The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1911-03-31
FAIRcHILD PLEASED WITH WORK
$345,o0o Was Appropriated for the
Common Schools Of Kansas.

State Superint endent E. 7. Fair
child is satisfied with the work Of the
legislature and as state Official
probably stands alone in this respect.
He stated that the last legislature mad
accomplished more in the interests OF
the public schools of the state than
any other Kansas legislature. More
than twenty bills directly affecting
the public schools were enacted into
law. The session of 1911 will be long
remembered by school people and
school patrons over the state.
mo other legislature in the hie
of he state appears to have accom-
plished so much for our public
schools" said Mr.. Faircbild. More
than twenty bills directly affecting
the public schools were enacted into
laws at the recent session. Some of
these are measures that have been
urged by educators for years. At the
very beginning of the session it became
apparent that the members of tine
legislature as whole were unusually
favorable to proposed school legisla-
ton We were most fortunate in the,
committees on education, appointed in
both the house and the senate. The
chairmen of these committees, Rep
resentative Kyle of the house, and
Senator Robertson of the senate, to-
gether with the members, were of the
greatest assistance and worked unre-
mittingly for the passage of the vari'
GUS bills recommended. The ways
and means committee of both houses
unanimously recommended each of
the measures carrying with them ap-
preparations, and rendered effective
service in securing their passage. It
is not possible to undertake to men
ton the names of the many staunch
friends of the educational measures
enacted into law, but it is surely true
that he schools of our state never had
more favorable or more careful atten-
ton given to their needs than by the
present legislature
Up to 1909 Kansas had never given
in support of its public schools. For
the biennial beginning July list, $780,
900 have been appropriated for our
common schools. Whatever criticism
may for any reason be urged against
the sum of 1911, | feel absolutely GER
tain that no one will ever question the
wisdom and necessity of the appro-
priations that go to our schools. 1t Is
a long delayed recognition on the part
of the state of its legal and moral OBJ
legations to secure as nearly as pos
sible an equal educational opportunity
for all. The great majority of our
boys and girls can never enjoy the OPP
portunities Of higher education, and
surely they are entitled to the best
the state can secure for them in the
elementary schools and high schools.
Now, every state in the union, en-
cept seven contributes by appropria-
lions or state tax to its public schools.
1t is a matter of great satisfaction
to know that Kansas is no longer in
the lit failing to render financial aid
to its public schools,
Perhaps the most important new
law is the requirement that every pub
lie school in the state shall maintain
at least seven months of school annu-
ally. This mean more nearly equa!
for all boys and girls and
places Kansas in line with the most
states. An important iea'
ture of tbs law is the granting OF
state and county aid to districts that
may be unable TO mairtain a seven
school after making levy of
four and one-balf mills. An appro
priation of $4,000 a year was made
for this purpose"