The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-28
DISTRICT SCHOOL TEACHERS.
John Macdonald Presides Over Their
Deliberations.

The afternoon meeting of the district
and graded school departments OF the
by Mrs. Josephine Sims of Mission Cen
ter, who read a paper on The Teacher
as Seen from the Home
school boards. A man is not fitted by
men 1 mean When a young lady app4i-
cant for the position of teacher talks
with the member of a school board that
man is chivalrous, he hes1tateS and IS
down at the heel and if she held the
screen door open while she talked. once
He said he liked it and would adopt
teaching as a profession but that It mad
b back < was 1 3-ftt that he had to teach kids
She advocated Deter school houses, bet
ter roads, wagonettes to take the children
to and from school, better salaries for
teachers.
The hall was too cool for comfort.
Chairman Macdonald called upon Presi-
dent Dyer for more heat
of the janitor.'' said Mr.. Dyer.
We'll hunt him up" said Mr. MacDon-
In Introducing Prof. J. n. Engle of
White City. who was to discuss the pa
per. Mr.. Macdonald said: L was in Dick
inson county once and tried to throw
stone without hitting an Engle and found
Prof Engle-''The parent at home
should not be too critical or too lenieqt,
but should be Interested enough to be
able to make mild criticisms when neces-
sary. The reason We crltlclse the nome
and the home cr1uclses US IS that Ine
parent and the teachers are not brought
close enough together
Mrs Lillian H. Picken of Emporia, in
discussing the subject said: There are
cities and communities which warm to-
ward the schools ana Other cites that are
coldIy critical. I know of one town where
than some towns have Teachers there
do not have the support of the people
Teachers sometimes DO not sympaaIhllze ne
with the parents. once knew IaIner
who went to school room determined to
take his child out OF the scnqol; ne ne lsft 81
with half the teachers Iunch under ms
vest. He left his child in the school and
from that time was one. of the strongest
supporters of the school"
one interested school teacher asked
how to commence the study OF nature IN
a country school.
William Campbell was introduced by
the chairman the author of The
Campbells are Coming"
The way to commence the. study of ma
ture." said Mr.. Campbell. lis to catch
grasshOpper and study him"
What has this to do with The Teach
chairman and he introduced T. w Con-
way. of Sterling, who read a paper on
place in the common schools He said
fsFrom all our educational institutions are
radiating the teachings of those perfect
characters who helped to lay the founda-
ton of this great state.
Kansas history before the Kansas school
children. The teachers must see that the
before the children untainted by partisan
bias or malignant prejudices. We may
differ in religious dCgmas. in political
creeds. in geographical locations but the
principles of the Kansas school, should
the patriotic sentiment of eternal union
by hearts that beat in unison with Amer
lean institutions. American liberty and
American independence"
The paper was discussed by E. L. Hig-
ginbotham of Holton and D F. Shirk of
Cottonwood Falls.
Mr. Shepherd broke into the question of
prohibition Mr.. Shirk said the school
children should sing the songs of prohi-
bition Mr.. Shepherd thought that liquor
is being sold uniaWfully and that the
tea chers should not talk prohibition while
the law is being violated. He said better
not to have a prohibition law than to
have one that IS not enforced This
brought several teachers to their feet
In Iowa only. two classes Of people can
obtain licenses, said D. F Shirk. the
saloon keeper ana the school teacher In
Kansas the school teacher IS not classed
with the saloon keeper The man in the
liquor business in Kansas is not the war
den and church deacon but the sneak
This is getting exciting. Go on" said
Mr.. Macdonald
Ottawa county, read a paper on rs the
grading of the country schools on city
plans practicable or desira BILE under pres
ent conditions2'' She gave as her opinion
that the country schools should be as
the city schools but that such a condi-
ton can not be brought about at once
The paper was discussed by Miss Sallie
Ellis of Chanute; F. H Baker of Norton;