The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-07
Supt. Ross Made Startling
Statements at Meeting.
Said Kansas System Is Wrong;
Reforms Needed.
DR.. JAMES, STRONG ADDRESS
Miss Lydia BOlmar Tells of
Freaks in Dress.
Kansas Teachers Are Having q
Great Meeting.

w. D. Ross. state superintendent of
public instruction, made some START
ling statements this morning at the
Auditorium before the members OF the
Kansas State Teachers association
relative to the present Status OF
Education in Kansas" He said that
our system repudiates the whole
theory upon which the public schools
are based; that it does injustice not
only to the boys and girls. but touches
the pocketbooks Of their parents as
we'll, laying the heaviest burden upon
the citizens least able to bear 1t. He
did not attempt to discredit the work
Of the Kansas schools; in fact. he con-
sidered it a wonder that they have ac-
complished as much as has been the
case.
Superintendent Ross said in part:
Is Rude Shock.
1T came as a rude shock to many
when according to it's tests of educa-
tional efficiency the Russell Sage
Foundation ranked the Kansas educa-
tional system twenty-fOurth among
the states Of the union. For these
tests go to the foundation of the sys-
tenn iteslf. Indeed they show that 1t
Is only in spite of the system of or
ganization and government that our
schools rank even tWenty-fOurth. In
AScIdCy we Stanu Sl6lu, III SCAOOA GA
penditures compared to wealth we
are twelfth; in children in school and
in average daily attendance eigh-
tenth; in pupils in high school twen-
ty-first. But when it comes to Ques-
tons Of organization and government
we fall ever below mediocrity and
find ourselves in cheerful companion
ship with the states Of the solid
SOUTH twenty-fifth In salaries paid
our teachers; twenty-ninth in value OF
Mo <xuo MI IN
per child and twenty-ninth in daily
cost.
''The conclusions of the Sage Foun-
dation may be open to question in GER
argued that the low per cent Of litter
acy shown for Kansas is the best
proof of what her schools are accom-
plishing, and discredits the entire re-
port. But those who argue thus for
get the origin and character of the
fact that nearly all the states that
show a greater per cent of illiteracy
than Kansas does are either those Of
the south or those with a very large
foreign population. -{
No Discredit Is Intended.
Nevertheless, 1 have no disposition
to discredit the work of the Kansas
schools. The wonder is that they ac-
complish so much. The shame is that
they are not enabled and allowed to
accomplish w IlftI the tluSS6Al
Sage Foundation report indubitably
does show is that compared to other
states of like standing Kansas is mar
row and niggardly in the government
and support of her public schools. She
10 one of but eight states in the union
the maintenance of her common
schools. and the local taxes that are
levied for rural school purposes are
distributed with gross injustice and
Cd V1yit1 Oh F,,v
This is severe arraignment; but the
time for QuieScent acceptance of the
situation or even mild and apologize
protest has passed.
The facts themselves cry out. Lis
ten. District No. 80 Decatur county
has total valuation Of $27 100. Dis
trtct No. 80 Wilson county has a total
valuation of $1,400,0O0. Fhe first dis
trict levies AZ mills, the legal limit.
and raises S124 to run a seven months
school, The second district levied nine
tenths of one mill last year and raised
1920; a crushing burden of tax and
pinching educational perjury on the
one hand and an insignificant levy re-
sulting in superfiuOus school funds
tempting to prodigality and waste on
the other. And this unequal and I'M
fair distribution Of school taxation: this
indefensible discrimination asairs, part
OF our future citizens and in favor OF
another part of them exists to q great
er or less degree in every county in this
great commonwealth.
ITO be sure since 1911 we have by q
system of state aid to weak districts
insured to every community after II
had levied the maximum tax, sever
months school. But in the very nature
Of things such schools must be oe min.
imum efficiency. And. while the plar
is a step in the right direction it Il
after all only a makeshift. It fails t(
strike at the n tho ~ hx
dering more tolerable the lot Of thos.
who suffer. 1t tends to blind them t.
the injustice and inadequacy Of oul
whole system of public school taxation
and postpones the radical but real rem
edy that must finally come.
Works an Injustice.
Nor does this injustice affect ou
boys and girls alone; 1t touches tn,
pocketbooks of their parents as well
Not only does 1t deny equal education
opportunity to our children: but i
lays the heaviest burden OF expens
upon those of our citizens least abb
to bear 1t. 1t repudiates the Who'll
theory upon which public schools ar
based and defies that axiom Of nones
taxation which demands that all shal
pay according to their ability. VIII,
does district No. So Wilson county lev
while district No. 80 Decatur count
must levy ~ mills and can then rails
only one-tenth as much money Be
cause 1t so happens that the Prairi
Oil and Gas company, the Kansas sub
eidiary Of the Standard Oil company
has located a tank farm in district NJ
50, while district No. 80 has nothi1
but a limited amount Of comparative
poor farm land. The result? Simpl
this:
.'The greatest corporation in Americ
is not contributing its fair share to tn
educational welfare. the moral an
spiritual upbuilding Of the state. tn
protection of whose laws and the benz
fits of whose prosperity 1t enjsy:
while those poor but courageous farm
ers of Decatur county, who have tn
year been pleading for seed wheat, al
taxed to the limit to educate the chi
dren of US all. For, my friends. the
are the children Of us all. 1t is not