The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-11
MORE NEWS OF SCHOOLS
Supt. STRIKERS Plan to Create
Greater Interest
In the Educational Affairs of
Kansas.
He Will Prepare Copy That the Press
of the State May Import
ance of Newspapers to
School Interests.


State Superintendent William Stryker is
working earnestly upon a plan by which
he hopes to increase the interest in the
public schools of the state. He has two
methods, and is undecided as to which
one he will adopt He is now in COM
munication with teachers and city and
county superintendent in the various
parts of the state, seeking to gain in
formation which will govern his con-
illusions
Mr.. Stryker has requested Chancellor
Snow, President Taylor and President
VIII Of the state institutions of learning,
and John Macdonald, president of the
State Teachers association, to assist in
editing material for a patent inside to be
used in the various counties of the state
for a local. educational paper. OF this
plan the superintendent speaks as follows
in letter to the presidents mentioned:
THE educational interests of the state
should be unified and every department
brought in touch with the people in every
school district in the state. Articles pre-
pared or selected by yourself or some
member of your faculty along some line
in which your institution is do
ing special work, would be the best
POSS414G AA1Sed44S u l446 4LSl4LuLAOAA
before the people, and, at the same time
give the very best and highest class of
reading matter general circulation. My
scheme, if carried out, means not only a
large circulation of a very readable paper
in every county in the state, but a source
of revenue to assist in building up county
and district libraries
When asked further about the matter,
Mr.. Stryker said:
have another scheme now that
lieve is better. If that does not work,
shall go back to the other. Upon one
thing L am determined and that is, to
keep educational interests-the schools
before the people The people of Kansas
are interested in education and are liberal
toward it. The greatest danger to edu-
cational interests is not in open opposi-
ton, but in indifference. The people of
any locality are certain to do about the
right thing if they do anything at all, and
the more their attention is called to the
Importance and value of education, the
more they will do for it. No state has so
good schools or pays so much per capita
for education, and no increase in expendl>
ture would begin to pay SO well in every
way as would more given to the common
schools. My plan now is to ask the ed
itor of every local paper in the state to
use about one page each month of such
matter as is mentioned above. A full
page will be furnished if desired. I have
talked with number, and they will glad
ly do it. think there is no doubt about
almost, if not quite, all using it.
1T can be easily reached through the
companies furnishing patents and plate |
matter if it is desired. County and city |
superintendents in each county should be |
given space and will be urged to use it
in this monthly educational ISSUE Later, |
more or less of this matter can be used
as may seem desirable. It will be abso- |
lutely non-politicaL
1.-THE Importance of the press as an ed !
ucational factor is very much underesti- |
mated, and especially is this true of the |
local country newspaper. Agencies now |
in existence should be utilized and encour> |
aged rather than create others, if the de- |
sired end can be reached, and in this way |
I believe it can. Any movement that |
tends to place more and better reading |
matter in the hands of the people in every /
school district in the state must be pro-
ductive of great good. Every effort that /
tends to unity, strengthen and improve
the educational forces of the state must
improve the schools materially.
There is progress in the educational /
world as in everything else. From the |
great multitude of reports, magazines,
etc. coming to this office, it will be very 1
easy to select and prepare much more
than my share of the material needed ana
have it all the latest, the strongest and
the hest. besides this will give oppor>
tunfty to publish the list of bonds pur-
chased for the school fund each month,
some statistics and other valuable mat
ter pertaining especially to our own
schools. and which the people would like
to know.
Had the law provided for the publica-
ton of all bonds purchased, there would
not be one-fourth million or more worth
less bonds now belonging to the schoo1
fund: and in many instances the rate Of
interest obtained would have been bet
ter. The light should be turned on and
everything of a public nature of interest
IN the Deople should be made public.
High grade literature of all kinds is
50 abundant and cheap now that there
IS no reason why every child in the state
should not be supplied and encouraged to
read it. one important feature will be an
effort along this line"