The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-31

Show?" In collecting material for this
topic Mr.. Crissman sent to she twenty
two largest towns in the state list of
questions to be answered and lie re-
ceived replies from the following eigh-
teen: Kansas City, Topeka, Wichita,
LeaVenworth, Atchison, Lawrence, Fort
Scott. Galena, Hutchinson. Esmporia.
Parsons, Ottawa, Arkansas City, Salina,
Argentine, lola, Junction City and In
dependence.
Prof. Crissman says that in most
cities the school enumeration is a little
less than third of the total popula
ton, but his figures show that in Atchi-
son and junction City the enumeration
is 35.5 and 3S per cent respectively of
the total population, while in Leaven-
worth, Hutchinson, Galena, Arkansas
City and Salina it is only about % per
cent.
1t would look as though truancy
officer were badly needed in AtchiSon.
In that town only 80 per cent of the
school population is enrolled in the pub
lie schools, while in lola. 81 per cent of
the total children of school age gre in
school. Why this should be so is not
apparent.
The average daily attendance in pro-
portion to the total enrolment runs
/ from 96 per cent in Hutchinson to 73
per cent in Fort Scott. In Topeka the
percentage is SO.
The average cost of the schools in all
these towns per year is about IS for
7
poria it runs up to $10.25, while in Atcill-
ison. Galena and Arkansas City it Is
only about $3.50. The other statistics
complied by Prof CriSsman seem to in
dicate that those towns which spend the
! least for their schools receive the least
/ in benefit.
Topeka, Leavenworth and lola are the
! best supplied with teachers, while To-
the best salaries. Atchison, Ottawa and
Arkansas City pay the least.
One of the problems which Prof Criss-
man especially Investigated was how to
keep the bows in the high school 1t is
a notorious fact that in many towns the
girls largely outnumber the boys in the
high school because the boys get tired
| of school and want to stop their educa.
tion and go to work In Atchison only
19 per cent. of the high school pupils
are boys. or less than one in five while
in Fort Scott and Emporia at least half
of the high school is made up of boys
couragement of athletics has much to
do with the interest which the boys take
in high school work. He also thinks that
the employment of men teachers adds
to the attractiveness of the high school
! Topeka leads the state in high school
enrolment. with 7S0 pupils. Lawrence
however, leads in having the largest
high school in proportion to the grades
1t has an enrolment of 502, which is 26. 4
per cent of the enrolment in the grades
The Atchison high school enrolls only
1O0, or only 90 per cent OF the grades.
Kansas City enrolls 612, or 7.3 per cent
of the grades. Wichita enrolls 427, or 1C
per cent of the grades. Salina enrolls
2O3, or 1872 per cent of the grades.
The information gathered regarding
| the percentage of pupils who smoke is
very incomplete says Prof. Crissman
/ Only nine towns reported. The aver
age for the sixth grade is Is per cent
and for the high school IL per cent. Il
is an appalling evil that is rapidly in
creasing and demands our immediate
and serious consideration. Would thai
the public sentiment everywhere were
as it is in Emporia and Holton, where
no boy who smokes is allowed the priv
ileges of the schools.
No good explanation is apparent 70,
the poor showing made by AtchisoT
schools unless it be that the people take
little interest in them. In Kansas CITY
and Argentine low percentage ol
school attendance might be accounted
for by the fact that the population /.
made up of a factory class to d large
extent and the children and young peO.
pie have to work for ii living, but thi.
would not hold good in Atchison II
Atchison only 80 oer cent of the schoo
I population are enrolled in the schools
only 5S per cent of those enrolled reacf
the high school; and only one-fifth O.
those who reach the high school ar.
I