The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-30
3sFairchiId of Kansas

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Kansas is rapidly coming to the
front educationaly. She stands second
lowest in illiteracy. In fact, Kansas
schools, of all grades, now have an
enviable national standing. Among
her educators, e. T. Fairchild, state
superintendent of public instruction,
has won national recognition, and is
credited and known by the ranking
members of the teachers profession
throughout the country as having
been the leader during the past four
years in the remarkable educational
development Of the state. Fairchild
is to her schools what Coburn Is to
her farms.
Evidence of this is supplied in a
sterling tribute by DR.. Winship, editor
of the Boston Journal of Education,
one of the worlds authorities on edu-
cation. "In Mr.. Fairchild,'' declares
DR.. Winship, "the state has an educa-
tor every way worthy and well quail
fed, whose lines of scholastic and pro-
fessional training have brought him
into national prominence. No man in
the country is making, or has made,
better attempt to reduce school statis-
tics to the science of dealing simply
with facts and figures that are vital.
If he can have two years more he will
set the world an example that is well
worth while. He has gotten state aid
to high schools on a basis that puts
Kansas in the class with the best
states in the Union. The professional
training of teachers has been set for
ward farther in his term than in the
20 years previous. Fairchild of Kan
sas is a man of whom the country as
well as the state may well be proud"
When the outside newspapers begin
to speak of man as "Fairchlld OF
Kansas he has arrived" nationally.
In the National Educational associa-
ton, the worlds greatest organization
of teachers, he was this year elected
vice president. He is always given
place upon the program; in discussions
his word is asked for; they want to
know "the Kansas way" from Fair
child of Kansas
At the University of Chicago is To-
Gated the leading school of education
in the country. Professor Howerth IN
June this year appealed for some pro-
vision for normal training for the
teachers of rural schools" and said
that s'it is one of the most pressing
needs of our educational system Al
the same time that Howerth was writ
ing that appeal Kansas had inaugur-
ated a normal training course in high
schools; 10 high schools were taking
advantage of the act.and DR.. Winship
was declaring editorially in his stand
ard educational publication that Fair
child of Kansas had set the profess
sional training of teachers forward
| farther in his term than in the pre-
vious twenty years.
''Fairchild," said well known Kan
sas educator the other day. was
leader in Kansas educational affairs
| before he took charge of the superin-
| tendent's Office. But what he needed
| was room. And I'll tell you 1t is rare
for a man to win both state and ma
tional leadership at the same time. I
| like to see Kansas make good in the
| east: and I like to see them recognize
the men who are doing the good
work.
| His record has been one of advance.
DR.. Winship best commends his nor
| NAL training course in high schools.
/ His unification of the school system by
thefurnishing of workable courses of
| study in the common, graded and h1gh
schools, has been made a model IN
| other states. His examination ques-
lions for rural schools have given new
meaning to the county diploma and
/ If the legislature needs his sugges-
| lions, a county diploma Will soon be
on a par with a city school diploma.
The Kansas State Teachers associa-
ton has been quadrupled in attendance
under his direction, and organized as
| never before. By securing a change
of dates he raised the membership
from 1000 to 1900. The old soldiers
of Kansas have formally endorsed his
fine Manual of Patriotic Instruction.
The farmers of Kansas and the Agri-
| cultural college teachers are unit IN
1 endorsing his effort to introduce the
study of agriculture in the rural
| school For eight years he was a re-
gent of the Manhattan school, and ne
knows the work.
There is a general demand in Kan
sas that Fairchild should be kept In
office another two years to continue
the work which he has started. Other
states have long since learned to d.
vorce their educational from political
matters. No better citation can be
offered than the fact that Nathan
Shaeffer has been state superintendent
of Pennsylvania for 20 years. That
states generally are anxious to retain
a good superintendent of instructor
in office is evidenced by the fact thai
in "a states of the Union today, the
superintendent have held the office
eight years or more. The educationa
work of superintendent of public in
struction must be both for the present
and the future. That Is what Fair
child has done. ''He has treated the
!, (educational) problems" said DIR
Winship, cas- though he expected tt
remain with them after they arr
solved" His continuance in the Office
? for two years more will be effectua
proof that Kansas has finally and abso
: lutely determined that the office o
superintendent of public instruction Il
: purely educational.