NORMAL SCHOOL, COWLEY COUNTY.

Note to Myself...Set up separate file under NORMAL\abnormal...

COMPARE WITH THIS BEFORE ERADICATING THIS FILE. 9/15/2000. MAW

[Notice from County Supt. Wilkinson to Cowley County Teachers.]

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

To the Teachers of Cowley County.

We have arranged with Prof. E. W. Hulse, of Arkansas City, and Prof. A. B. Lemmon, of Winfield, to assist in organizing and conducting a Teachers’ Normal school, of four weeks, during the month of August next. We desire to learn immediately the names of all teachers who will enroll themselves as members. Arrangements will be made to secure reasonable rates of board and lodging. A small tuition fee will be charged to cover incidental expenses, but the enterprise is not calculated to make money and will be carried out on the strictest principles of economy. The school will close with an examination for teachers who desire to teach the coming fall and winter. All depends on the number of applicants who report their names within the next ten days. Teachers will see the necessity of being prompt in joining us in this praiseworthy enterprise. T. A. WILKINSON, County Supt.

Winfield Courier, August 26, 1875.

We visited the schoolhouse yesterday, and watched with interest the workings of the Institute now in session there. We have not the space to notice it as it deserves. It is strictly speaking, a high grade Normal school. The teachers are the pupils; and Professors Wilkinson, Hulse, and Lemmon, the faculty. The programme for each day is prepared in advance, and followed out to the letter. The afternoons are devoted entirely to study. We witnessed the exercises in English grammar and geography, and like their methods of instruction. To teachers who are “waiting to see how it will turn out,” we would say, come immediately, enroll your name, get down to square work, and you will be well paid for your trouble.

Winfield Courier, January 6, 1876.

About the last day of December, 1869, Judge W. R. Brown, H. B. Norton, T. A. Wilkinson, H. D. Kellogg, John Brown, Moore, and G. H. Norton drove into camp near Wood’s residence as members and representatives of the Walnut City town company.

A few leading citizens of Emporia, among the number, C. V. Eskridge, P. B. Plumb, J. Stotler, L. B. Kellogg, H. B. Norton, and Judge Brown and H. L. Hunt, of Cottonwood Falls, had organized a town company and sent the party mentioned down into the Walnut Valley to locate a town at the junction of the Walnut River with the Arkansas River. The map of Kansas at that time showed that the junction was about the center of Cowley County. After some conference with the settlers, the newcomers took five claims adjoining Manning’s claim, east, southeast, and south, with the intention of making this the location of the proposed town. In a day or two upon an examination of the country below, the party decided to locate their town at the present town site of Arkansas City.

On January 1st, 1870, T. A. Wilkinson, John Brown, G. H. Norton, and John Strain staked out and claimed the four claims upon which Arkansas City now stands, as the location of the new town. H. B. Norton took a claim adjoining the town site on the north, H. D. Kellogg took a claim south of the town site. When this party arrived at the mouth of the Walnut, they found the bottom and timber claims taken by H. Endicott and his son, Pad, and G. Harmon, Ed. Chapin, Pat Summers [Somers], Mr. Carr, Mr. Hughes, and one or two others.

The Walnut City town company consisted of fifteen members, and the four claim holders mentioned were of the number, and were to hold the claims and enter them for the company. On their way down the valley the party discovered a Walnut City in Butler County, and concluded to change the name of their company to Delphi. On their return to Emporia the name was again changed to Creswell, and by this name the town was known for some months. On applying for a post office, the Post Office department informed Senator Ross, who made the application, that there was a Creswell in Labette County, Kansas, and that no two offices of the same name would be located in the State, and at Ross’ suggestion, it was called Arkansas City. When the commission came to G. H. Norton, who was the postmaster named, the town was named Arkansas City. This was in April 1870.

On the 9th day of January, 1870, a party of fifteen men under the lead of Thomas Coats took claims along the Grouse Valley. Their names were John Coats, Wm. Coats, Joseph Reynolds, Gilbert Branson, Henry Branson, Newton Phenis, I. H. Phenis, H. Hayworth, L. B. Bullington, J. T. Raybell, D. T. Walters, S. S. Severson, John Nicholls, and C. J. Phenis.

The Winfield enterprise took form in January of 1870, as did that of Arkansas City. From the start the parties interested in the two prospective towns were shaping events to secure the county seat of Cowley County whenever it should be organized. In February of 1870 a bill was introduced in the Senate of Kansas entitled, “An act to organize the county of Cowley,” and making Creswell the county seat. As soon as the news arrived at Winfield, James H. Land, A. A. Jackson, and C. M. Wood traversed the county in three days and took the census of over six hundred population, and reported at Douglass, in Butler County (the nearest place where an officer could be found to administer an oath), on the 23d of February. At that time the necessary papers were made out and E. C. Manning took them to Topeka and presented them to the Governor, who, thereupon issued the order organizing Cowley County and designating Winfield as the temporary county seat. The bill organizing the county got through the Senate but failed in the House.

As specimens of “literature” of that day we produce the following circulars which were issued a short time previous to the first election held in the county, to-wit: May 2nd, 1870.

CRESWELL.

To the voters of Cowley County:

The Creswell Town Company ask leave to present to you the claims of Creswell as a location for the county seat.

