Of Educa ton
Before the life of this board expires il
becomes my duty TO submit 10 you the
annual report of its president.
/ wish to assure you thai the duties OF
this Office have been a pleasure TO me,
made so by the cordial Cooperation CIV
en- by each member Of the board in the
administration of the educational affairs
of our city and by the conscientious per-
| Torrance Of duties by the officers and
teachers of our city schools. 1 desire 10
| thank the members of the board o. edu-
cation for the support they have given
end to commend the work done by It's
employees.
On this occasion desire especially 10
commend the very excellent work done
during the past year by the super1ntend-
emit and the assistant superintendent.
Their ability has enabled our schools to
advance under Disadvantages where
even to have maintained the former
standard would have been success y
number of workers can always accom-
plish most when well organized. Organ
izarion depends upon the leaders and
upon them rests the responsibility.
In the Normal school the year has pro-
1uced good results and another class Of
trained teachers has been added 10 the
list from which the future vacancies in
the grade schools are 20 be flied. SO
satisfactorily is this school performing
its work that it's advantages are now
appreciated and all opposition has dis
appeared.
The City High school, the one in which
so many of our young men and women
finish their education, has preserved the
hign standard Of work Of the past years.
Open equally TO rich and poor, the ad-
vantages offered by the thorough edu-
cation here is now valued so highly by
the people of Wichita that an increased
attendance has made an addition 70 the
building necessary.
In the grades, the teachers have labor
ed earnestly with the result that the pu-
pills have progressed rapidly. Whenever
weakness has been detected in the teach
ing force the board and superintendent
have taken means 10 correct it. The
corps presented for the ensuing year.
the new board may rest assured, is even
better than that of the past.
According 10 the rules of the board OF
education, the requirements OF teachers
for the Primary and Grammar school
are so high that it is very difficult for
any but good teachers to obtain positions
but in the past no board has fixed a
standard for High school teachers. 1T
seems that this is a mistake that should
be remedied as soon as possible, so that
at no future time may one secure a po-
sition here unless they are the very best
equipped for High school work.
One Of the most important educational
institutions governed 10y the board OF
education is the City library. This il
too seldom thought of as means OF
public education; but there are few
things that contribute more to this than
a good library of standard books we'll
patronized. The library of this city has
been we'll equipped with the productions
OF the best writers in all departments OF
literature. During the past year five
hundred and seventy-nine books have
been added. The librarian reports thae
number Of subscribers as being five hun
dred. II would appear that some method
should be devised 70 increase this number
During the past year everything under
the management Of the board of educa-
ton has been administered as economic
ally as is consistent with excellence.
This applies both to affairs large and
small. An unoccupied school house has
been moved 10 Paramount, thus saving
the amount formerly paid for a room for
that school, and also the rent paid for
the ground upon which the house has
stood. Repairs and coal have been re-
duced to the lowest possible figure by
the careful supervision of our superin-
tendent of buildings and grounds.
Il is not out Of place for me to call the
attention of the board TO the Importance
Of this office, both from the point OF eff
fciency and economy. When filled by a
skilled and faithful officer such as Mr.
Wibking has been, the services rendered
will always be of more value 20 the
schools than the present salary paid.
Realizing that times were hard and
taxes heavy. the board has had the diff
fcult problem 70 solve OF how to reduce
expenses 50 as TO keep within diminish |
ed income and az the same time not in
jure the education Of our children. At
the end of the fiscal year 1866 the board !
found that the expenditures for that year
y ere s56,499.S1, and the receipts for The 7,
same period were only $40, 5o2 81. making |
a deficit for that year Of 81, $3.50. This, !
too, notwithstanding the fact that on the !
29th OF June, 1885. or one day before the |
OF the fiscal year 1867, the /
treasurer of the board drew from the |
county treasurer $1,000.
Seeing from this condition Of our |
finances that the expenditures must be |
reduced, il seemed absolutely necessary
thai the school be shortened from d nine /
to an eight months term. The fiscal /
year 1867 has ended and as We again /
examine our financial condition We find /
the expenditures % be S.7S749. a reduc- |
ton from that Of 1855 Of $7.712.3 The /
receipts are $49.52&17, giving q balance in !
7ur favor for the year Of sTio-6S. But this
: not correct statement Of our condi- |
ion; for. during The month Of June. 1897.
there was the sum Of $500 belonging . !
ne board Ehich was in the county treas
lry and which ought 10 have been drawn
herefrom az any time the latter part 90 i
hem onth. but which the treasurer did !
rot draw undl July !. thus throwing L
no the year % 1875 instead of 1867.
where il would have been had he pur-
sued the same course in 1897 ina: ne did