The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-12

Advocates Consolidation and
Bigger Salaries.
FREE RURAL HIGH SCHOOLS
Are Needed to Put Kansas in
Right Rank.
Supt. Ross Gives Slogan ~Put
Kansas First"

George. H. Hodges. governor of Kan
sas. urged the consolidation of rural
schools az an advance step in the solu-
ton Of the rural problem In an adj
dress this afternoon before several
| hundred members Of Kansas boards of
education in attendance at the meet
ing of the school board conference in
Representative hall.
The consolidated school with its
work in all grades said Governor
Hodges, could be maintained at less
expense than the individual schools.
In place of the little, cherries. one
| modern conveniences,9we should have
three to five-room building, central
ly located with an adequate system of
| heating. lighting. ventilation and water
supply.
Teachers Under Paid.
II regret to say that in this great
state of ours, which has the greatest
individual per capita wealth of any
| state in the Union, that the country
teacher Is not given the consideration
| financially that ne should have and !
am advised that our country teacher
of other states. In fact, 1 have been
led to believe by a careful observation
| that teaching il merely q temporary
stopping place for men and women
WIZ are uCStIOUS II entering OIAeE DIO-
fessions
"A few years ego we had far
greater attendance in our rural
! schools, and among the scholars were
young men Of the age of twenty to
| twenty-five years-something we sell
dom see at this time
Address of Supt- Ross.
State Superintendent of public in
struction, w. D. Ross, in his address
before the School Board conference
said:
You are not merely the lay readers
OF education in your several commu-
mites; but you are the representatives
of organized education in the state.
and as such you are rendering a SER
vice Of the highest patriotism to So
ciety This service is the more pa
triOtic just in proportion as you rise
above purely selfish Individual inter-
ests and merely local considerations
and act for the welfare of all the chill
dren Of all the people of this great
state, and hence for the common good
OF all. I come to you today, there's
fore. not with a discussion Of prob
lens that may concern you locally and
Sfasf s 81 "a eda GssaRan
questions Of state wide and hence of
nation wide import ..,.-.s........u
Superintendent Ross pointed out the
uccuS anu tic llCdIlS VI CQudllZlHB Gu
ucatfonal opportunity and educational
| cost; urged the necessity for ample
material and equipment to enable
teachers and pupils properly to do
their work; insisted upon the need of
free high school privileges for coun-
try boys and girlsiaand. presented the
| need OF the stetes department for
effectively the w6Ek It should do in
upbuilding the school system. of the
state-in helping 10 PUT Kansas
First as the slogan of the association
has it. ~
Charles W. Thompson OF Marion.
president Of the State Conference Of
Boards Of Education OF Kansas, in
speaking of the meeting said: seThe
prospects are for the largest attend
'ance Of the conference in its history.
The interest Of teachers in this meet
| ing as well as the interest Of school
boards, has increased each year The
boards of education of the state are
feeling the necessity to study their
problems. With this increasing inter-
est on the part of school boards, it is
not difficult to get teachers to attend
the convention for they feel that school
! boards appreciate their efforts to be
present"
The school board members will attend
| the concert which the Topeka CONNER
c1ai Club Will give at the Au0lFOr1ul
tonight. They will listen to the adj
dress Friday morning in the Audi
forum.
Friday afternoon at o'clock DIR. F.
| L. Bobbett of Chicago University will
speak on School Costs" H. b. Wilson
| of Topeka, superintendent of schools
| Will give an address on why Should
We Teach so Many Subjects in Public
Schools" Thomas w. Butcher, presi.
l dent IF The State Normal school. will
speak on ITO What Extent il the Board
Of Education Responsible for the Eff
| ficiency OF the Schools
The members will attend the general
session at the Auditorium in the even
ing.
Mnc uADDlc W1Nc