This town is situated on the Arkansas River, twelve miles above its intersection by the State line; said intersection being two and three-fourth miles below the mouth of the Grouse. The Walnut enters the Arkansas at Creswell, and the valleys of other streams on the south side of the Arkansas converge at this point, making it the natural centre of business and population for Cowley County.

Creswell is named as a point upon four chartered lines of railroad, viz: The Walnut Valley Branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road; the Preston, Salina & Denver road; the Emporia & Holden road; and the Arkansas Valley, or Fort Smith & Hays City road. It is also confidently expected that this will be the point of crossing for the Fort Scott & Santa Fe road. The Legislature at its recent session, ordered the immediate survey of a State road, by the most direct route, from Emporia to Creswell.

The company have determined to spare no expense or effort to make Creswell the metropolis of the Arkansas Valley. The following are among the enterprises already inaugurated:

Sleeth & Co., of Eldorado, have contracted to put up their steam saw-mill and a shingle-machine in operation at Creswell by the 15th of May.

Daniel Beedy, now a resident at Emporia, has contracted to build a grist-mill, saw-mill, and planing-mill upon the Creswell water-power; to commence by July 1st, 1870.

G. H. Norton & Co. have opened a general stock of groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, which they pledge themselves to sell at Eldorado prices.

Betts & Fraser, of Eldorado, will at once open a stock of groceries, provisions, and campers’ supplies.

C. R. Sipes, of Emporia, has purchased an interest in the town, and is preparing to open at Creswell the largest stock of hardware, tinware, and agricultural implements ever offered south or west of Emporia.

A stock of drugs and medicines has been ordered by responsible parties, and a well provided drug-store will be speedily established.

We are also happy to announce that the best job and newspaper office south of the Neosho will commence the publication of a newspaper at Creswell within the next ninety days.

Max Fawcett, recently of the Neosho Valley (Emporia) Nursery, has transferred his entire interest to Creswell, and is arranging to establish there the largest fruit and nursery concern in Kansas.

L. F. Goodrich, of Emporia, is now at work erecting a feed and livery stable.

A ferry has been chartered, and will be running upon the Arkansas by July 1st.

We, the Town Company of Creswell, furthermore pledge ourselves to erect a first-class stone or frame building not less than thirty feet square and two stories high, suitably arranged for a court-room and county offices; and to deed the same, with one entire block of not less than fourteen lots, centrally located, to the county, to be its property so long as the county-seat remains at Creswell; the building to be completed within six months after Creswell is chosen permanent county seat.

The question of taxation is one of great importance to the people of a young and undeveloped country. It is only at the cost of heavy taxes that the county will be able to erect a courthouse and other county buildings. This expense the Creswell town company propose to wholly assume.

The immediate vicinity of the Arkansas River is the natural location for the cities and towns which are to one day adorn this great valley. The natural centers of population and business will be there. Let us choose wisely, and make a choice which will not speedily be reversed.

We commend these facts and offers to the thoughtful consideration of the voters of Cowley County.

H. B. NORTON, Associate Principal State Normal School, President.

C. V. ESKRIDGE, Lieut. Governor, Vice President.

W. R. BROWN, Judge 9th Judicial District, Secretary.

L. B. KELLOGG, Principal State Normal School, Treasurer.

J. STOTLER, Director.

COL. P. B. PLUMB, Director.

CAPT. G. H. NORTON, Director.

H. L. HUNT, Director.

H. D. KELLOGG, M. D., Director.

J. S. DANFORD, Director.

Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.

Cowley County Normal School.

The second annual session of the school will be held at Winfield, commencing July 17th, and continuing four weeks.

In addition to daily exercises in all the branches of study required by the new school law, there will be a series of lectures on School Management and Theory and Practice of Teaching.

Several of the ablest educators in the State will be present to conduct class exercises and deliver evening lectures.

Under the new school law all the third grade teachers in the county will be compelled to raise their grade of scholarship or fail to get certificates. This will create a demand for well qualified teachers at increased wages.

To defray the expenses of the school a tuition fee of $3.00 per scholar will be charged. Good board can be secured at about $3 per week.

The teachers who desire to attend the Normal School should apply soon to

A. B. LEMMON, Principal,

Winfield, Kansas.

Winfield Courier, June 22, 1876.

A normal school, conducted by Prof. Shively, commences at Douglass on the 17th of July and will hold four weeks.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1876.

Normal School.

The following are the names of teachers attending the Normal School at this place.

From Cedarvale: Oscar J. Holroyd; Lizzie Conklin.

From Winfield: Wm. J. McClellan; J. K. Beckner; Rachel Nawman; Kate Gilleland; Maggie Stansberry; Sallie E. Rea; M. J. Huff; C. A. Winslow; Amy Robertson; Mary E. Lynn; Lusetta Pyburn; Mrs. Bell Seibert; Nannie McGee; Sarah E. Davis; O. S. Record; Byron A. Fouch; Mary A. Bryant; Mina C. Johnson; Mattie Roberts; Emma Saint.

From Arkansas City: Xina Cowley; Anna O. Wright; Kate Hawkins; Stella Burnett; Adelia DeMott; Georgiana Christian; Laura E. Turner; Lizzie Landis; Jefferson Bowen.

