The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-18
Kansas Teachers Association
Plan Convention Resolutions.
Committee Work in October Is
Announced Here Today.
MISS WOOSTER IS OVERLOOKED
No Endorsement of State Super
intendent This Year.
"Niggardly Financial Policy" of
State Criticised.


Because the increase in the cost of
| living in the last six years is bound
| terests of our state" the Kansas State
Teachers association to meet in
| Topeka, Independence, Hutchinson
and Hays. October %. 20 and 80. will
TASK for higher salaries for teachers in
state schools. for county superintend-
ents and for members of the state
| educational department. The inten-
| ton to ask for the increase is made
public today by F. L. Pinet, secretary
| of the Kansas State Teachers aSsocia-
ton. in resolutions approved by the
resolutions committee of the associa-
ton for presentation to the four dis
| trict conventions.
Unless salaries for such teachers
and officials are increased teachers
and officials of inferior ability will by
| necessity have to be selected to re-
place those who have been compelled
| because of financial need to give over
their work for the state" The legis-
| lature which convenes next January
will be urged to remedy existing con-
| ditions with immediate and appro-
pirate legislation, the resolution states.
| A general increase in. teachers pay
| was asked last year and in many
localities has been granted. but with a
| disregard for the needs of the state
| institution instructors, county super
| intendents and members of the state
educational department.
The resolution asking salary in
| creases follows:
Whereas the cost-of living in all the
occupations has been increased, at least
| one hundred and thirty per cent since
| whereas, the State of Kansas has not
| adequately increased the salaries of
its state Institution officers and in
| structors, Its county superintendent
| and officials of its state department
| Of education, and whereas the existing
| conditions are bound to jeopardize
| the best educational interests of our
state because teachers and officials of
inferior ability, will of necessity have
| to be selected to replace those who
| have been compelled solely because of
financial need to give over their work
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED
that the teachers Of the state of Kan
sas in convention assembled to IN
| equivocally favor salaries for the state
| institution teachers. county Superin-
tendents and officials of the state de-
partment of education commensurate
| with the increased living cost and
a par with salaries paid in states of
equal rank with the state of Kansas,
| and,
| BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
| the Kansas state legislature which
convenes January next to be urged to
remedy existing conditions with i'm
mediate and appropriate legislation.
Higher Efficiency.
| At the same time the resolution re-
questing financial increases for teach
| erS is presented to the convention,
teachers will also be asked to con-
slider the following resolution on high
er standards of efficiency in the pro-
| fession:
In consideration of the fact that the
teaching profession has gained in pub
lie estimation during the past two
years; that salaries have been raised
and that teaching conditions generally
have been made better, we feel that
civ linz ~
creased confidence. We. therefore, re
solve that we shall move toward a
higher standard in the teaching pro-
fession; that more standaEdized Ger
tificate law should be enacted and en-
forced; that some means for the proper
graduation of teachers should be de-
vised; and that individual teachers
should do all in their power to make
themselves fitted for this important
On Text Book Commission.
Direct representation of the public
| schools on the-state school book COM
mission is the subject of another reso-
luton approved for presentation. The
next legislature will be asked to place
as additional members of the commits
sion one city superintendent and one
county superintendent, to be appointed
| by the governor.
| The request made at the 1919 meet
| ing of the association for Teachers
compulsory statewide retirement fund
ton to be presented to the 1920 con-
vention.
The equalization of the school tax
| burden, an important subject dis
cussed last year, will come up again
and will be strongly recommended to
the next legislature. and the resolu-
| ton approved in regard to the matter
| follows:
We recognize that on account of the
unequal distribution of wealth, the
| children OF state do not enjoy
equal educational advantages; We re-
commend the following modification Of
our systm Of taxation.
That one-hah of the money needed
for school purposes in our rural
schools be raised by a county tax levied
on the total valuation Of the property
| That the other half needed for school
| purposes to be raised by the respective
districts at their annual meeting.
| "Niggardly Policy"
The states method of financial sup
port for it's educational institutions is
referred to as "a niggardly financial
/ policy" in a resolution asking an in
crease in the mill tax amendment. The
resolution which demands" rather
than urges or requests" follows:
We demand that the next state legis-
th snp5nr e< onr state e1
| cational institutions. 1t is with feel
ing of humiliation that note the in
ability OF the state of Kansas to retain
the services of eminent educators.
This niggardly financial policy is not
in accord with the legally expressed
and recorded wish of the people OF
Kansas who have voted an amendment
TO the state constitution in order that
the legislature might provide liberal
and permanent support OF state edu- ,
cational institutions.
The remainder of the resolutions al
ready approved by the committee in
clude recommendations for an increase