The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-26

Clay Center Superintendent
Finds Good Work Done.
Likes New Primer-Puts Cfimp
in Supt Ross.

Emil KrAtochvil, superintendent OF
the Clay Center. city schools and .
member OF the executive committee of
the State Teacher association. be-
lieves that the law for the state pub
Iicatton OF school text books has come
to stay-at least until 1t has had q
fair test-and that the work OF the
school text book commission up to
date has been misrepresented and
misunderstood. Tho new law, while
Questionable to many teachers. il in
strong favor with the taxpayers OF tho
state. says Krafochvil. and they de-
mand that the new plan be given q
fair test -
While in Topeka. Prof Kratochvil
visited the OFFICES OF the text book
commission in tho state house and
studied the manuscript for tho new
Kansas primer.
1t is q far better piece Of work
than I expected to find" said Prof.
Kratochvil. land the manuscript IL. in
my opinion. well up to the standard.
OF course the mechanical work ON the
book will have a great deal to do with
its ultimate reception. but IL the print
Ing Is in keeping with the manuscript.
the primer should meet every demand.
Will admit that was surprised when
saw the work. I had been led to be-
lieve that the commission had pur-
chased an inferior manuscript whom
The Clay Center mans attitude to-
ward the state publication plan is said
to have taken much of the fight out
OF State Superintendent w. d. Ross
and other members Of the board.
Ross. through his attitude at least.
has been listed as an opponent OF the
state publication plan and his re-
1uctance in entering into the spirit of
the work, has tended to hold back the
work OF the commission and discredit
the operation Of the new law.
Il know there are q great many
posed to the law said Professor
Kratochvil, but 1t is a law that Is in
strong favor with the voters and tax
payers and no legfslature-Republic
or Democratic-wfll dare to repeal 1t
until it has been given fair and hon
est test
Members of the executive committee
Of the State Teachers association. adj
mitted today that they did not propose
to make fight for repeal Of the law.
There is demand for supplemental
books and an amendment to the present
law will be asked covering this phase
Of tho school book law. State Super
intendent Ross also has a. plan for
amending the law and providing that
only school men shall have q place on
the commission Superintendent Ross
egotism il not substantiated by his
oWu WOTA ou TIC text OoOA COMMISSION
SO far.
During the last session Of the legislA-
ture the members OF both houses wera
careful to guard against the very thing
that Ross demands and on which he hiss
based his fight against the law and its
operation. Professor Kratochvil, how
ever. Is not seriously worried about the
Ross objection to the law. Tho one
serious change he demands 10 q pro-
vision for the spnblieation OF supple
mental books sy-.',. 81 20: ~sr9
TN view Of the supreme court de-
cision holding the use of supplemental
books Illegal" said Kratochvil, ian
amendment to the law IL needed which
will provide for the use OF these books.
T think the law Is! already broad enough
to cover their publication. With this
change, I do not think there will be
serious objection to the law after it Is
thoroughly UNDERWOOD in the state