From Lazette: George Lee; M. L. Smith; Lucy Bedell; Kate Fitzgerald.

From Tisdale: Ella Wickersham; Gertie Davis.

From Dexter: Mary J. Byard.

From Polo: Mrs. Sarah Hollingsworth.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1876.

A COUNTY TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE will begin at the schoolhouse in Winfield, Monday, September 11, 1876, and continue four days, followed by a teachers’ examination, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15th and 16th. The examination will be principally written.

T. A. WILKINSON, County Superintendent.

Winfield Courier, February 8, 1877.

A GOOD LAW.

Senator Brown, of Marshal County, has introduced a Normal school bill, partially agreed upon by our very best educators, and one that meets with the hearty approval of our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Prof. Lemmon.

It provides for the establishment of a system of county normal institutes, very similar to those so successfully conducted for the past few years by the teachers and local superintendents of the various counties in the Southwest.

Under the present system of normal instruction, the taxpayers of the whole State are supporting three high schools, which are purely local in their influence and character and never can be made to benefit the average country teacher. A three week’s practical normal school, properly conducted at Winfield under this new system, would be worth more to the teachers of Cowley County than a nine years’ reflection upon the naked fact that the State normal buildings at Emporia and Leavenworth are models of beauty and architectural workmanship.

Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877. Editorial Page.

The Kansas Legislature appropriated for the State Penitentiary $243,881.97; for normal schools, $000,000.00. Comment is unnecessary.

Winfield Courier, July 19, 1877.

The Normal Institute for this county will begin work August 1. Prof. L. B. Kellogg, formerly of the Emporia Normal School, will have charge of the Institute. He will be assisted by Geo. W. Robinson, of Winfield, Miss Ella Wickersham, of Tisdale, and R. C. Story, County Superintendent.

Winfield Courier, July 19, 1877.

Addresses, upon topics of special and general interest, will be given by Rev. Rushbridge, Fleming, Platter, Wingar, and by D. A. Millington on the 13th of August. Doctor C. E. Pomeroy, President of the Emporia Normal School, will address the teachers and citizens. An examination of teachers on the 30th and 31st will close the labors of the Normal.

[CORRESPONDENCE: “TAX PAYER”—ARKANSAS CITY.]

From Arkansas City.

ARKANSAS CITY, Aug. 9, 1877.

EDITOR COURIER: At this season of the year there is seldom a break in the monoto-nous routine of a country town. We move, breathe, and have our existence with the regularity of the old open-faced Dutch clock that used to stand in the corner at home—and with almost as apparent indifference to the happenings in the outside world.

Our people had a partial awakening today, however, over that old sore—the school teacher. No man less self-willed than Grant need hope to teach the young ideas of Arkansas City how to shoot, and maintain amicable relations with the various so-called “rings.” (What would the average American talk about if that much-abused word were struck from the vocabulary of the English language?)

But to the meeting. The good people assembled at the schoolhouse, and actually dared to interfere with, and take exceptions to, the proceedings of that august body, the school board, in the matter of appointing a teacher.

Some of the bolder ones have expressed the opinion that, when two or more applicants present their names to a board, asking for an appointment, a vote should be taken by the members, a majority ruling, and no favoritism to be displayed. This, however, is clearly proven by the gentlemen in the negative, to be mere buncomb; that all that is necessary in such a case is an intimation by one of the board that the appointment of such and such a one would be desirable, and presto, the thing is done. Then, to avoid any serious complications between themselves, another member is granted the appointment of a particular friend (he may be a relative), and thus a most happy state of affairs is preserved.

As “those who know nothing about nothing,” a simple statement to the board that the applicant is efficient, and in every way capable, silences all questions on that score. Of course, it is a matter of no significance that the main supporters of this admirable system of municipal government are employees and relatives of these “moguls,” who thus openly tweak our social noses; and of course, the mere hint of such a thing as a “ring” is moonshine.

Such a thing might be in suburban villages, but in Arkansas City, the Lawrence of Southern Kansas, a “quituate” of the Emporia Normal School, and having the best school (house) in the county—preposterous!

The sum and substance of the whole matter is, no one has a particular dislike for the gentleman who is at present trying to gain a certificate which will justify him in calling for eighty dollars per month from our tax-payers, but there is a great deal of dissatisfaction among our people because of the looks of the thing.

If a man with but a common school education (such a one, in fact, as our school once aimed to give) can draw the same salary as the college graduate, the wielders of the birch bid fair to become numerous, while the reward for a higher type of learning will cease.

There are two ways of doing business—honorably and dishonorably. They have one way of doing it down here. Of course, we are not retrograding to the home of the sand hill, crane, and illiterate natives, but—just see how it looks!

Two or three people have got the fool notion into their heads that they want something, and how to get them rid of said notion is a perplexing question. One young enthusiast, but a stranger to Lindley Murray, went so far as to assert that the present appointee “don’t know nothing;” whereupon one of the “relatives,” who might profitably court the above named gentleman’s acquaintance, retorted with: “Yes, he does, too.” And I think so, myself. TAX PAYER.

[NOTE. We would not allow such a state of affairs as the above to exist in Winfield a single day! Ed.]

Winfield Courier, November 22, 1877.

STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, Emporia, Kansas. The winter term will commence Dec. 12th. Unsurpassed facilities are offered for a thorough professional or general education.

For circulars address the President, C. R. POMEROY.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

EDUCATIONAL.

By R. C. Story.

MONTHLY REPORT - DECEMBER.

Note: I am going to name district and enrollment only.

DISTRICT NO. WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ENROLLMENT.

4, 26; 6, 21; 7, 30; 10, 38; 15, 28; 18, 29; 21, 46; 25, 41; 26, 44; 30, 44; 31, 27; 87, 88; 38, 21; 89, 41; 40, 33; 41, 30; 42, 24; 45, 35; 46, 45; 47, 50; 48, 20; 50, 43; 54, 36; 61, 22; 62, 56; 65, 23; 69, 31; 78, 42; 81, 27; 85, 31; 91, 25; 94, 40; 97, 20; 107, 23.

The above figures are taken from reports sent in by about one third of the teachers in the county. Why do not all of them make reports of their schools and forward them promptly? Blanks were gotten up by the state superintendent and have been distributed among the teachers of the state. Who is to be benefited by such labor? There is no statutory law making it obligatory upon a teacher to fill out these monthly banks; but that individual who waits to be compelled to do an act which will result in good to his school is unworthy to be called a teacher or to occupy the position of a teacher.

These reports enable the public to examine the schools, give district boards the basis on which to compare their respective districts with others; put into the hands of the teacher a strong argument by which to appeal to the pride of his pupils, and furnish the people a generous and healthy stimulus in the discharge of their duties and in the promotion of habits of promptness, good deportment, and self control.

Teachers, you who neglect to use this means to aid you in your work are refusing to take advantage of opportunities which can result only in the advancement of your respective schools. Let your pupils feel that their conduct, their tardiness, their promptness, their regularity in attendance, their deportment, their standing in studies will each month go before the eyes of the public and become a source of pride and honor or a cause of shame and sorrow, and you will then begin to see the end sought for in these reports.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

A state examination can probably be held in this county during the coming summer, should the number of applicants justify the state board in taking such a step. All who are interested in this matter should correspond with this office. Full particulars of requirements will be published soon.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

To the School Boards of Cowley County:

GENTLEMEN: The law makes it one of your duties to visit your respective schools; your interests as tax-payers ask you to do the same; your relations as patrons of your respective schools demand this work of you. As school officers, as citizens, as parents, do you feel the obligations resting on you in this matter? You can stimulate the scholars in their labors by calling on them while in school; you can see the methods of your teachers; you can judge of their merits and their defects in no other way so well as by visiting, and you can give the teachers the full benefit of your moral, personal, and official help in the discharge of their important duties. If your teacher needs your help in bringing unruly and lawless pupils into subjection, you should be willing and prompt to meet the demand. You should impress the pupils who may be inclined to insubordination with the fact that you are in full accord with the teacher and that you will allow no disobedience, no rudeness, no disorder to go unpunished. The moral obligations of your position demand this of you, and your interests as parents should compel you to assume and maintain such a stand.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

NORMAL SCHOOLS. No relations of a public nature can be more intimate than those of a teacher to his pupils, and none can be more important than those which he sustains to the agencies and influences that prepare him for his work. Hence, no relations ought to be more cordial than those between the normal schools and every part of that common school system whose mission and purpose are “to secure competent instruction to every child that shall be born.” In the absence of such relations, the normal school as a public institution has no justification for its existence, or if they be merely nominal, if they exist only in theory, then will both the teachers’ seminary and the common school system be shorn of their strength. Said the eminent French statesman, Guizot, in speaking upon this identical subject, “The prosperity of the teachers’ seminary will be the measure of the success of the people’s schools.” He further declares that “without ample provision for the training of teachers, nothing can be done to improve elementary instruction.” Educational Weekly.

Winfield Courier, January 24, 1878.

MISTAKES. It is a mistake for a teacher to suppose that he can keep up with his profession without the aid of school journals.

It is a mistake for a teacher to think that he can get along with school-work without a complete program.

It is a mistake for a teacher to deem it unnecessary to make special preparation for each day’s duties.

It is a mistake for a teacher to think that his duty lies solely in teaching text-book knowledge.

It is a mistake in a teacher to neglect regular and frequent exercises in composition.

It is a mistake to let pupils pass through school without much practical work in letter writing.

It is a mistake for a teacher to allow lip-study by the pupils.

It is a mistake for a teacher to allow whispering among pupils.

It is a serious but common mistake for pupils to be put forward into readers and arithmetics beyond their powers of comprehension.

It is a sad mistake if pupils are not taught honesty, truthfulness, manliness, self-respect in their every day work.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 31, 1878. Front Page.

MILLINGTON & LEMMON, PUBLISHERS.

WHEN TO SELL A CROP.

EDITOR COURIER: It is a sad comment on human nature that selfishness is dominant and a greed for more controls us; and it is equally true that as often as a grasp is made for more, the realization is far less, and disappointment follows.

As a rule, there is no better time to sell a crop than when it is ready for market. The idea of looking into the future and telling what is to be months hence is all wrong.

