The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-02
IN ANNUAL SESSION
Southwest Kansas Teachers
in Wichita.
ATTENDANCE Is LARGE
Pres. Butchers Address--Lec-
ture by DR.. Hughes.

large and the members of the associa-
ton never entered into a meeting with
greater enthusiasm than this one Presi-
dent T. W. Butcher Of Wellington call
ed the meeting to order at 10:30 o'clock
after which Rev. W. B. Slutz, pastor of
the First NJ. E. church, offered prayer.
Mr. Casper Haynes sang a solo which
was received with great applause. City
Attorney a. E. Helm delivered the ad-
dress of welcome which was responded
to by Mr.. w. NJ. Massey of Wellington.
Miss Mabel Larimer sang a beautiful
solo, after which the president delivered
his address. His subject was 1.-THE
Schoolmaster," a very appropriate and
finely worded address. which was greatly
appreciated by the large audience. Mr..
Butcher said, in part:
THE origin of the custom of delivering
inaugural addresses I have been unable
to trace, but that such a custom exists
we are all painfully aware. No doubt
the president of the United States is re-
quired to make an inaugural address in
order to let the members of the opposi-
ton party know what they do not be-
lieve, but why an organization of this
character should infict upon itself tflir-
ty minutes of torture I can not imagine,
unless it be that this self-torture is pro-
voked by the dyspeptic melancholy con-
sequent upon an over-indulgence in
Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry
sauce Custom not only demands an ad-
dress upon an occasion of this kind, but
insists upon the prerogative of limiting
the speaker to discussion Of the ques-
tons which the organization offers as an
excuse for it's existence. Hence, I am to
talk to you of the schoolmaster.
1.-THE schoolmaster is what he IS part
ly because Of the inheritance which the
professinon has brought to him, but
largely because of what he is bringing
to the profession; partly because circum-
stances make him, but chiefly because
he makes the circumstances. Time was,
when education was considered not only
unnecessary but even dangerous to
strong manhood; strength of body and
courage were the ends Of all training of
the youth. Hence, it is not strange that
among the early nations we find some
that made no effort 10 educate the peo-
pie, while others left the work to beg
CARED priests or crippled slaves. We need
but half open our eyes to see the marks
Of these early influences upon the edu-
cational system Of today. The man who
thinks an education unnecessary can be
found almost within a stones throw of
every school house. He has so long paid
taxes for the support of a certain grade
of school work that he makes no open
objection to the public school, so long as
the teachers salary is not over S25 a
month and the length of the term does
not exceed five months. But If you want
to know his real attitude on the school
question, ask for an eight months term.
and a salary of s45 for the teacher; or
ask him to lend his support to the es-
Enlistment or maintenance Of a county
high school. He will utter wall that
will shake the very foundation of the
public school system. TOO many edu-
Gated people now" LET people who
want to educate their children pay for
it." are his weapons of defense. Some
time ago a member of the Kansas legis-
lature, while discussing teachers wages,
said to me that S25 per month was
enough for a country teacher; that
teaching was easier than farming, and
that he hired men at SIS per month to
work on his farm. When suggested
that. after paying 80 per month for
board, the teacher would have less money
81, l.
could find a place to work for his board.
was tempted to tell him he ought to do
what the Fort Scott Monitor recommend
ed a few years ago when It said that the
man who insisted that a school teacher
should work for SIS per month, because
he could get man to feed his hogs for
that amount. ought to turn his children
in with the hogs and save the teachers
wages. With such men in the legislature
is it strange that the salaries of the
teachers in the state schools were re-
duced two years ago? Is it strange that
the superintendent Of public instruction
in Kansas receives 500 less salary than
the other state officers? That the county
superintendent is the most poorly paid
one who. IN the average community, is
asked to do more work than any man can
do properly, and then be fined If ne does
not do it?
1T is not easy TO find men who like
. Protestant minister in this district
openly assert that they are opposed to
public educatop-men who hold. as does
this minister. that a boy ought TO be
ashamed to accept free tuition as he
would be ashamed to accept public char
ity-but there are such men, and in this
atmosphere the schooImaster lives. Is it
any wonder that he Is sometimes OF the
weeping willow variety? Is it surprising
that he sometimes goes about with
kind of excuse r-being-on-the-ea
expression on his face?
1T is only step. and q logical one.
from the belief that The work OF the
teacher is OF minor Importance % the
conviction that the teacher Is an inferior
parsonage. Not inferior In knowledge OF
facts. but lacking in knowledge OF men
and things: lacking IN the power 10 DO,
The business world Is not wholly 70
blame for this estimate 81 the school
master \ short time ago the 505l-
master was the preacher or the priest.
and this ecclesiastic was by no means q
Charles II. Sheldon going among men and
applying his knowledge TO the real issues
u lite The course OF instruction. ~ ire
early schools was outlined BY the eucie-