The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-09
New "Insurgent'' School Board
Outlines Policy.
Plans Wedding Out" Process
for Teaching Force.
TAXLEVY ACTED UPON
Same Rate as Last Year, 5.8
M lis the Excise.
Committees, Headed by "Radi-
Gals" Are Announced.

The slogan of the new 'tinsurgent"
school board is reform" In his out
line of the policy which the board
should adopt President S. A. Swendson
Monday night advocated strict econo-
my, more thorough and complete train
ing, and the strengthening of the teach
ing force by wedding out" persons on
the staff who through age or lack of
ability lack competency
1t has been a time honored custom
in Topeka to elect a teacher to fill his
or her position for a life time In the
last few months there has been q
strong sentiment on the part Of Tope-
kans towards establishing the policy OF
1.-The survival of the fittest," thereby
raising the standard of the teaching
force of the city schools. President
Swendson is strongly in favor Of the
adoption of s1ch a policy.
PRESIDENT Swendson said to he mem-
hers of the board of educa ton, III part:
In some sense at least, rejecting the
views and ideas of the people of the
city, eIecting US, there have been and
will be some slight changes, worked
into the operation of our schools, for
which this board willingly and gladly
assumes the responsibility, in accord
ance with the confidence expressed by
the people. Such changes, to secure
the best results, must be made so grad
ually as not to disturb or interfere
with any If the excallenc@s Of our Pres
cnt school system, the course, covering
as il does a period of IL yearS-aight
years in the grades and four years in
the high school; but rather to recog-
nize and preserve all good in our pres
ert system and conditions, and to push
and strive for more thorough and COM
plete training, as well as the elimlna-
ton from our course of study and
schools, of some of the less useful and
less desirable things, and the addition
of others more important and useful
to further improve our Il years course
o. study, and if possible accomplish
yet better results from such course or
study as whole.
Sounds Rigid Economy.
81 need not urge upon you the i'm
portance nor remind you of the neces-
sity for economy-rigid economy-in
the expenditure of school funds. / do
not mean by this an economy so close
as to be- a false economy, but l do
mean that we must carefully consider
each item of expense, in order to save
the money of the taxpayer, and keep
within our estimates, and looking to
such end, 1 deem it right and adviSa-
BILE that the board adopt and put into
effect a requisition system of buying
supplies, but which acquisitions in full
detail shall be originated and signed
bv the parties requiring labor, material
supplies
such acquisitions to be filed with the
clerk, and no goods to be ordered I'M
til the properly approved acquisitions
are on file with the clerk, the board
directing approval as deemed best.
when the repairs and additions to
our buildings and equipment, already
authorized by the board, are com
pleted, our buildings and equipment
will. with some slight exceptions, be in
good condition, and all we'll adapted
for our work, including the manual
training work.
"Our teaching force, except as to
vacancies occurring, has of course, al
ready been arranged for the coming
school year; but with all due defer
ence and consideration for the rights
of the teacher as an individual, 1 beg
that you will bear in mind that we are
charged with the operation of the
schools, to educate the children, and
in view of this great responsibility
resting upon us, We can not and must
ers who are inferior, or disqualified,
by age, physical infrmity, lack of
proper training, or any other disquali-
flying condition We must insist upon
raising the standard of the teachers,
and in addition to certificate qualif1ca-
ton of teachers, we must require a
vigorous life and ability on the part of
sign lessons and to hear recitatiOns,
but that the teacher shall teach as
we'll.
mo teacher, because once elected,
aided by family relations or otherwise,
has life lease on such position, ex-
nor have we yet any pension laws or
service pensions for teachers; and if
you find that we have any teachers on