The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-19
EDUCATIONAL.
Important Measures Pertaining
Thereto Now
Before the Senate and House OF
Representatives.
FAIRCHILD'S VIEWS.
As the Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction.
Declares "'FOur of the Bills OF
Great Importance"

Z. T Fairchild, superintendent of
public instruction, has this TO say OF
certain educational measures now
pending in the legislature
The four educational bills before the
legislature that are Of supreme i'm
portance, and which If enacted into law
viii be Of the greatest educational val
ne are:
-Frst-House bill No 6g5. A bill pro
vidiug for the Institution OF normal
courses in our high schools This meas
ure possesses both great economic and
educational value The present normal
schools OF our state are absolutely IN
adequate TO supply the demand for
trained teachers RoundIy speaking
there is not 4 normal trained teacher
In the rural schools OF Kansas, and
there are some 1000 rural school teach
ers out OF a total Of 1900 teachers IN
the state.
Between 90 and 20 per cent OF our
school population is trained in rural
schools or in villages OF 100 1nhaolr-
ants, or less To meet this demand the
state must either provide mora state
normal schools which will constitute
constantly increasing burden, and any
still fail 10 meet the demand. or it
must adopt the plan OF encouraging the
Institution of normal courses in our
already established high schools
Normal Courses at High School
The proposition IS to establish nor
nal courses, prepared by the state
board OF education, in something Ike
1e0 OF our best high schools and those
maintaining four years course. N
order that facilities for at least some
training in management and the prInci- |
pies OF teaching may be afforded to |
large number OF those preparing TO
an order to bring this about the bill
presented by the committee on educa- |
ton and endorsed by the ways and
means committee OF the house pro
-.--t
be designated for the purposes mention |
ed to the extent of $500 annually This
bill carries with II an annual apPCOprI- |
alton Of $4,000. which. while II may
seem large is. Notwithstanding, much |
less than would be necessary 10 estab- /
Hsh even for the first year q single |
normal school OF any size
Under the terms of the bill no high /
school NAV be eligible that does not |
have al least ten students each half
year in the normal department In 4
short time after the passage OF this act /
should 100 high schools avail themselves !
OF its privileges We would have an an /
nuaI output Of something Ike 1000 70 1
500 graduates. It viii be noted that /
the bill proposes that the graduates Of
this course shall receive a two years
certificate granted BY the state board 1
and that said certificates are renew /
able. and should be valid in any county
in the state
Would Prove OF Great Value
IntS VIII ul0OLDIEOAT prove q 1
great tnducemenE 70 the young people /
in the various counties who may de-
sire 70 prepare to teach and will in /
sure IL would seem. 4 good attend /
ance in these schools receiving state /
aid The main purpose OF this bill is /
not alone to AFFORD better training TO |
teachers, but II has as its chief OBJ /
1ect affording through them better /
training to the pupils
ffSecond-House Bill No ass This
Is q measure which II enacted into /
law will greatly facilitate consoIida- /
ton Of districts Scores of districts
stronger schools. but have found it 1
difficult to do SO on account of the /
want OF heubility in the present law.
Through the operation OF the pro-
posed measure consolidation will pro-
coed at q much more rapid rate. and /
the greatest bar 10 progress in our /
country schools Will thereby be over
come
Some Remarkable Figures.
''Of the $3.50 districts there are
ass whose average daily attendance
ts five or less. 1.343 between five and
ten pupils. 1889 between ten and /
fifteen pupils. and 1.seS between
fifteen and twenty pupils. or a total of
5.326 schools in this state having an
average daily attendance OF twenty or
less, or So Per cent OF the whole The
per capita cost in these districts is
greater in many cases than the most
expensive high schools in the state.
while the work in most instances is
bound to be Of most inferior charac-
ter.
''Third-HouSe bill No sTs. In the
absence OF state aid for weak districts
and 6 minimum term. il seems only /
fair that the office OF state superin-
tendent should be granted two sddi-
tionaI assistants at a cost to the state
OF not to exceed $4,000 annually. 1t |
is expected that these assistants
would devote their entire time 10 vis-
fting schools, particularly rural
schools, delivering lectures on educa-
ti0nal topics, and visiting county su-
perfntendents with view to advising |
encouraging and unifying the work Of
this important Office. Many superiu-
tendeuts, during their whole term of
efffce, have no opportunity to visit or
observe the work OF other superiuteu-
dents. and many Of them are wholly |
without experience in supervision and. |
therefore. greatly need the helpful and |
wise advice that might be brought 70 |
them through such experienced Off
GERS as are contemplated in the bill
providing for two additional assistants |
TO the state superinten dent
A Help to Superintendent.
This year forty-f1ve new superin-
tendents take Office in May Would il
not be a great benefit 70 the schools