Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-12
NUMBER, Is.

high school. Fully 80 per cent of this
band of noble boys and girls, the ma
terial in which our future citizens
are found, would have received no
other education than that gained the
few months in winter. not even COM
pleting the common school course.
The limited expense of attending
the school is matter of great conse-
quence to the parent.
The students rent rooms at NOM
inal rates, the parents take them to
school carrying from their homes al
most all that is necessary for the liv-
ing during the week. In the year
1894. Labette county high school en-
rolled ia students, four of this num-
Der paid board by the week. Thus
the cost of living is greatly reduced
and the child is kept in close touch
with home for three of the most i'm
portant years of his life. In case of
sickness the parent can be informed
and may reach his child within a few
hours to administer to his needs.
Surely this is consideration of
great Importance.
A remarkable feature with the
schools established is the extent of
patronage they receive. Labette high
school opened in the fall of 1898 with
an enrolment of eighty-four which
number rapidly increased to I47. Of
this 131 students were from the coun-
try districts. In Dickinson county
the enrolment in 1893 was $50: los of
whom were from the country at large.
Seyenty-five or nearly one-half lived
over fifteen miles distant
A county high school means better
teachers in every district in the coun-
ty. The ranks of the country teach
ers are being filled by those who have
barely been able to secure a certifi-
cate upon an examination on the COM
mon school branches. Many of these
TO- orn Ii 70 g.
themselves for work. Unless a special
class for their benefit is organized in
the city school-a difficult matter for
one teacher carrying an already
crowded cOurSe-they have only the
county Normal of four weeks for fur
ther preparation. The county high
school course of study anticipates this
great need and provides a ten weeks
review class in the spring term where
teachers Tay prepare for finals on
branches reviewed, grades to be cred
tied to their work in the high school
teacher is not content tC remain a
third-grade teacher longer than it
takes to gain the experience required
by law to advance him to the ranks of
second and first grade.
Pupils in our country schools de-
mand the best instruction for COM
pleting the common school course and
teachers vie with each other in the
careful work done. Thus a new i'm
petuS is given in every school. We
have seen pupils from primary and in
termediate grades listening with
eagerneSS concerning the county high
school. And, with sparkling eyes and
beaming face they would tell me,
''Mrs. Best, when l get big 1 am go
ing to that SCHOOL,
The realization of the fact that this
school belongs to every boy and girl of
Trego county will be an incentive of
Ii H.
cided that their school days are over
will be induced to return to improve
the advantages offered them.
One of the best educated and infiu-
ential men of Kansas to-day has said
to us: ''T'he county high school solves
the question of the higher education
of the poor boy. Had L not had the
boy l would have been compelled to
stop with an ordinary common school
course. Mother cooked and provided
for me. enabling me to board myself
at very little expense and | went to
bashful boy as / was, with
patched clothes of the plainest mate
rial. From that institution / was
able to work myself through college"
This character is an inspiration to
every one with whom he. meets. 1t
was his talent and broad education
which aided in sustaining the law
school exists to-day. To you parent:
rs you look upon the happy group of
children God has committed to your
keeping your heart SwellS with long
ing that you be able to provide for
their future happiness and useful
ness. Their hopeful ambitious. lives
are greatly subject to the pliable
hand of opportunity and environ
ments. After years of sacrifice and
you may leave them Il few
hundred or even thousand dollars, but
this is not your only dSired legacy.
Fire may devour it within a few
hours. Hail or cyclone may sweep it
AWAY. If you lend all your influence
20 securing county high school in
,ur county-day by day the children
Ire attending sch hool. through one
yrade on to another. While you may
De prospering or suffering adversity,
he children are masSing a fortune.
slowly but surely. a wealth in the
growth of mind and character where
)anks can not fail and ,panics can not
lffect- A broad practical educa tion,
he value to the possessor is beyond
I'll power to Calculate in dollars and
entS.
Noxu IL x-or,r onpartunitv apd I fpal