The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-28
Kansas Educational Council in
Legislative Work.
Meet in Topeka
Next Month for Action.
ENFORCE ENGLISH TEACHING
Language to Exclusion of All
Others in Schools.
Teachers Also Will Take Up
Pension Appropriation.

According to the plans laid out for
the meeting of the educational coun-
Gil of the Kansas State Teachers as
ISOLATION in Topeka January 17-18,
the delegates to the body will have
their hands full with the considera-
ton of an extensive legislative plat
form proposed by the legislative COM
mittee of the association.
Two hundred delegates, one from
each local teachers organization, are
accredited to attend the meeting and
take part in the discussions.
The reflection of the war is dis
tinctly visible in one or two of the
proposed bills to be introduced at the
sessions Of the Kansas legislature this
year. of especial interest is the bill
to enforce the teaching of English in
all elementary schools in the state to
tho exclusion of any other language.
It is thought that the passage of this
bill and its proper enforcement would
do much for better citizenship among
the alien races which go to make up
SO large a part of the American popu-
lation. 1t is felt that if nothing but
English be allowed to, be used in the
would be taken from the soil in which
foreign propaganda has flourished
and lowered in the world war.
For Health of Child.
I Another bill which it is proposed
will be introduced at the coming ses-
sion of the legislature deals with the
health supervision and physical educa-
ton of the child. This bill like the
one concerning the use of the Eng
lish language is more or less an out
growth of the war. The improve
ment in health shown by the men who
were drafted and sent to the training
camps is thought to be sufficient con-
crete example to insure the passage
of a. bill which will make the physi-
cal education of a child compulsory
in the schools of the state.
A bill providing that all instruc-
ton in elementary schools of the state
be placed under the jurisdiction OF
designed to abolish the present indie
pendent attitude of some of the
parochial schools. It is thought that
the passage of this bill, and its sis0r
the teach English only" bill, will dc
much to obviate any recurrence of the
sensational disclosures which were
made in connection with the recent
senatorial campaign as regards the
attitude of the teachers in some of the
parochial German language schools.
For Teachers Pensions.
Looking specially to the welfare OF
the teachers 1t is proposed that bill
be introduced in the legislature
organization of a teachers employ
ment bureau maintained by the state
The coming meeting of the educa-
tional council is also expected to pass
favorably on a proposed bill to mar
monte the present child labor law
and the compulsory education law.
The educational council will favor
also proposing to the legislature that
the offices of state and county super
intendents of public instruction be re-
moved from politics. 1t will consider
a proposal to make the county the
unit of school taxation. instead of the
township as at present. The install
lation of rural school libraries will be
advocated, and numerous smaller and
lesser proposals will be considered
pending their submission to members
Of the state legislature.
The meeting of the educational
council of the Kansas State Teachers
| association will be presided over by
J. o. Hall, president of the assocla-
ton. f. L. Pinet of Topeka is secre-
tary of the association.