The Topeka state journal., 1922-10-12
NEEDS OF SCHOOL
Members of Board of Educa-
tiOn Speak to ROtarians.
All Buildings Are Crowded,
Says Mrs. ID. L. McEachrOn.

The needs and conditions of the
public school system of Topeka, in its
relation to the tax-paying business
men of the city. were the topics dis
cussed before the Topeka Rotary club
by members OF the Topeka board of
education at the regular meeting and
luncheon of the club at noon today at
the Chamber of Commerce.
Mrs. d, L. McEachron, the only
woman member of the board, and its
vice president, was the first speaker.
Mrs. McEachron told the Rotarians
of the crowded buildings. twenty-four
of them, which are used by the To-
peka pupils; Of the playground space
{ which is inadequate: of the fifty per
cent of the children in the schools who
are underprivileged because of the
overcrowded condition. in spite of the
buildings which exist. and in spite of
the four new portable buildings which
have been erected to house the kin
dergarten.
Tt has often been suggested in the
meetings of the board OF education.
that more playground space be secured
by. the expedient of closing the streets
adjoining the schools, but there has
been much opposition on the part of
the residents of those Streets" Mrs.
McEachron said.
Schools Are Better.
we ask the NOtdrldnS recognition
of the fact that the schools of today
cannot be operated in the same man.
ner as they We're operated twenty
years ago
"They are better schools. and in the
face of the determined opposition to
increased taxation, if they are to re-
main better schools more money must
be invested in them" she said.
You can afford to do anything
which will increase the efficiency of
the public school system" she as
serted.
Humphrey Jones. principal of the
Branner school, was the second
speaker introduced by r. r. Cook,
chairman of the boys work committee
of the Rotary club and principal of
the Topeka high school. in charge of
todays program.
zone of the things we need is a
strong detachment of level-headed
dads" Jones said, ito hold the public
level. When the home has surren-
d dered so many of it's old time func-
tions to the school, and holds the
school responsible for so many things
in the training of the child. it is only
fair that the schools should receive
the necessary financial support for the
performance of these functions which
have been delegated to them.
Another thing you Rotarians can
do is to set examples for the boys and
=
You can inculcate, at home, Ameri-
can ideals in American boys and girls
This country can't make the world
safe for democracy until it can make
America safe for Americans. Amer
lea cannot exist half American and
half foreign"
Jones Offers Suggestion.
Jones offered the concrete sugges-
tion that the general public, by pro-
Viding some means of recreation and
congregation for the Mexican and
l.USsian youths Of the city-something
which they now lack except for the
efforts o. the public schools-"will
not only elevate mankind, but will
make America safer for Americans"
Previous to the addresses by the
members of the board of education
7. w. Williamson, president of the
club, announced an inter-city meet
with the Rotarians of Lawrence. Sat
urday October IA, when Topeka Ro-
tarians will have lunch with the Law
renee club and will afterward see the
X. U.-Oklahoma football game from
special section reserved in the
bleachers.