The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-19
TO HELP SCHOOLS.
In Rural Districts Is Object OF
Fafrchild's Visit.
Senators Are Surprised at Kan
sas Educators Remarks.
QUIT SCHOOL EARLY.
Less Than One-FOurth Of Them
Complete Grades.
Too Much Attention to Higher
Learning He Declares.

Washington, Jan. he. T. Fair
child, superintendent of public instruc-
ton in Kansas, is in Washington, ap-
pearing before the House and Senate
committees on education, to impress
upon them that the rural schools in the
United States have been neglected Wo-
fully. Professor Fairchild was some
ii e since appointed chairman OF a
committee of twelve nationally known
educators, by the National Educational
associa ton. at its convention in San
Francisco. t. get aid for the rural prl-
mary schools.
He is attracting attention in Wash
ington because of the startling state
ments he is making regarding the
tragic condition of the schools for coun-
try children. When he made the state
Enent that of the u million rural school
children in the United States less than
Is per cent were completing the grades
representatives and senators with
whom he was talking were inclined to
be incredulous.
Rural Schools Neglected.
Professor Fairchiid is calling atten-
ton to the fact that practically all the
effort is now being made for still high
er education and that scarcely anything
Is being done to improve the rural edu-
cationa1 conditions He says that he
mas no objection to the onward move
ment for higher education. but that as
the rural school children represent
about 95 per cent of those going to
school. he hopes to interest men of
wealth and affairs in the betterment
of the lower grades in the country
1.-The rural school is the one laggard
in the educational procession" said Pro
fessor Fairchild. with the example
of marvellous development in enroll
ment in kind and character of teach
ing force. in excellent buildings. in
equipment and diversity of courses in
town and city schools, in normal
schools. colleges and universities, the
rural scnoOi remains the most back
ward of all educational agencies.
Teachers Not Well Trained.
''Of the II million rural school child
rem less than % per cent is completing
the work of the grades The teaching
body is immature and lacks proper
training In many states fully one
half of the rural teachers have had no
training beyond the eighth grade.
Terms are too short. School buildings
are poor. insanitary and i'll equipped
The enrolment is constantly decreas-
ing. The supervision is wholly made
quate. High school privileges are de-
MED to the great majority of these boys
and girls. The strong, vfrile rural
school of q generation has gone and in
its place is a primary school, weak in
numbers and lacking in efficiency. The
country boy and girl of this strenuous
and complex Twentieth Century are
not afforded equal educational oppor-
tunities.
1.-The best efforts of many of the
wi5est and most influential people of
our country have constantly been de-
voted to the betterment of the high
school, college and university while
the rural school during this same period
has been sadly neglected. The country
school needs assistance. It needs the
help of the educational expert; it needs
the help of the educational and gen
eral press; it needs the help of the phil
anthropist and the business man; it
needs the assistance of all institutions
of higher learning, and the union Of all
social forces for its betterment''