The Globe-republican., 1900-12-06
i.y wlth those .hat is neyer aequired as a


pupil only. z-ss-zas>
There may be some young gentleman
or lady teacher here tonight who is am
bilious to be in some other business. Let
me say to you that in after life you will
never regret the year spent in teaching.
But unless you feel that your life work is
in the school room and that you are filed
with a desire to serve your fellow beings
IN that capacity, ard there are few, of rs
who are able to rise to such lofty heights
of purpose, my advice to you frankly
would be to seek some other business
where the returns are greater, until the
people of this country awake to the situa-
ton and remedy the existing conditions
l do not believe there is great deal that
teachers can do except to agitate and
discuss the matter that will help the STU
alton. You can simply wait until the
door of opportunity opens to some other
calling and then enter it,
The system of employment of teach
ers is all wrong, the admission of every
body who can pass an examination for a
third grade certificate is all wrong.
When il comes to the question of the edu-
cation of the children of the nation. L
am a socialist of the most pronounced
type The public schools should all be
under the closest state supervision and
control.
The standard of examina tons should
be high, and when once admitted the
teacher should be an employee of the
State with employment for life or so long
as ne remained earnest, active and pro-
gressive. His examinations should be
conducted by and his employment given
by a board entirely removed from parti-
san political parties and the whins and
capriees of local influences. He should
be protected by civil service rules and
opportunity given for promotion under a
merit system, aud his wages should be
commensurate with the value OF the SER
vice rendered. 1t is only question of
time until system of this character will
be put into operation, and then the lot of
the teacher will be more pleasant, and
he will occupy the place his services and
his abilities entitle him to.
But ia spite of all adverse conditions
the teacher has performed his task well.
AS class, you have shown yourselves de-
voted to duty. You have been earnest
and progressive. After all there is a
higher, nobler existence than that which
is spent in mere money getting. The
humbl teacher who teaches in a sod
house on the plains of Western Kansas
may live in a world which many who
disdain his humble state never APP
proach. He may see and comprehend
beauties which their eyes can never be-
mold. He may associate with friends and
people whom they can never know To
them a flower is but bit Of color; to bin
it suggests the reason for the color At
a glance it resolves itself into its constitu-
ent parts and the perfection of the plan of
the Deity is seen. To them the rainbow
suggests the story of the bow of promise
only or the my thical pot OF gold; to him
a story more wonderful even than the
promise after The flood. He thinks of the
cause of the bow Ine falling rain drop.
the prism, the separation of the ray of
light into the primary co1ors.
They meet only the persons of every
day life who jestle them in the greedy
rush for gain. He knows the great soul
whom Victor Hugo created Jean Vatican.
He has been jolly with Mark Talpey and
has wept by the bedside of Little Nell.
He has learned the story of f1liiai ingrat-
itude from poor old Lear and has laughed
at the braggadocia of Flagstaff. He has
heard the mighty voices of Pitt and
Burke, of Webster and Clay and knows
the great hearts of the peerless Washing
ton and the immortal Lincoln. He can
live in the domain of knowledge, of intel
lect and meet and know the immortals
who lived in literature, in history, in
oratory and statecraft.
We believe that you teachers are the
brightest and best of the land. We
sympathize with you in your trials and
glofy in your achievements. We belieye
You worthy of our hospitality and we ex-
tend it to you without reservations, and
with the earnest hope that you will enjoy
our companionship much as we know
| we will enjoy yours.
Following Judge Madison's addl ess
| was the response by Clyde L. Burtis, of
Garden City, young man full of prom
| Use. who acknowledged the welcome in
an appropriate manner.
| An anthem was given by the Nj. E.
choir, composed of Geo. Il. Martin. Chas.
E. incl, Mrs. D. Swineharr and Miss
Stella Freeman. with Mrs. Etrick at the
organ.
Prof. OIin Templin, of the Kansas
State University. delivered an address on
PeSsimiSm which was scholarly exno-