The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-10
Teachers Favor Reorganization
of State School Program.
Resolution Asks For Establish
ment of Larger Units.
RAISE TEACHERS STANDARDS
Demand Enforcement of Anti
Cigaret Law in State.
Request Representation on
State Book Commission.

Reorganization of the state depart
ment of education and appointment of
a state commissioner of education to
have general direction of educational
policies of the state will be asked in
resolutions presented to the fifty
eighth annual session of the Kansas
State Teachers association to be held
at Topeka, Salina, Wichita and Pitts
burg, November 3, 4 and 5.
The resolutions will also ask for
establishment of larger units as basis
for administration and taxation; rec
ommend higher educational standards
for teacher requirements; endorse a
comprehensive program for consolida-
ton of schools; demand enforcement
of the anti-cigaret law, compulsory at
tendance law and the moving picture
law: ask enactment of a state teach
ers' pension law; commend creation by
the 1921 legislature of a school code
commission, recommend appointment
of committee to draft professional
code of ethics for Kansas teachers
request representation of public
schools on state school book COM
mission, and endorse Sterling-Towner
bill for creation of a national depart
ment of education in presidents
cabinet.
Resolutions by Committee.
The resolutions drafted by the as
sociation's committee, to be voted on
by upwards of Is, 900 Kansas teachers,
follow:
I'VE commend the action of the
state legislature in passage OF the
school code commission bill, and we
pledge our support to the commission
in the working out OF new code Tor
Kansas schools.
believing the most vital need of
education in Kansas is constructive
educational leadership, We favor the
reorganization of the state department
and the appropriation OF ADEQUATE
funds to enable the state board of
education to appoint a state commits
sioner of education who shall nave
general direction of the educational
policies of the state.
Ask For Larger Units.
I'm order that there may be equal
opportunities for all pupils in every
part of the state. we recommend the
esta blishment of larger units as
basis for administration and taxation.
We recommend higher educational
standards for the qualifications of
teachers, and that a scientific read
justment of the certificate law be
made and enforced.
I'VE wish to endorse the already ex-
listing laws affecting the health and
moral life of the child, and ask for
their enforcement. We especially rec
ommend the enforcement of the anti
cigaret law, compulsory attendance
law and the moving picture law.
I'VE reaffirm our request for a rep
resentation of public school people on
the state school book commission.
I'VE express our appreciation of the
work done by the committee of the
X. s. T. A, and by the members of
the legislature in their efforts to pro-
vide, thru legislation. for the estab-
1ishment of a state fund for the re-
tirement of teachers, and we request
that this work be continued by a cam
paign of information among the
teachers of the state.
Favor Consolidation of Schools.
I'm order to bring equal educational
opportunity to all children in the
state, we favor a comprehensive pro-
gram of consolidation of schools.
I'VE feel the need of a professional
code of ethics for Kansas teachers
and we recommend the appointment
of a committee to be composed of the
heads of the departments of education
of the various state institutions, to-
gether with such other educators as
the board of directors of the state as
ISOLATION may see fit to appoint to
draft such a code, and we also sug
gest that the state institutions offer
courses in professional ethics, that
teachers may prepare themselves to
meet the ethical requirement of the
profession.
believing as we do in the estab-
lishment of a national department of
education as part of the presidents
cabinet, and in the federal support of
public education, we affirm our al
legiance to the Sterling-Towner bill
and urge its early passage. We heart
lily commend the work of the National
Education association in it's efforts not
only to secure the passage of this bill,
but also to further the interests of the
various states in the working out of
general, unified educational pro-