The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-04
TWO HOLIDAYS.
The Topeka School Children
Free Thursday and Friday.
While State Teachers Are in
Session Here.

The seven thousand school children
of Topeka will be ''at large next
Thursday and Friday. This holiday
due to the fact that the members OF
the Kansas State Teachers association
will be here in force on those days
was expected by the youngsters. but
they will be interested
in the announcement that the board
of education at its regular November
meeting Monday evening declared
that the schools shall be closed.
The school board decided to have
the city schools carefully surveyed
upon the recommendation of H. B.
Wilson, superintendent of city
schools, and this in connection with
the general survey OF city conditions
which is being made by the experts
of the Russell Sage Foundation. Con-
seQuently one hundred dollars was ap-
prOpriated to go towards defraying
the expense of the work which will be
undertaken by a special representative
of the Russell Sage Foundation. This
will be an innovation in survey work
and consequently the task will not
cost an exorbitant sum as the Found
alton would be- glad to use Topeka
as an illustration of what can be
done in such q survey, 3 =.
Superintendent Wilson said: ITO be
surveyed is to be labeled as q pro-
gressive CITY," w. e. Atchison said:
II would be willing to pay 500 to
find out what is the matter with us. -
It was the opinion of the members
of the board that telephone system
should be installed connecting the
school buildings of the city, but the
estimate of the cost Of maintaining
system with a board in the high
school building made by the Bell
company is exorbitant they say.
The company wants $77.10 a month
for maintaining this private branch
with thirty-one stations during the
school year, and aside from that the
board would have to employ an op-
orator.
L. NJ. Penwe1l. former president of
the board, took shot at the tele-
phone company. 1.-The telephone sys-
tenn in Topeka is simply rotten to the
core" he said. The question of
phones in the schools was referred
to the building committee under Mr..
Penwell
Much time was spent by the board
in deciding the weighty question as
to whether or not the South Side
Booster club should be allowed the
use of a room in the new Van Buren,
school building for its meetings? L.
M. Penwell objected to allowing the
favor as he said: "It will be worse
than a young Mexican revolution If
we start a thing of this kind" MIR.
Penwen feared that other organiza-
that there will now and then be de-
struction of school property He a.
nally withdrew his objection and the
motion was carried.
AS a result of objections made to
the practice of taking up collections
in the schools for the purchase of
pianos and talking machines the
board authorized Superintendent Will
son to make satisfactory regulations
regarding such collecting. In a bull
letin issued in the last week by the
superintendent he touches upon this
question as follows:
$50 far as know. there is no regu-
lation of the board governing this mat
ter, and 1 am not meaning to issue
any regulation from the onice II
has been brought to my attention,
whether correctly or not, that poor
children are often made to feel un-
comfortable when collections are be-
ing taken for the purchase of any
thing the school wants by the fact
that the amounts contributed are an
nounced and that special mention Il
made Of those who give large
amounts. do not send it a. an
order, but I give 1t as my tudgmen,
that a collection should never b
taken in any public school in such
way that one child has any knowledge
OF the amount that another child
gives, nor in such way that anybod,
would know 1t II some children gave
nothing"
Superintendent Wilson expressed
his pleasure over the manner In which
the teachers of the city are cooperat.
ing with him in carrying out hi
wishes. The teachers are profound,
interested in their work. he said, an(
are showing a desire to adopt an
new methods by which they may Inn
prove their work among the children
Women rs Active as Men:
Petersburg. ILL.,, Nov. 4.-Womeu wer
| AZ active as men I'm the election toda,
| the "drys" predicting success becaus
of their ballots.