The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-23
MIR. FAIRCHMD's WISE HOBBY.

/ MIX. FAIRCHAlLDS WISE HObb4s
In much of the congratulatory COM
ment that the newspapers the country
over are extending to Mr.. z. T. Fair
child, state superintendent of public
instruction, on his elevation to the
presidency of the National Educational
association, attention is rightly devoted
to the fact that Mr.. Fairchild's rather
| sudden rise to a position of command
| ing Prominence in the educational world
is due to the campaign he has been
waging irlcessantly, at home and
abroad during the past few years for
the betterment of the rural schools.
That he was discerning enough to
recognize the more or less general in
efficiency of the rural schools-the very
! keystone of the nations educational
system-and that he was fearless
enough to speak out in meeting his
ideas in the premises, is all the evil
dence needed of his large caliber as 4
public educator. His recent signal re-
ward was almost a matter of course.
There has been a lot of misplaced
sentiment of late years in Kansas and
elsewhere about 1.-The little red school
house." Some people thought it little
less than sacrilege for any sort OF
ton where grandfather carved his ini-
tiaIs on his desk and occasionally sat
on a, stool in the corner with a ounces
cap on his head. AS a poetic fancy, |
1.-THE little red school house." provides |
some rich material But as a practical |
place for teaching the young idea how |
toll shoot in accord with the strenu- |
Gus demands of the times, it outlived |
ago.
Mr.. Fairchild discovered this when he |
was working as a teacher in rural |
communities, and before his election TIC |
the state SUPPLEMENTARY six years |
ago And as soon as he reached this |
office, he opened UP on the little red |
school house" of song and story. He |
called attention to the lack of efficiency |
of the teaching forces in the rural
schools He called attention to the
fact that the taxpayers were not CIV
ing the support to these schools that |
they should. He found fault with the |
books that were in use and he found
fault with the school houses. Real |
tears filled the eyes of some of the |
old Miss Nancies over these attacks
on such institutions of hallowed mem
cries. But Mr.. Fairchild kept pegging |
away with his criticisms. He had more |
than criticisms to offer, however. He |
had valuable suggestions to make on |
how 1.-The little red school house" could |
be recreated and rejuvenated into all |
institution that would be common |
surate with the needs of the boys and |
girls in the community where it was |
located.
These criticisms and suggestions have |
finally begun to bear fruit In Kansas
Real school houses of modern con-
struction and equipment are taking the |
places of shanties in many of the rural |
school districts in Kansas. Rural tax |
payers are willingly footing the bills
to pay larger salaries to teachers and |
thus attract to their schools teachers
of more competence. 1t won't be many |
years now before the great, great ma
jority of the rural schools in Kansas
will approximate what they should be-
And E. t. FairchiId is the Moses who
has led the way to this desirable edu-
cational development. Nor has his cam
paign for better rural schools been con-
fined to the four boundaries of Kan
sas Like all worthy movements, IL
has spread to other states. 1t is one
of the paramount matters that is now
receiving the forcefu1 and valuable at
tention of the thousands of members
of the National Educational associa-
ton. Mr.. Fairchild has started big
ball a-rolling that will eventually mean
more for the progress along right lines
of the United States and it's people than
all of the Vaccinations of the poll
ticians. Kansas has a right to be
proud of him.
HARDER TO WIN NEXT OIYMPIAD