The spirit that prompts such a practice is the same that rules and ruins many men in business. The gambler in stocks predicts a margin in certain bonds or stocks, and buys or holds when he could dispose of them at a margin. The farmer has his crops or stock ready for disposal, but thinks that in a week or two prices will advance; so he waits until the price must advance a good percentage or he is a loser, as it costs to hold them. The shrinkage on grain when held is very large. The risk of being destroyed by fire, accident, or malice is considerable. With hogs, cattle, and other livestock there is liability of disease and death, to say nothing of the cost of feeding to keep them in condition. Then, again, the interest on the money is an item, and the freedom from worry and care is also an item that counts in the cost. When wheat, oats, corn, hogs, cattle, or anything else you may have for sale is ready, and you are ready to market it, then is the time to sell.

Experience teaches that those who sell early average a better price for their commodities. Not only all these things, but the seller gets his money and can pay his debts, assist general business, and make better times.

All business is largely dependent on the farmer, and the money for his crops should be put in motion. Hundreds of men fail because the farmer has not sold his crops and paid his debts. The wealth that nature gives in the crops is for the public good, and the farmer that holds his crops and refuses to sell is no better than the capitalist, or the man that lends his money at a high rate of interest, or the monopolist who locks up millions of money.

It is due the public that all these immense products should be so handled as to help commerce and relieve business and businessmen, and still you hear them talk about hard times when the trouble is with themselves, for they will not sell their products at a price that the businessman will take hold of, and bring out the money that is now idle.

P. B. R.

[EDITORIAL ITEMS.]

Winfield Courier, January 31, 1878.

INDEMNITY SCHOOL LANDS.

It is generally known that for many years the interior department of the general government held that under the act of admission our state was not entitled for school purposes to the 16th and 36th sections of several of our most important Indian reservations. Under this decision the state lost more than 250,000 acres of land that should have been secured for the benefit of common schools.

Last winter ex-governor S. J. Crawford was appointed the agent of the state to prosecute several claims that we have against the general government. His first victory was to secure a decision giving to the state for school purposes lands in lieu of all that had been lost under the ruling referred to above. For some time our state officers have been wrestling with the question, “How shall these lands be selected?” They have reached a decision that we think will be endorsed by everybody.

Usually, in cases of this character, the legislature appropriates money to pay the expenses of commissioners appointed by the governor to do the work. In this case, no appropriation had been made; and unless somebody would advance the money to pay for doing the work, these lands could not be selected until after another session of the legislature. In the meantime, owing to our present heavy, and rapidly increasing immigration, the best lands in the west would be occupied by settlers and the state would be forced to take those of inferior quality. It was felt by all that it would be a great gain to the state for these lands to be selected at once. Our state officers, we are pleased to say, were “equal to the emergency.” They have decided to advance the money to pay the expense attending the selection of these lands, and to trust to the next legislature for reimbursement. This makes each of these officers personally responsible for the manner in which the work is done, and will give us better lands at less expense in selecting them than we would be likely to secure in any other way.

Four commissioners are now in the field locating these lands. They are men of good judgment, and all have had experience in work of this character. They are expected to go up and personally examine each piece of land selected, to take none but first-class land, and not to locate more than two sections in any congressional township. This latter provision will cause the lands to be scattered as to be more valuable to the state, and least detrimental to the counties in which they are located.

It is expected that all these lands will be selected within the next sixty days, or before the heavy immigration that we are certain to receive this spring, has fairly begun. The sooner they are selected the better it will be for the state. We are assured that the work will be pushed as rapidly as the weather will permit.

Winfield Courier, March 7, 1878. Editorial Page.

Bancroft Bounced!

An Emporia Real Estate Agent in a Tight Place.

The State Normal School Loses $15,000 to $20,000, and “Still we have no Railroad.”

About eight years ago E. P. Bancroft, at that time a member of the board of regents of the Emporia state normal school, was appointed agent for the sale of the lands belonging to the institution. He continued to serve in this capacity until June last, not reporting during all this time the sale of an acre of land. Soon after his removal he reported land sales during the time of his agency amounting to about four thousand dollars, and paid the sum reported into the state treasury. Until quite recently no suspicion of dishonesty attached to Mr. Bancroft. He was regarded as an energetic, honorable businessman and no one doubted the correctness of his report. About a month ago a man living in western Kansas wrote to the state auditor for the deed to a certain tract of normal school land that he had purchased from Mr. Bancroft, and for the price of which he held Bancroft’s receipts. An examination of the auditor’s books revealed the fact that no report of the sale of this tract of land had been made. A meeting of the board of regents of the normal school was called at once, and ex-Senator Creighton of Labette County, a member of the board, was appointed to investigate the matter. He went first to Saline County, a considerable amount of these lands being located there, and by going from tract to tract found that much of the land had been sold and that the purchasers held Bancroft’s receipts for payments thereto. Some of these lands were sold months after Bancroft’s appointment had been revoked. Also it was discovered that Bancroft had sold and undertaken to convey, without any authority whatever, certain “salt lands” belonging to the state, some of these lands having changed hands several times. Nearly all of these lands are occupied by settlers, and on some of them valuable improvements have been placed.

The normal school lands that were sold during Bancroft’s agency are lost to the state. Those sold since his discharge, and the “salt lands” will be secured to the state, but the loss will fall heavily on the unfortunate purchasers.

