The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-23
ATTACKS FAIRCHILD.
DR.. Harding Comments on His State
nlcnt About Rural Schools.


DR.. Eva Harding. who has led tie
fight against supplementary books in
! the schools. has replied to the state
ment of Superintendent f. F. Fair
child concerning the condition of the
rural schools. She says:
Il have been watching with amllse-
, ment the recent frequent statement
OF Superintendent Fairchild in the To-
peka papers wondering what is com
ing next. Something certainly is the
matter with our public schools when
our esteemed state superintendent is
fooding the papers with news after
few private citizens have started a
fight for better schools. Are the peo-
pie to blame for these evils? Or Is
it the administration? Every man,
woman ana child in ka@sas pays So
year for support OF the schools Of this
state. No one escapes. Even the
man on the charity job pays his tax.
Money, money is all hear from
Superintendent f'airchild. The people
now are demanding results.
only last spring Superintendent
Fairchlld gave such a glowing account
of the schools in Kansas and the great
advance they had made under his five
years of their administration that the
editorial writer of the Daily Capital
was constrained to offer him a fourth
term that he might continue his 'sys-
tenn he had introduced with such
wonderful results. Which statement
is the truth? The satisfactory conui-
ton of our schools, or they are worse
than they were 30 years ago?'
Take the question of textbooks.
Five years ago Superintendent Fair
child said 4 hey were IDEAL None bet
ter. The best of their kind. I am per-
fectly satisfied What do the teachers
today say? They are unfit
taken as a whole for our schools.
The testimony of the teachers in the
are insufficient, in some instances, are
not for teaching the children What
has Mr.. Fairchild done about this
matter? In his deposition, when ask
ed if he had made any effort to find
out if the schools were obeying the
law he said No, have done nothing.
What definite information has tbs
state superintendent office in regard
TO the fitness of the books in our
schools? He says nothing THAI
meeting of the superintenaents at EN-
poria and their criticisms of the text
books was hot air. and as far from
the truth as could be- Yet many OF
these same superintendent, say the
books are not fit for the schools and
it would be d pleasure to serve a Jail
sentence if by SO doing they could nave
decent books.
ten Superintendent Fairchild asking
that the public know the state super
intendents now opinion of all the
books of the 1907 adoption that come
coming May meeting. Let me quote
from his reply. I think Mr.. Fisher, a
little reflection on your part will make
clear that pending a readoption, it is
clearly improper at this time for me
to set out a list of the present books
that in my Judgment ought to be re-
tanned and another list of those that
ought to be dropped. 1t is my duty
to pass upon this question in the man
ner provided by the law the first Mon
day in May and to anticipate my then
judgment, to give an official opinion at
this time would be, as 1 view it, en-
ton in saying, however, that | see
every reason to believe that there
ought to be some changes, and have
no doubt that the action of the text
book commission will be in harmony
with this thought What does a state
official do who draws a large salary
and $1,40O a year for special travel
ing expenses besides his regular
budget, who makes no effort to learn
of conditions in our public schools,
and absolutely refuses to give the pub
lie any service? The people of Kan
sas have a right to this very service
and l challenge Mr.. Fairchild to tell
the public why he has done nothine
on this question. Better that state
superintendent should be off the text
book commission and at work in the
real interests of the people than to as
sumo such a position as he has taken
because of his membership.
THE figures of the state superin-
tendent say the yearly cost per pupil
in the grades of this city is Sc cents
per pupil. I will be glad to see the
names of any pupils or patrons who
have sent their children through
school on that amount. / challenge
that statement. It cannot be verified
by any parent or pupil in this city.
Two dollars and thirty four cents
per year for high school students. I
take issue there and ask the state SUI
perintendent to furnish the names of
pupils who have gone through at that
cost
''Fairchild wants thirty men to pro-
mote his ideas What's the matter
with the superintendent's force?
kansas isn't holding her place in
educational work. The SOUTH that
land of no schools as we hear so Of
ten. has put US to shame.
This is a question that needs pub
licitv truth and serious thought and ]
sincerely hope Mr.. Fairchild will give
the people of Kansas an answer. If
he makes no effort to learn the sentl-
ment of the teachers to Civ the pub
ment of the teachers to give the pub
ing the books as he has for his full
terms of Office he should be placed
where he cannot make the office of
state superintendent a steppingstGne
for personal political gain