The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-26
SCHOOL REFORM.

IN an ADDRESS delivered the other day
before an American mission school in
Egypt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt ex-
pressed himself as more than favorably
impressed with the fact that the edu-
cation dispensed was along practical
lines. He was glad to see the mission
avoiding the error of the western world,
where there had been too much belief
in education In the way of books. He
had met many people of excellent 1T
erary training who were totally uned-
ucated in all the essentials of life He
adjured the mission to keep on training
the boys and girls to develop qualities
which would enable them to stand
alone.
And If Colonel Roosevelt had been
making the same kind of a talk right
here in Topeka he would have expressed
In general way the desires of a large
portion of the people Of this city who
have been prominent in agitating for
change in the methods of public edu-
cation as they now exist here. To &C
complish this the suggestion has been
made for a change in the personnel of
the present school board. That is the
only way this reform can be brought
about and it is up to the voters of the
city to determine whether or not they
want such a change and answer the
question in decisive fashion.
Good as are the Topeka schools. com
pairing favorably as they do with SINH
lar schools all over the western section
OF the country, they can be bettered.
And the best way in which they can be
improved is to make them more practi-
cal-practical to the extent that they
VIII fill the needs of children of all
the people and not the children of a
favored few.
The public schools would not be full
nHlng their functions If they did not
provide courses which would fit pupils
.or college. And they are not fulfill
ing thelF duties to a community If col
lege preparatory courses are practically
maze the standard courses in the
SCHOOLS There should be business
courses In bookkeeping and stenogra-
phy- There should be industrial
courses along other lines. Above
all there should be thorough
ness of instruction in all courses ena
that is something which is now lack
ing through the present hit and miss
system which prevails.
1t is not difficult to find admirers ~
the school system here who will insist
that the sentiment in favor or a cbenga
IN the school methods in this city is the
agitation of a few cranks on the suh-
Ject. and that the movement is purely
a local one. They might be s11rprised
to learn that similar agitation is nm
der way as near home as Wichita where
a movement has been started for the
purpose of materially changing the
membership of the present school board
so that the methods of education pre-
vaillng in that city can be altered for
the better
In ract. this movement is nation wide |
1t Is one of those live and growing
issues which will not down and which
Will be brought about some day. Why
wouldn't it be good plan for proges-
slve Topeka to become one of the lead |
ers it's accomplishment?
The movement for change in the
school board in Topeka is a serious one. |
1t applies not only to the curriculum |
OF the high school but to the slipshod
business methods which have prevailed
for years. It is fortunate indeed that
there is an issue in the selection of the |
members of school boar at last and
that those who wish to do so may pro-
test in an effective way-at the ballot |
box. The contest is in no sense a. per-
sonal ore. Neither has it anything to
do with the fraternity question as some
of the candidates have attempted to
make the people believe. That has been |
settled by legislative enactment, and
none of the candidates favor the viola
ton of law. The questions at issue are
real live, serious questions and it is
useless to attempt to belittle the posi-
ton of the people who have risen in |
protest.