The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-18
4Sk 0S0G1 OS$$tOO
after Her SCALP
Kansas Teachers Start War
Against Miss Wooster.
She Will Continue to Hold Job
and Draw Pay.
To REMOVE Her AUTHORITY
Discuss Legislation to Answer
Immediate Needs.
Plan Creation of State School
Commissioner.
By A. L. SHULTZ.

Kansas teachers-aided and abet-
ted by a not unfriendiy legislature
may put roller skates under Lorraine
Elizabeth Wooster this winter. Miss
Wooster will continue to hold her job
and draw her pay under the plan be-
ing prepared for her. But that is all.
Her authority and responsibility may
be removed.
Plan New Job at SIS, 900 Salary.
Having failed to defeat the state su-
perintendent of public instruction in
the election. the teachers are now dis
swer immediate needs. Their plan is
creation of the office of state school
commissioner-at salary of say
$4,000 a year. The commissioner
would be in charge of the schools.
Miss Wooster would be superintendent
stenograp hers-but nothing particu-
larIy to do so far as administration of
public school affairs are concerned.
Peace and harmony are conditions
which somehow seem never to have
entered Miss Wooster's department or
her relations with the Kansas teach
ers- Just when 1t appeared that school
conditions would be restored to
condition of serene contentment.
something always happened. And
the middle of the. fighting where po-
liticaI weather conditions were most
undesirable.
Preceding the August primaries a
number of leading teachers tried to
enter a candidate against Miss Wooster
for the nomination. But the salary
and prospects of a fight did not appeal
to the stronger men and women in the
tea ching profession. In consequence
Miss Wooster was renominated- She
was reelected in November, altho she
had the smallest plurality of the cam
didates on the state ticket.
Cannot Abolish job.
Miss wooster's Job cannot be abol-
ished by act of the legislature. But
the legislature can create new office
and can pass laws putting the work
OF the state superintendent under a
new official. That IL just what is
planned.
If the new policy isn't satisfactory,
the job of school commissioner can be
abolished when the legislature returns
to Topeka two years hence. At that
time Miss wooster will have finished
her second term and the purpose for
which the law is desired just now will
have been met. The enactment will
permit Miss Wooster to draw pay for
her two years. 1t will permit her to
maintain offices in the state house
and to hold her official title.
But the school ma'am who dabs her
nose with talcum or wears the fluffy
crepe waists or PINK lingerie can make
faces at Miss Wooster and her stand
ards Of dress-so long as she doesn't
displease the local school board. And
the he man teachers who enjoy their
cigars and cigaretS do not need to fear
loss of teaching permits with au-
thority removed from Miss wooster.
Direct supervision of public schools
would be under the school commits
sionerr if the proposed law passed.
The governor would name the COM
missioner who would serve for a term
of two years.
Their Only Relief.
It's bit sudden and sad and shock
ing-this plan to merely index and
catalog Miss Wooster officially-but it
seems to be the only immediate relief
at the hands of the teacher folks.
Even the new law will not prevent
Miss Wooster's scoiding. But there
will be many signs of relief in the Sc
curity that Miss Wooster really can't
do anything to anybody after the edu-
cational commissioner bill passes.