The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
State Teachers Association Be-
gins Its Sessions.
Attendance Is Smaller Because
Of Storm.
TALK OF DISTRICTS.
Question of Consolidation LIS
Discussed Briefly.
President Bushey Reviews Sit
uatiOn In Kansas.

State Teachers association was held in
Representative hall at the state house
last night Despite the Indictment
weather which had descended to zero
towards dusk accompanied by a cutting
wind, in the neighborhood of 700 teach
ers braved the storm and were in at
tendance when the retiring president,
Prof. Arvin H. OIin of Lawrence called
the meeting to order, which was opened
Washburn college.
E. w. Hoch, the newly elected gov
ernor, was snowbound and was conse-
quently unable to give the address OF
welcome. T. A. McNeal, his private
secretary, delivered the address in his
stead. He placed himself on record as
being strongly in favor of concentra-
ton of school districts together with q
consequent improvement in the charac-
ter of the school building as well as in
the character of instruction.
Superintendent L. J. Hall of Clay
Center responded to the address of well
come in behalf of the association. He
said that the only thing which he held
against Topeka was the weather but
that in all other particulars Topeka
was to be depended upon.
The annual presidents address deliv-
cred by the newly elected president,
A. H. Bushey, was one of the principal
The Modocs rendered two selections
in their customary enjoyable manner.
Following the address given by Pres
ident Bushey the announcement of
committees was made. The appoint
ments are as follows: Committee on
resolutions, Prof. J. H. Hill, Emporia;
Superintendent John Mcbride Topeka;
superintendent Maud G. Davis, Miami
county; Superintendent Maud Ellison,
Labette county; Superintendent Null,
Stafford county; Superintendent George
r. CriSSman, Salina; Superintendent J.
j. Haney, Lebanon.
Committee on awards-Superintend
ent c. o. Smith, Halstead; Superin-
tendent w. E. Register, Chanute; Sup
The reception which was to have been
rendered at the close of the evenings
programme was postponed because of
the severity of the weather.
President Bushey's address follows in
part:
1 wish to congratulate the teachers of
Kansas upon their meeting to discuss
topics of vital interest. The coming to-
gether of so large a number of teach
ers and educators is certainly a very
gratifying evidence of the zeal and
professional enthusiasm of the teachers
of this state. Any teacher may well
feel a sense of pride that he may be
associated with body of teachers who
manifest so marked a degree OF inter-
est in the educational problems of the
day, and who exhibit such a progressive
spirit as to be willing to make the
personal sacrifice which many are COM
PEELED to do to be present at this meet
ing.
I'm our own state, as in many states
of this country, only part of the boys
and girls have free access to high
schools. Our school system will never
be complete till every boy and girl is
offered a free high school, as well as
common school education. High
schools ought to be not only free but
sufficiently accessible that all can at
,frrI, sob d. f0x,
is as necessary to the boy and girl of
today as an elementary education was
to the boy and girl a generation ago.
"Great efforts are being made in
school education. 1t is recognized by
educators generally as one of the most
urgent needs of our school system. In
Nebraska the legislature has twice
passed a law providing that the coun- |
ty pay the tuition for all qualified pu-
pills of the state who wish to attend
high school, but the supreme court of
that state has declared both laws I'M
In Minnesota all qualified pupils have
free admission to high schools. The |
state pays each accredited high school |
$780, This money Is raised by state |
tax. And in many other states various !
provisions have been enacted to solve |
the problem of free high school in |
tory of the growth of schools in the |
United States shows that legislation
precedes the appreciation of the needs |
of school advantages on the part of
the state can create a sentiment
among the people by intelligent dis |
cussion which will help along this |
movement immensely.
Few teachers realize what an i'm |
provement the establishment of high |
schools generally would have upon the |
elementary schools. If high schools
were accessible, the number of pupils
49, z11Ke. l
the common school course would be |
greatly increased. 1t would tend to in |
crease the length of the term in the |
rural schools so as to prepare its grad |
yates for admission to high schools. |
In all respects there would be a de- |
cided improvement in the general tone
of the school, and greater efficiency in !
the work. With free and accessible /
high schools in each county, the num- |
Der of high school graduates would be |
greatly increased and these would be |
ambitious to go on to college and
university education.
lowing to various causes which do
not care to discuss here. the rural
schools of Kansas today are inferior to
those of fifteen or twenty years ago. |
1t is one of the changes incident to life
and growth. 1t presents a problem
which must be met and solved. or the !
evil effects will be too plainly visible |
on the rising generation. Eternal
vigilance here is the price of liberty. |
Iher6 SnOulQ DG no ASSlIdnSS Oh Tic
part of the teachers to ask for needed |
Improvement in our laws nor should |
they be abashed because it will incur
some additional expense.
when it is stated that the money |
expended per annum in maintaining |
a pupil in the public schools of Kan |
sas is approximately $12, while in the |
more progressive states the ex- |
penditure reaches more than three |
times this amount, and the average |
expenditure per annum per pupil for |
the whole United States, including the |
southern states, is over $21 per pupil, |
certainly we ought not to hesitate to |
ask for some additional taxation for |