The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-03
R. R. COOK. NAMED
Emporia Educator To Be Prin-
cipal Topeka High. School.
L. NJ. Penwell Sits Down on Pa
triotism Soldiers Wives.

Prof. r. r. Cook. of Emporia. was
chosen principal of the Topeka high
school at a meeting of the board of
education Monday night. He is a
graduate of the Chicago University.
and has been high school principal Tor
eight years, serving at Cherryvale.
Columbus and Emporia- He will re-
ceive a salary of $4,000 a year.
The zeal of certain members OF the
Topeka school board to place a To-
peka man in the high offices to be be-
slowed by the board. cooled percepti-
bly, after the choice of public school
superintendent was made.
There is a movement afoot within
the board to break thru the moth
eaten, -old foggy rule that married
women may not be allowed to teach
in the city public schools. Mrs. c. J.
Evans spoke at the meeting last mgr;
asking that resolution be passed
that wives of soldiers should not be
barred from teaching, providing such
applicants were competent. The var
ious members of the board declared
themselves as willing to do almost
anything for the soldiers wives. But
the president of the board, L. NJ. PEN
well, blocked the proceedings by a
| little objection about the time things
seemed to be going well for the
women who are trying to serve their
| government by earning their own lv-
| ing while their husbands go to war.
Penwen opined that ruling to admit
| the wives of soldiers to the teaching
staff would be an act resulting in the
| besetting of the path of young girl
| teachers with temptations. In fact, II
| would, he thought, put an added in
| ducement in their way to marry SOL
diers. If they knew they could go right
on teaching in spite of wedding cere-
| mony and a fighting patriot for a
| spouse. No official action was taken
| on Mrs. Evans suggestion.
E. J. Buckles was chosen director
of manual and Industrial arts, at a
| salary of $4,000 a year. He is a
graduate of Peru Normal. with an A.
B. and A. M. degree.
The secretary reported that the
Southwest Bell Telephone company
has asked a straight rate Of SO per
| telephone this year, making a raise
in rate of SO cents per phone. The
secretary was instructed to get the re-
| quest in writing.
The board decided to allow 81 to
| c. G. Grimes for transporting negro
children to school.
The petition of district 81 to be
taken into the city was granted, with
the proviso that no legal complica-
| tions arise from the action.
Mrs. Evans offered a resolution that
| itemiZed statements of repair Jobs
| done in vacations, be submitted, and
| that estimates be procured on future
work. A resolution was offered by P
w. Griggs, and accepted by the board
expressing gratitude to L. M. Jones
| Tor his services as board member
The teachers committee offered the
following recommendations:
That the salary of Miss Lena Davis
general supply teacher, be made
$1,000.
That the salary of Miss Bertha
Semitic high school clerk, be fixed al
$50 per school month. ~
| That Miss Josephine Weaver BIZ
elected to the available list for junior
high school work at schedule salary.
That the following be elected to the
available list for the elementar,
schools. at schedule salary: Miss
Helen Welty, Miss Hazel Olson, Miss
Eva Young.
That the following be granted leave
OF absence because of illness: Miss
Annie Banks, Miss Mildred Young
| Miss Jane Kingan.
| That the designations of the follow
ing teachers be accepted: Miss Leora
| Laug.ilin, Miss Emma Burnette, Mrs
Lucretia Embleton, Miss Una Ramsey
Miss Verna Worley, Miss Gail Moody
| Miss Gertrude Feeses, Mrs Helen T
Butterfield, Miss Mildred Lewis, Miss
Opal Loveless, William Niehart
That teachers doing war service be
given preference. if they desire to re-
turn as teachers in the Topeka schools
That Mrs. Martha Kittell be elected
as principal Of the Van Buren, schoo
at schedule salary.
That the teachers committee be
authorized to fill any vacancies thai
| may occur between now and the open.
| ing of school
That if it becomes necessary, in or.
der to fill vacancies acceptably, the