The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-14
PLAN LONGER DAY
Local Educators Spurred to
Action by Protest.
Taxpayers Criticism May
Change Hours.
DISLIKE TWO SESSION PLAN
Second Trip Would Cost Stu
dents $4,000 Car Fare.
May Establish Cafe in Connec-
ton With School.

For a long time certain educators
in Topeka have favored longer ses-
sions at the high school which would
be made possible were a cafe estab-
lished in the high school building
where the students would have the
opportunity of getting a lunch at cost
price. The action taken Monday
night at the meeting of the Tax
payers league favoring sessions at the
high school both morning and after
noon has started a definite move in
the direction of this longer session.
Because the details of the plan have
not been worked out as yet the pro-
names be omitted in the description of
the proposition.
Topeka is too big for the old sys-
tenn OF having two sessions a day to be
re-established. A better plan would
be to lengthen the one session=make
the hours, say, from $40 to 2:15 or
2:30 o'clock, and estab lish a cafe
where lunches could be had at cost.
Schools all over the country are
adopting this system. Not high
school in the country in city of any
size is being erected without provi-
slonS being made for a cafe.
Noon Hour Is Costly.
One objection set forth to the plan
OF letting the students go home at the
noon hour, and later return to their
III
estimated that on account of the dis
lance which would have to be covered
by the pupils that approximately
three-quarters of them would have to
ride on the street cars. This would
mean daily extra expenditure of
$S3, or in round numbers, $4,000 a
year-this in addition 10 the car fare
required in getting to the school in
the morning and back again in the
evening.
This 1oor I,o,,~ GOV fa- :; 49,
years would be sufficient, it is claimed
to build an addition west of the pres
ent high school building that would
meet the needs of the institution for
years to come.
With the longer session as suggest
ed by the school men it would take
less room to accommodate the students
of the school because each class room
would be used for a larger number of
periods. However, if the cafe were
established and the present cOngested
condition relieved adequately it will
be necessary to have an addition to
the building. according to the in
structors.
It is considered that the situation
at the high school Will not be put on
a proper basis until the length of the
session is heightened. The time is
now too short for many persons to |
take the subjects that they would pre- |
fer to take. The plan as suggested is
to lengthen the periods so that it |
would be possible Tor the pupils TO |
have more time to study to better
advantage than they can perhaps study |
at home. The manual training work
and the laboratory work now take
time to the detriment of
other studies.
Searson to Address Teachers.
Professor J. W. Searson of the Kan
5as State Agricultural college will adj
dress the teachers of the city schools
at AIS o'clock on the afternoon of
February 16 in the high school as
sembly room. 1.-The Teaching of Eng
ish in the Elementary Schools will
De the subject which he will discuss
Emphasis is just now being placed on
he desirability of stimulating interest
n training in constructive English.
This means that great deal more
work will be given than
las been the case in the past. It will
be remembered that Professor Scar
son was at the head of the publicity
committee in connection with the
meeting of the Kansas State Teachers
association last fall.
Celebrate Washington's Birthday.
Superintendent c. c. Starr announced
.oday that the teachers of the city
schools will be asked to appropriately
celebrate Washington's birthday on the
morning of Feb o. Exercises will be
leld in the different school rooms, and
n the afternoon the children will enjoy .
half-holiday. There is a good deal
IF grumblin- heard on the part of the
who have been used to en-
Dying full day off on the occasion IF
he birthday of the first president of the