The entire amount of the defalcation is not yet known. It is not less than $15,000 and may prove to be twice that sum. As his bond has not been renewed since it was made eight years ago, it is believed to be worthless.

The investigation was conducted so quietly that all the evidence necessary to convict the defaulter was secured before he suspected what was being done. Since he was first suspicioned, escape has been impossible, for the police have watched him constantly. What has been done with the money that has thus been stolen has not yet been determined. As he was the moving spirit in the K. C., E. & S. W. R. R. Co., it is believed by many that he has used it to pay for the grading that has been done on that road. If so, the enterprise will rest for the present.

It seems strange that an enterprising businessman would thus throw himself away. For years he has occupied responsible positions and has had the confidence of the public. Doubtless when he began his peculations he expected to account for every dollar that should come into his hands. He had considered it merely “borrowing.” One downward step leads to another, and today a useful member of society, one who has long been an honored citizen of the state, is ruined because he was not strictly honest.

Recap Only: Educational Events in Cowley County.

Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.

EDUCATIONAL.

By R. C. Story.

Monthly Report—April.

The Normal Institute of Cowley County will be held in Winfield beginning on Wednesday, the 3rd day of July, and closing Wednesday, the 31st day of July, 1878.

Prof. John B. Holbrook, of Ripley Normal School, Tennessee, will act as conductor. Prof. Holbrook is highly endorsed by leading educators in the State as one eminently qualified to make our Normal a complete success.

Prof. George W. Robinson, principal of the city schools of Winfield, will assist in the management of the Institute. Professor Robinson’s success as an instructor in normals and high schools is too well known to call for further praise. . . .

Teachers are requested to note the following requirements for certificates.

Grade “A,” two years, calls for a standing in every branch of not less than 90 percent, and an average of 95 percent, in all.

Grade 1, one year, calls for a standing of not less than 90 percent in all.

Grade 2, six months, calls for an average of 75 percent in all branches, and not less than 70 percent in any one study.

An examination for county certificates will be held, beginning on the 1st day of August at 8 o’clock a.m.

An examination for state certificates will be held in Winfield, beginning August 26, at 8 o’clock a.m., and continuing through the 27th and 28th.

All parties desiring to attend said examination are requested to write to me at an early day for further particulars.

Winfield Courier, August 1, 1878.

Miss Nellie Aldrich has contracted to teach one year with Professor Holbrook in his normal school in Ripley, Tennessee. This is very complimentary to Cowley County, and Professor Holbrook secures the services of a first-class teacher.

Winfield Courier, August 1, 1878.

Professor G. W. Robinson has won golden opinions from our teachers by his earnest and anxious labors in connection with the normal institute. His work is first-class in every particular. An invitation was given him to go to Labette County to assist Professor Holbrook in normal work there, the coming month.

Winfield Courier, October 31, 1878. Editorial Page.

SAD DISASTER.

The beautiful State Normal School building at Emporia was destroyed by fire last Saturday morning. The loss is a heavy one, the building being worth about $100,000. The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of coal stored in the basement of the building. We have not learned whether the building was insured or not.

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1879.

Teachers’ Directory.

District No. 1: WINFIELD.

Geo. W. Robinson

Emma Saint

Sarah Aldrich

Sarah Hodges

Mary Bryant

Allie Klingman

Ioa Roberts

Connected with Winfield. District Number

Alice Aldrich 48

Mattie Minnehan 43

Mina Johnson 13

Celina Bliss 9

Mrs. Alice Bullock 106

R. A. O’Neill 77

A. B. Taylor 21

Ella Freeland 50

Maggie Stansbury 108

Ida Carey 97

Elia Hunt 90

John Bower 12

F. Starwalt 49

S. T. Hockett 64

Fannie Pontious 22

Larah E. Sitton 31

District No. 2: ARKANSAS CITY.

C. H. Sylvester

Mrs. L. M. Theaker

Connected with Arkansas City. District Number

T. J. Rude 51

Lizzie Landis 42

Chas. Hutchings 89

J. M. Hawthorn 6

Albertine Maxwell 32

Charles Swarts 80

H. G. Blount 41

J. O. Wilkinson 69

Risdon Gilstrap 33

Frank A. Chapin 10

L. E. Norton 53

Flora Finley 34

James Perisho 62

District No. 20: FLORAL.

G. B. Richmond

Connected with Floral.

Squire Humble 19

District No. 45: TISDALE.

E. A. Millard

Connected with Tisdale.

S. A. Smith 47

District No. 30: MOSCOW.

R. B. Hunter

District No. 26: LITTLE DUTCH.

T. J. Floyd

Connected with Little Dutch.

R. B. Corson 81

District No. 52: NEW SALEM.

Ella Davis

Connected with New Salem.

Sarah Bovee 39

[Miss] Ray Nawman 55

District No. 14: LAZETTE.

Mary A. Tucker

Connected with Lazette.

H. T. Albert 15

Emma Burden 95

M. Hemenway 94

District No. 5: DEXTER.

W. Trevett

Connected with Dexter.

W. E. Merydith 54

R. C. Maurer 7

Allie Hardin 88

Viola Hardin 88

S. F. Overman 56

Alpha Harden 29

District No. 84: CEDAR VALE.

H. P. Attwater

Connected with Cedar Vale.

