The Advocate and news., 1898-11-30
BOARDING FOR HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS


William c. Lee, secretary to the Pres
ident Of the Agricultural college, suggests
a novel and useful plan as the Outgrowth
Of the student dining hall at Manhattan.
He proposes the extension Of this idea
to other State educational institutions
and to high schools.
Where Topeka's plan of holding but
one session is In vogue this would not
be applicable unless 1t should be thought
desirable to make a change to the old
system, but in many localities the idea
might be adopted with profit for the
noon hour.
Mr.. Lee gives us his plan as follows:
This fall, since the Kansas State Agricul-
tural College has begun to furnish to the
students three meals q day at cost, the
privilege has proven Of great value to the
young people in attendance. Persons un-
connected with the college are not admitted
to the boarding club. II they were so ad-
mitted the people Of that vicinity would
be receiving benefit from the State not
given to other localities; but there Is no
reason why the same benefit should not be
allowed to every community In the State
II they desire 1t. The desire might prop
erly be even encouraged by giving the
same object lesson in connection with other
schools Not only the Agricultural College,
but other schools where there are large
number Of boarders, might have dining
room at cost, backed by the power and
credit OF the State. It would greatly stim-
ulate the progress OF education.
The initiative In such an establishment
,ok ha Ao1r IN
stances by the conservative officials who
control many Of the city high schools; and
even where the officials are in sympathy
with these methods, they might be slow
to adopt such an innovation unless pressed.
This pressure might be supplied by State
law, requiring that whenever twenty stu
dents attendant upon q State institution,
or county high school, or the schools either
higher or lower grades of any city, petit
tlon for the establishment Of such board
ing house, and will agree to board there
for term Of weeks, then 1t shall be tho
duty Of the board Of education to provide
suitable quarters and engage q suitable
matron, who may or may not be the house
keeper, and provide board at cost.
At the same time 1t should be permitted
that the board Of education provide lodg-
ing at cost in connection with the board
ing; and 1t should be required that they
see to 1t that the surroundings OF the
boarding club are wholesome and refining.
The agreement Of the twenty students to
board q term Of weeks might be made con-
tingent upon the success of the manage
ment In providing wholesome board mot
necessarily to the satisfaction OF the board
ers, but nourishing and healthfully varied
at a cost not exceeding that Of any board
ing house where any student had boarded
previously. For the sake Of economy II
should be permissible to admit to the priv
ileges of the public boarding house any
approved persons not students, to the eX-
tent Of the capacity Of the boarding house
This would serve two purposes: first, 1t
would make the running easier financially;
and second, 1t would display the adVan-
tages Of competition In housekeeping to
more people, while by limiting the number
admitted 10 these advantages 1t would
stimulate the demand for other public en-
terprises. It may be said that boards or
education are free now to make such ar"
rangements. II this privilege, however, Is
desirable and helpful for students, 1t ought
not to be left to the discretion or school
boards to refuse the privilege, but ike
other school privileges regulated by the
statutes, citizens should have a right to
demand 1t.
Thus the cause Of education would be ad-
vanced "a motive which would appeal TO
the popular approvaD; and at the same
time a lesson would be given In social ad-
vancement.
County high schools would perhaps oe
more benefited than city high schools ny
the foregoing action. There are a few
county high schools In the State, and there
should be more. When manual and prac-
tical education becomes as widely known
and appreciated as 1t should be, the num-
ber of students will increase far beyond
the capacity of the Agricultural College.
even II it grows as large as a single instl-
tuition ought to. Friends Of the college ex-
pect that the county high schools viii IN
the future furnish a considerable degree
Of Buch training. The public boarding house