The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-06
CASE OF CLOTHES
They Make the Man, Why Not
the Teacher?
School Board Ruling That At
tire Affects Job.
WAS DR.. VAN HORNS IDEI
He Also Wants Expert Survey
Topeka Schools.
Cases of Truancy on Decrease,
Reports Supt. Starr.

Hereafter the general bearing and
| neatness of attire will be taken into
consideration as we'll as competency
in the art of instructing youngsters in
the reappointment of teachers for the
| city schools. In other words, the
board of education has decided tor
away with a time honored system of
hiring teacher for life or until she
is physically incapable of attending to
her duties in imparting knowledge to
the young.
The board of education at the reg
uIar May meeting Monday night es-
tablished rating system whereby it
VIII be possible for the teachers
committee to obtain an accurate idea
of the competency of an instructor
Cards will be printed bearing certain
questions concerning teachers which
the principals of the respective schools
will be asked to fill out. These cards
will be held by the teachers commit
tee and will not be available for pub
lie inspection. AS check on the YER
dict of a principal relative to the
ability of teacher the committee will
also ask the superintendent of schools
to submit his estimate of the teach
ers merits. In this manner it is eX-
pected to obtain a teaching force in
the city schools that is in every way
up to par. The plan was the sugges-
OF the teachers committee.
Survey of the Schools
The teachers committee was au-
thorized to investigate the advisable
ity and cost of having an expert sur
vey made of the Topeka schools This
idea was also the suggestion of DR..
c. B. Van Horn. Such surveys have
been made in other Kansas towns to
advantage, according to DR.. Van
Horn.
As proposed by DIR. Van Horn, a
special commission made up of ex-
perts from the State university and
the State Normal school would make
a careful investigation of the Topeka
school system. DR.. Van Horn said: |
1t has been proven that survey
can be made without a great deal of
cost. 1t would give the board chance
to see how the Topeka schools rate
with schools of other cities 1t would |
cover every phase of school work 1t
seems that now with a new superin-
tendent coming in this would be an
opportune time for the survey. We
would know just what to add to or
take away from our school plan
Mrs. Evans Objects. !
Mrs. c.. j. Evans objected to both |
OF Dr. Van Horns recommendations i
In respect to the survey; she said: Il /
don't see the need of a survey. We |
have superintendent to tell US of |
the condition of our school system and |
to. make suggestions as to how the |
schools ought to be run. 1 have per- |
feet faith in the superintendent to
make any surveys necessary"
Dr. Van Horn: There is no ref1ec- |
ton on anyone. 1t is simply a mo-
ton to have a committee look into |
the question of the cost of a thorough |
investigation by specialists from the |
outside. L believe that the special |
commission would be a paying prop !
osition''
l.. NJ. Penwe1l intimated that he |
would give an interesting report of |
Investigations he has been making in |
the school system.
He said: II have been visiting |
schools and have got my eyes opened /
several times
Supervisor for Garden Contest.
The members of the board express
ed themselves in favor of the employ
ing an expert supervisor for the hun I
dreds of children of the city schools
who have entered the home garden |
contest. A committee will make a
recommendation relative to the hiring
OF such supervisor for the summer
months at a meeting of the board
which will be held within week or
two. The question was brought before
the attention of the board by G. B.
Wlngett, n. Coover, and c. G. BlakeIy
OF the Topeka Real Estate Dealers as
ISOLATION. This organization has in
terested itself in the procuring of
money to be used in prizes for the
children in the city schools raising
the best produce this summer. Mr..
Wingett, president of the association
stated that between $3.50 and $500 has
already been obtained. OF this amount
the Commercial club appropriated
500, and the Clearinghouse Realty Co.
500. The Women's Commercial club
has been actively interested in. raising
the funds.
Shortage of $4,000 in Building Fund.
According to NJ. c. Holman, the
clerk of the board, the board will not
quite break even in respect to finances
at the close of the financial year.
There will be a shortage in the build
ing fund of approximately $4,000.
A summary of the report follows:
April l. balance available from
last report 500, tSS1. 81
April 6, warrants drawn. 2S. OS7. 60
Balance available observation-disclosures S 293. 50
BUILDING FUND.
April l, balance short last report. S ], $50. p
a pril g. warrants issued ........... 2, 1852
Balance rt...........-........'..s 3,S17.79
INTEREST FUND.
April l. balance available last re-