The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-02
CAN'T DODGE IT.
Truancy Law in Topeka Is
Working Well.
Superintendent Davidson Re-
ports That 1t Is a Success.
THEY TALK AND TALK.
Board of Education Meeting a
Veritable PickWick Club.
Salaries of Teachers Back to
Old the Scale.


the board of education, at the meeting
held last night, that the truancy law
is doing much good in Topeka.
Mr.. Davidson stated that the truancy
law was the means by which many
children were receiving schooling who,
without the law, would be deprived of
such benefits. He cited the case of an
employer who was careful to employ
minors over the age Of Is only in order
that he would be employing no one who
should, under the compulsory education
al law, be attending school. This same
employer reports to the truancy officer
every case of a child between the ages
Of eight and fifteen years not in school
that comes to his attention. Mr.. David
son recited the instance of a boy a
dozen years old, who is an orphan, who
wished to go to school but could. not
earn money enough to buy books and
clothing. The boy viii be furnished
with books by the board of education
called upon to furnish the boy with
clothing
I'VE have had much help from the
Associated Charities" said Superintend-
citation have reported to Mr.. Gage, the
truaney officer, every case that has
come to their notice of a child of school
age not going to any school. The asso-
citation helps greatly by furnishing
clothing for those who are in need
The board meeting last night was
much like a session of 1.-The Pickwick
Club" The members seemed quite
anxious to debate and to discuss. it
didn't matter much what. w. H. Will
son introduced a resolution that the
Masonic bodies be invited to conduct
the ceremonies of the laying of the
corner stone of the manual training
high school building. The corner stone
has been donated by the graduating
class of the high school, The motion
was carried. Mr.. Wilson announced
that John Martin, who lived on the
site of the manual training high school
for more than a quarter of a century,
would be one of the speakers at the
corner stone laying. After the motion
had passed some of the members who
| seemed to fear that they had missed
a choice point for discussion, began to
| debate the question.
E. E. Roudebush questioned the pro-
priety of establishing the precedent of
| having the Masonic order conduct the
ceremonies. Luther Bailey informed
him that the precedent was established
when George Washington, as master of
his Masonic lodge, laid the corner stone
! OF the first capitol in Virginia. Judge
/ Carver announced that he did not be
lieve in fuss and feathers but that
he would not object to it.
Then the question of selling the wal
| nut trees on the site of the new school
| building in North Topeka came up
! The members of the board imagined
they had a gold mine in the walnut
| lumber that could be gotten out of the
| trees.
W. G. Holloway was instructed to
negotiate for the sale of the trees at
| the highest price he could get. The
| trees are about six and eight inches in
diameter. They will make good posts
but won't go far in the manufacture
of sideboards and bedsteads. No one
introduced a resolution that the hide
pendent Order of Forresters have
| charge of the cutting of the trees OF
| that the Modern Woodmen manage the
| handling and disposition of the logs.
Judge T. F. Carver introduced a res
olution that the salaries of the teach
erS be restored to the scale that was in
force before the flood necessitated a re-
duction of a maximum of per cent
The 5 per cent reduction will be abol-
ished beginning with the term just be-
| gun in February.
When the matter of re-electing SUI
| perintendent Davidson came up there
was some question whether, under the
law he should be elected at the F'ebru-
airy meeting for a term to begin ir
August. 1t was decided that Mr.. David
son should be reelected and that Judge
Carver should draft a better law max
ing the term of SuperintendentS OF
schools in cities of the first class for {
period of three years instead of one
year, and that all boards in cities of tbs
first class be requested to join with the
Topeka board in urging the next legis-
lature to pass such a law.