The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-27
ARE KEEPING UP
Rural Schools Not Falling Be-
hind Procession.
Three Districts Are Erecting
New School Houses.
THESE WILL BE LARGE
Rossville, Silver Lake and Oak
land Each Invest $4,000.
No State Aid in Any of Country
Districts.
THESE WILL BEsLARGE

for three new school houses in Shaw
nee county with the probability of at
least one and perhaps two or three adj
ditional districts voting bonds before
next fall. Records compiled this week
in the office of J. F. Ely, county super
intendent, also show that Shawnee is
well in advance of other counties in
the state in educational equipment and
the interest manifested in public school
work this year has reached an unu-
sually high standard.
One of the strong evidences of pub
lie enthusiasm for better educational
facilities is found in the vote for
school bonds in this county. When
three prominent districts this year de-
manded more adequate and modern
quarters for the children, almost I'M
animously the districts responded. Sill
yer Lake, Oakland and Rossville have
all gone on record for modern public
school buildings this spring and the
sentiment favoring the bonds was al
most unanimous. District No. rs,
erection of a new country school
building and reports from the territory
indicate that the bonds will meet little
or no opposition.
When Silver Lake this year decided
that the old school building was not in
keeping with present demands, the tax
payers of the district went to the polls
and voted for a new $4,000 building.
The vote of 112 for to against shows
plainly the sentiment in that locality
Then Oakland got in line. Over on
the east side the children will enter a
new $4,000 building when school
opens next fall. The vote on the bonds
in Oakland was 164 for to 60 against.
This week Rossville called an cleo
ton for the purpose of voting on a
bond issue for a new $4,000 school
building. Reports from the other dis
tricts had already reached Rossville
and that district decided the children
who attend the Rossville schools shall
have the same advantages offered in
neighboring districts. There were 258
was held last Tuesday. OF this num-
Der 243 voted favorable to the erection
of a new school building.
Now District No. rs wants a new
building. They plan the erection of a
modern rural school building and will
perhaps vote on a $1,000 bond issue.
Other districts in the county are begin
ming to realize the necessity for better
school equipn1 ent and it is probable
that not less than a half dozen new
school buildings will be erected in
Shawnee county before the opening of
the 1911-12 term.
Need No State Aid.
Another important feature is shown
in Prof. Eby's new report. 1t will per-
hapS come nearer placing Shawnee
county's rural schools at the top of the
list in Kansas than any other feature
of the report. In a statement made a
few days ago, Prof Eby pointed to the
new law giving to weak school districts
state aid for conducting the required
seven months term OF school. In
Shawnee county there are 103 school
districts. Not in a single district will
the board ask the state for funds with
which to carry on the required school
nj or foT ant isSr
ed from the standpoint that IN almost
every county in the state half dozen
to 20 districts are relying on state aid
to complete the school work, the
strength and prosperity of Shawnee
county school districts is more readily
understood.
AS a result of the rock ribbed
strength of the individual districts,
uniform term is taught throughout the
county. One of the new laws effect
ing school work in the rural districts
is the Robertson bill requiring not less
than a seven months term of school
in every district in the state. But one
district in Shawnee county will be af-
fected Eext year by this law. That
district is in a remote section of Shaw
nee county, where a six months term
has been held. When the new law was
brought to the attention of the board
in that district, arrangements were
readily made for a seven months term
next year. In some of the stronger
districts plans have been made to in
crease the terms to eight and even
nine months and teachers salaries
have been increased in keeping with
the improvement of school buildings
and equipment.
Glad to Teach Here.
Shawnee county is also able to OBJ
tain a higher class of teachers for her
schools than the average county in the
state. This is due largely to the loca-
ton of the state capitol in this county
and natural advantages offered the
teachers. In a statement made this
week Prof Eby said that this influence
was felt even in the county normal
school work Many teachers from
distance come to Shawnee county each
year owing to the location of the state
library in Topeka and facilities for
higher educational training.
school work in Shawnee county,"
said Prof Ely, seems to be on a bet
ter basis than at any time in the his
tory of the state. Viewed from almost
any standpoint, Topeka anC Shawnee
county are well at the head of the list
when compared with othe- localities
in the state.''
1t is estimated that nearly $50 per-
sons will attend the county normal to
be held week after next in the high
school building. Last year the high
water mark was reached when PIP
persons attended. Already persons in
charge of the work have been assured
that new figure in excess of this
number will be established in the
county.