Alice Dickie 79

N. P. Seacord 56

James Seacord 83

District No. 60: POLO.

Thos. B. Kidney

Connected with Polo.

Mrs. Sarah Hollingsworth 74

District No. 18: BALTIMORE.

Lou Bedell

District No. 24: ROCK.

Electa F. Strong

Connected with Rock.

E. Limoric 25

Simeon Martin 29

District No. 72: RED BUD.

J. T. Tarbet

Connected with Red Bud.

R. A. Hall 91

District No. 73: DOUGLAS.

L. L. Hollinger

District No. 11: BUSHNELL.

L. McKinley

Connected with Bushnell.

Sadie Davis 71

District No. 85: SILVERDALE.

Jennie Scott

District No. 8: OXFORD.

Hattie McKinley

District No. 107: OTTO.

E. B. Poole

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1879.

TEACHERS OF COWLEY COUNTY:

In 1878 the following circular was sent out by the State Superintendent. Circumstances prevented my submitting the matter therein to your attention. The object of this work is an excellent one, and it is not too late to begin the desired work. In a short time sample pages of paper, fools-cap size, showing headings and rulings, will be sent to every teacher in the county. Can you not put on record the work of your classes? Let some subject be taken every week, or every month if time permits, and have the pupil write the questions and answers on fools-cap paper, using but one side of a leaf. This work, when completed, should be collected and sent to my office. It is intended to use all material thus sent in to make an educational exhibit at our next county fair. Read the circular carefully, then follow its suggestions.

R. C. STORY

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1879.

STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION,

TOPEKA, KANS., NOV. 10, 1878.

DEAR SIR:—Most teachers require of their students occasional written exercises in study, recitation, and examination. The value of such exercises is unquestioned. It is now proposed to use them in the collection of the material for an educational exhibit that shall show what is actually being done in all the classes of every grade of schools in the state. Your cooperation in this undertaking is earnestly solicited.

It is proposed that this collection shall be divided into three sections, viz.”

1. Common or country-school work.

2. Graded-school work.

3. The work of higher institutions of learning, including the State University, State Agricultural College, Normal School, and denominational colleges.

To make such a collection valuable, the work should be prepared on a plan that should be followed strictly by all participating schools. To aid in securing uniformity of work, the following rules are respectfully suggested:

1. All exercises should be prepared on paper uniform in size and ruling with the enclosed.

2. The work should be collected by classes; every member of the class should be represented, either by work, or by a sheet of paper on which the teacher shall give the reason of the child’s failure.

3. Use pen and ink in making all written exercises.

4. Specimens of work should be collected from time to time as the teacher thinks best. These should illustrate—(a) methods of study, (b) recitations, (c) examinations. During a term, every member of each class should be required to prepare several papers.

5. Students should not be given time for special preparation for this work. The papers should show the average work of each student, nothing more. Teachers should require their students to be prepared to put themselves upon the record at any time. By so doing, they can make the preparation of these exercises an excellent incentive to study.

6. In assigning a written exercise in study, recitation, or examination, the teacher should announce the time to be given for its preparation, and at the expiration of that time, he should collect all papers and note the exact time in which they had been prepared. These papers should be fastened together and put in covers similar to those sent herewith.

Students’ work prepared as herein suggested, can be made a very interesting part of a school examination. It will give parents and others a better idea of the teacher’s methods, and the actual progress made by students than can be obtained in any other way.

The next meeting of our State Teachers’ Association will be held at Lawrence. Is it not possible to make a collection of school work an interesting and valuable feature of that meeting?

If you think so, and if you are willing that your work shall be compared with that of others, you are requested to begin to make such a collection at once. Attend the meeting of the Association, if you find it possible, and bring your “fruits” with you. If unable to be present at the meeting, send your work by express, addressed to me, and it will be placed on exhibition. It is proposed, finally, to place the collection in the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, where it may be examined at any time.

Very respectfully, your ob’t servant,

ALLEN B. LEMMON,

State Superintendent of Pub. Instruction.

Winfield Courier, March 13, 1879.

State School Fund.

The quota of state school fund apportioned to this county, amounting to $3,692.62, has been received by the treasurer and is ready for distribution. Superintendent Story informs us that it will amount to 68-1/4 cents per scholar of school age.

About this time they changed name from Normal School to Normal Institute and at other times it was referred to as “Cowley County Normal” or “Normal.” MAW

[THE COWLEY COUNTY NORMAL.]

Winfield Courier, May 15, 1879.

The Cowley County Normal will open Monday, August 4, and will close the first week in September. William A. Wheeler, of Ottawa, Geo. W. Robinson, of Winfield, Miss Lillian F. Hoxie, of Fort Scott, and Superintendent Story will have charge of the classes. Three grades will be formed, and work adapted to each grade will be given. The aim of conductor and instructors will be to make the labors of this session fruitful in the practical work of the school-room.

At the close of the Institute proper a county organization of the teachers will be effected, and two or three days will be given to discussion of the needs of country schools and to consideration of matters of general and special interest to the teachers. Can not every teacher in Cowley county attend this session and start in at the beginning? Teachers must realize the fact that they must either keep abreast of their professional work and progress or else fall behind and out of the ranks.

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.

