The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-08
THROWS ABOMB
DIR. Eva Harding Explodes Sen.
satiOn Before School Board.
Demands Course of Study Be
Made More Practical.
THEY WILLLOOKITUP
Committee to Investigate and
Make a Report.
Grade Teachers Ask for an In.
crease in Pay.
THEY WILLLOOKIT UP


OF TWO sessions of the board of educa
tlon-one the regular monthly meet
3 ing and the other called on the snu
OF the moment. There was sometbin,
doing all the time
At the outset the members of III,
august body sat ND and took MOTTO,
to a marked degree This was becaus.
DIR. Eva Harding had the floor. Some
startling assertions were made, Some
OF which caused the learned members
of the board to wear elongated exnres.
slons OF countenance. 1t was in re-
gard to the weak points of the present
school system that the doctor spoke
ana there were some statements made
alIls TO morals Which wouldn't dc
10 print, but which were startling in
their nature.
Her idea was to exact some promise
from the man who was to be chosen
during the meeting of the board to fill
the position of superintendent of
schools that the school course he made
more practical. But as it turned out
mat man was not chosen during this.
the regular February meeting accord
ing to the ruling of the board of edu-
catlon. AS one of the board members
| stated he wanted time to Investigate
| some of the statements which had been
made during the evening
| L feel that some definite pledge
should be exacted of the superintend-
| ent of city schools. / understand he is
to be elected tonight" said Dr. Hard
| ing. Things. are not going right. Pu-
Pills are going out of the high school
| nervous dyspeptics because they have
| not time to eat their food I understand
| in another instance but four minutes
IS allowed the pupils to get out of this
building, go across the street and I'D
into the other building.
1t is an old saving that high roosts
fn1 obi 1Iro
not long stairs be bad for girls? Also
I know OF three boys who are gradu-
ates from the school who when asked
If they had studied civics did not un-
derstand the meaning of the word.
Our teachers are not teaching prac-
teal things. Parents come to me and
say can't afford to send my boy to
the high school. as he has to get a
practical education that will help him
in life. The students are not supposed
to be fit to care for themselves after
they have graduated from the high
school Now they are getting a fancy
education. The girls are supposed to
be ready for marriage after their grad
fitted to take a position in the bundle
department in some department store
1 understand the manual training
school is the biggest white elephant the
school board ever had. 1t ought not
to be-"
II wish you would explain a little more
fully why the manual training school is |
a white elephant interposed Superin- |
tendent Whittemore.
II am told that the subjects are not |
taught right, the sewing and cooking |
for example" She then told of family |
where the two daughters were asked to |
prepare a Saturday evening supper and |
they served dreams which according |
a way as to make them decidedly in
digestible.
She further asserted that the half day
session is conducive to immortality in
the school and to that she attributes
other evils. Il tell you you can't make
ued. Where I think our children go
astray is because during the after
Moons the parents often do not know
where they are. I would like to have
every child have practical education.
don't know why but 1 have always
taken a great liking to children.
Begin with the kindergarten, then
the trades, the agriculture, the domestic
science schools, the three RS, then
civil government. love of country, and
then, if there was time. bring on the
ginger bread and gig-saw professors,
meaning the German. Latin and Eng
fish literature teachers"
Whittemore Makes Reply.
Before DR.. Harding left the room
superintendent Whittemore rose to
:
and said: IT know the
character of the good young men and
women of the Topeka high school as ,
veil as anyone else. When the char
tcter of the boys and girls is brought !.
lp L regard it an insult to the young
vomanhood of Topeka and 1 resent it |
t is my ambition to make conditions
Is good as they can be made"
A report which superintendent
Nhittemore made in regard to the
Ugh school NJ rs Ii, |
marked contrast to the assertions of
Dr.. Harding. Il find in the last IA
ears" said Superintendent White
more, that about 400 graduates have
pplied for entrance to Washburn col
eye or an average of about 80 a year.
hat is only a fraction of those who {
ave gone to institutions of higher {
The high school is repre- '
ented at the Kansas state Agricu1- I
ural college, the State university. Uni t
ersity of Chicago and numerous girls I
chools in the east" He continued at /
ONE length stating that among en- q
lovers in this and other cities the t
raduates of the Topeka high school a
AXE a high rank as compared to c
on-school graduates and graduates Y
other schools. :
A representation of colored people t
ecured the floor and complained bit
eriy in regard to existing conditions 3
1 some of the schools. I'm visiting n
ur school-the Buchanan school"
aid Mrs. Mcknight a colored woman.
I find that the rooms are so crowd e
and the grades SO mixed that the n
hildren do not get the best results. q
do not see how the teachers could be
xpected to do the children justice l
18th several grades in a room. Y
Il don't think our children are s
citing what they should. and I be- 4
eve that we ought to have more
ompetent teachers. We are not ask | y
lg for any social equality, but we Q
ant our children to have fair G
nance. I think we are entitled to as Q
ood schools as the white children
ave.
Nick Childs, editor of the Plain s.
ealer, then rose to his feet. ST am
Ntremely sorry,' said he, ito come in o