The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1905-10-20
Educational


OF the schools Of Kansas this subject
has been sadly neglected Its import
ance and value in supplementing the
study OF geography, history, literature,
etc, should be apparent to every
teacher and to every school officer
Il should have in every newspaper in
Kansas an earnest and vigorous cham
pion- To the end that every boy and
girl, when they leave school, may
know something about the worlds
progress as mirrOred in the great ed
ucatOr OF tOday-the newspaper-ev-
cry father and mother should demand
that their children be given an OppOr-
tunity TO interpret current events-tO
know what the busy world is doing,
and Of the opportunities offered in the
various walks OF life
The newspaper reflects current
thought and action, and without il as
a supplement to the school books. the
boy and girl go out into the world I'll
prepared To meet Iife's duties and re
sponsibilities. An education is not
complete that does not prepare the
child for present conditions. The
books are the foundation. but a knOwf-
edge Of current events as reflected
from day to day by the newspapers
forms the complete educational struc-
ture. The boys and girls in our schools
tory and literature, but il is vastly
more important from the standpoint
Of present and future benefit that they
know what the great thrObbing, pull
sating, busy world is doing today
LIES greatest teXt-bOOk-that which
mirrors and reflects current evets-is
the newspaper
Much as I admire Governor HOch,
who is a man Of great heart and
broad vision, I cannot agree with him
that I'VE read newspapers too much
I concur in his opinion that I'VE
should read good books more" but 1
must file a demurrer against his gen
eral declaration that newspaper read
ing is Of little value. I am inclined
to believe that he has convicted him
self for no one knows better than the
governor that the great sentiment in
Kansas which he so COnSpiCuOusly
represents was largely made by its
newspapers. This sentiment reflects
the thought, the desire and the pur-
pose Of the people for good govern
ment, and Governor HOch, as the
peoples servant, guided by cOnvic-
lions Of honesty and integrity, is going
ahead with the work the people have
demanded. This demand took form
in precinct, township, ward, county,
district and state conventions, but not
until the great CO-educatOr, the news
paper, had reflected il from one end
Of the state to the other The cOun-
try newspaper, with which Governor
HOch is entirely familiar, the most in
fiuential in proportion to its circula-
ton. was a potent factor in crystalliz-
ing this sentiment
without drawing any individual
comparisons between newspapers and
books, and with apologies to Governor
HOch, may I not only apply here the
thought Of the wise man, who upon
being asked rs life worth living?"
replied: That depends on the liver -
So, to the question Are newspapers
worth reading2" should we not reply:
THAT depends upon the reader?'
And is not this equally true in the
reading Of books? The teaching Of
current events in the school implies
as much, since the pupils are not only
taught what to read, but how to read
It ought not to require argument
TO prove the great value IL would be
to the pupils if every school in Kan
sas would begin the new school year
with a daily program which embraced
the study Of current events as supple
mental to lessons in the books. The
important point is to keep the school
work in touch with that Of the world
to which Ii corresponds. The use Of
the newspaper is the only means Of
achieving this end There is not a
newspaper published in Kansas, from
the modest village weekly to the big
daily, but that contains some thought
or the record Of some great world ev-
ent that could be read and discussed
by the teachers and pupils Of any
school with profit.
Our school laws are lame, in that
4 n rrrN n 10 n
rent events compulsory, as one OF the
regularly adopted texts to be studied
daily That omission should be sup
piled by legislative enactment How
ever. Kansas teachers, who are ever
in the forefront of movements that
will advance the cause Of education
realize the importance of adding this
interesting and important study to
their daily program. Every village
town and city Of Kansas possesses q
textbook for the study Of current ey-
ents in its local newspaper. These
rehectOrs Of the worlds progress and
advancement are a home product and
worthy TO be read in the schools OF
the state to whose growth and de-
veIOpment they have so generously
contributed.
The school textbook commission, Of
which I have the honor to be hum
Die MEMBER Will. trust Wnel II snail
meet, put itself on record in favor OF
a thorough and systematic study OF
currents events in our public schools
d. Q. AIcCray in Topeka Capital.
I would like 20 say few words &C
the patrons OF these schools. It is
the desire Of all the teachers to make
the schools as valuable as possible
and to this end the regular and pune
tual attendance Of every pupil is de-
sired Absence OF a pupil from &
single recitation works a damage no
only to the individual but also TO the
whole school, as IL takes the teachers
time and energy to help that pupil NJ
with his work II a pupil is habituall!
absent he becomes a drag to his Clas'
and frequently a source OF irritation
to the teacher and the whole school
Nine-tenths OF the complaints tia
have come to me about the schools
under my supervision have come from
parents whose children are very IRE
gular In attendance. do not wan
10 NEEDLE with any mans home af
fairs, but I would suggest that mucl
good the school should accomplish i
thwarted by children playing upon tn
street, especially after night fall.
hope, too, that parents viii discOUr
age their children giving or attend
ing parties OF evenings preceding
school day. Patrons and friends o