Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1898-09-17

tion when they leave school life and
they seldom save much from their
limited salaries. He thinks no per-
son of ability and successful qualities
can afford to make teaching a life
business on a salary of SI60 per year,
which is the average pay of Kansas
teachers. Teachers wages should be
estimated by the year, he thinks At
ter deducting cost of board, books, pa
pers and expenses of neces sary annual
preparation, attending normal, teach
ers' meetings, examinations, ETC., the
teacher has little if any of his salary
left. If this annual salary is divided
by twelve, the number of months in
the year, it is seen that the teachers
final pay is only few cents per day.
Superintendent Stryker advocates
county or township high schools and
would keep at home the money which
the people of every county annually
expends in sending advanced pupils
away to school. He has visited all
of the several counties which have
such schools and finds them all sue
cessful and in no case would they be
given up. He cited the case of
Thomas county where Colby, the
county seat, provides the building
and county tax lew of one-half mill
is ample sufficient to meet expenses
and provides superior instruction for
all the advanced pupils of the county
without further cost. The speaker
disclaimed all knowledge of the situa-
tiOn in this county and his remarks
formed significant endorsement of
the position taken by Superintendent
Peacock, Prof. Harlan, Mrs. Best,
Miss Neuenschwander, Mr. Swiggett,
Mr.. WestOver, and all our best teach
ers last summer. 1t is certain that
we ought to have and might have had
county nigh school in this county
except for the grovelling, selfish, par
tisan opposition of a few narrow,
short-sighted individuals, backed up
by the gross ignorance of Others.
Some of these were present and it
was apparent that they were not en-
tirely comfortable during this part of
the state superintendent remarks
which were quite apt and appropriate
and certainly sincere and well-meant.
They were heartily enjoyed and en-
dOrsed by a majority of those present.
Mr. Stryker conferred with the
county examining board in the office
of the superintendent. He explained
that the state board in making coun-
ty examinations quite difficult, had
done so with equal fairness to all and
| for the sole purpose of raising the
standard of our teachers. In countie S
where there is surplus of teachers
the county board should hew to the
line and supply the schools with the
best at hand. In counties where
! there is a shortage the examiners
should be more lenient and, if pos
Sible, supply the schools with those
teachers best prepared to teach. The
degree of latitude allowed is left to
the Judgment of the county board. 1t
is not the intent of the state board or
of the law to work hardship upon
the district schools. He has also
signed all common school diplomas
that were presented for his signature
and will sign others if sent to him.
The political meeting advertised
for the evening was called off on ac-
count of the storm.
1t is regretted that the weather was
so bad. Many school officers and
teachers would have attended and
would have been entertained and in
structed by the talk of the state SUI
perintendent.