The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-29
rHE RuRAL sCHooLs.

THE RURAL SCHOOLS.
It must not be imagined, as some
few people, at least, seem to think tnat
Mr.. E. T. Fairchild. state superintend-
ent of public instruction. in his pro-
nouncement ON the retrogression Of the
rural schools, had the schools OF Kan
sas in mind. exclusively. As matter
of fact he was specific to state tnat
conditions are pretty much the same
in the rural schools the country over.
He is also of the opinion that the
ruraI schools of Kansas compare Ia
vorably with those in all other states
and are better in every particular than
those of several of the states. ms
though. does not minimize in the
slightest the decline in the efficiency
of the rural schools of Kansas 1t is
matter that needs thorough attention
and prompt action. And Mr.. Fairchlio
could have rendered no greater service
to the state than he has done in call
inc attention to the conditions that
bave developed in the bulwarks of the
commonwealth.
Among other things, he believes that
an ineficiency on the part OF MANY -
the teachers is responsible to some ex-
ten
calls attention to the rather unusual
fact that more than half OF the stale
soboo1 teachers are not equipped Win
an education beyond the grades VI eiie
grammar schools. And doesht 1t s@eiAi
a trifle unreasonable to expect a youhs
man or a young woman WIN no Hi0-
than a grammar school educatloh
All acceptably the position OF teache.
in a. rural school where the seNeldi
grades must be taught? Some unusuai-
Iv talented young persons with ma
ural adaptability for teaching may pe
able with a no more extensive eouca-
rional equipment to conduct properly
a rural school But geniuses IN TINS
line. as in all others, are few ana Ia
between.
And the efficiency of the school teach
or is the very keystone in the educa-
tional arch of a rural school, on hef
ability alone, in large measure rests
the success or failure of the scnool.
cbe is as much of an autocrat in the
scbool house as is the captain OF
chin at sea. An inefficient sea captain
is s,,re to end up with a wreck inc
reason there are not more wrecks at
coo is because there are so few 1nenl-
ojan+ "a ptains- And the reason Tor inns
is that none but the most capable anu
avnerienced of men are ever entrusted
with these important positions. IL only
oanaloIe and experienced teachers were
n,aced in the rural schools, there Woulo
coon he a decided change for the bet
TO- in them. But the rub comes in get
80 such teachers. Those are the kind
49, everv local school board or school
+r,s+ee would like to get for It's OF
his school. There does not appear u
ba an available supply of them.
what's the reason? One must DE
,,ral schools is not sufficiently attrac-
that the salary attached to most Oh the
- 70 make it worth the while OF ex-
,arienced teachers to take such posi-
flows. a.. not sufficiently large TO at
+roc+ IN the teaching profession many
- the more capable of the young
women and the young men who go
t,,roueb college, and are educationaliy
oo,inned. at least. to preside over inc
5as+inies of rural school, Rurat
gcbool salaries of today are as large II
not larger than they were 20 ana 81
wears ago when these same scnoois
wore more efficient. But in those Gays
there were not SO many and varied op-
nortunities for young men and youne
women to go to work in the cities DIS
.nd little. at wages far more remuier-
,+ive than a. rural school salary.