The Normal Institute opened up with an enrollment of 107, and it is expected that fully 125 will be in attendance by next week. We expect next week to give the names of the teachers attending and an account of the progress of the Institute.

[THE NORMAL.]

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.

The Normal is now in fair running order, and the teachers are getting down to hard, solid work. Profs. Wheeler, Story, and Trimble, with their corps of assistants, are working like beavers, and there is a united feeling among teachers and pupils to make the time count. The teachers in attendance number 117, and seem as intelligent and as capable of training the young ideas as can be found anywhere.

Below we append a corrected list of those in attendance.

Lorenzo Harris, S. P. Bailey, C. W. Crank, Sarah Boovee, Lou A. Bedell, T. B. Hall, Mina C. Johnson, Mollie L. Rouzee, C. L. Swarts, Martha Thompson, Mary Buck, John L. Ward, John W. Jones, W. E. Ketcham, Squire Humble, C. C. Overman, R. B. Overman, P. S. Martin, Carrie Morris, Mattie L. West, R. S. White, Jonathan Hunt, Henrietta King, Florence Wood, Effie Randall, Jerry Adams, Ella E. Davis, Mattie E. Minihan, Allie Wheeler, A. B. Taylor, Ray E. Newman, John Bower, Adam L. Weber, R. A. O’Neil, John C. Rowland, Jennie Davy, Rosa Frederick, Flora Ware, Mattie Mitchell, J. J. Harden, Jennie R. Lowry, Mary Cochran, Alice Bullock, Maggie Stansbuerry, Ella Hittle, George Wright, Cinna May Patten, Mrs. J. E. Brown, Elecia Strong, Mary Tucker, Mrs. E. T. Trimble, A. Limerick, E. A. Millard, E. I. Johnson, R. B. Corson, Celina Bliss, Fannie Pontious, Ella A. Kirkpatrick, Ella Kelly, Mrs. S. Hollingsworth, Lizzie Landis, Fannie McKinley, Mrs. L. M. Theaker, Mary S. Theaker, Alice Pyburn, L. C. Brown, T. J. Floyd, Alivin E. Hon, Nettie D. Handy, Alfred Cochran, J. P. Hosmer, Floretta Shields, Ella Akers, Ella Sandford, Lusetta Pyburn, Mrs. Southard, Allie Klingman, Amy Robertson, Annie Hunt, Sarah Hodges, H. G. Blount, Grant Stafford, Risdon Gilstrap, James Lorton, James E. Perisho, Nannie M. McGee, Ella Z. Stuart, Anna O. Wright, T. J. Rude, Nellie R. Waggin, Alice E. Dickie, Inez L. Patten, Ella Freeland, Sarah E. Davis, Mollie Davis, Mattie Walters, Nannie Andrew, Albertine Maxwell, Ella Grimes, H. C. Holcomb, Hattie Warnock, D. S. Armstrong, S. A. Smith, J. F. Hess, Tirzie B. Marshall, C. Hutchins, Arvilla Elliot, Ella Bosley, L. McKinley, James Warren, A. J. Denton, Fannie Skinner, Hattie McKinley, Estella Cronk, Jessie Sankey, Anna Bartlett, Anna L. Norton.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1879.

We extract the following from a letter in the Ft. Scott Monitor, signed “L. H.” and supposed to have been written by Miss Hoxie, assistant conductor of the Normal Institute.

“WINFIELD, Aug. 4, 1879.

“That branch of the Santa Fe which is to be extended through Sedgwick and on into Cowley County is rapidly approaching completion. They expect to reach Winfield about the 1st of September. Twenty-four miles of the track are finished, but not in operation. The benefit of the terms upon which the land of old Osage Reservation was settled are plainly visible here. One notices the difference immediately. . . . Cowley County is one of the best in the southern part of the State, and is well developed, being settled by thrifty and intelligent people. While patronizing an old-fashioned stage-coach—whose only advantage consists in allowing a good view of the country—I counted sixty-two wheat stacks in riding a distance of half a mile. In one wheat field there were three sulky plows, each drawn by three mules, employed turning stubble.

“Winfield is a fine town. It contains upwards of 3,000 inhabitants, and is the center of trade for a magnificent farming section. It will soon be a railroad terminus for two lines, and will gain a large amount of Territory trade, which now goes to Wichita.

“It was an interesting sight to see one hundred Indians ride into the latter place last week to trade. They are cash buyers.”

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1879.

The normal institute closed last week, there having been one hundred and thirty-two teachers in attendance. Prof. Story has won high praises by his efficient and untiring efforts to make the institute a success. The examination of teachers closes today.

COWLEY COUNTY TEACHER, PUBLISHED MONTHLY, OCT. 8, 1879.

SALUTATORY.

For three years my labors have been earnestly put forth to advance the cause of education in Cowley county. Thro’ the columns of the county papers, in visits made to a large part of the schools and districts of the county, and in addresses in many neighborhoods this work has been untiringly pushed. The territory is so large, the district so numerous, the interests so vast and so varied that the question of meeting the demands made upon me compels me to seek new and additional forces with which to carry on successfully the duties of my office. In the hope of meeting these demands and duties, and in the broader hope of reaching more widely and more deeply all who are concerned in the welfare of our common schools, this new venture is undertaken. There will be much labor and little money in it. The means to meet the expenses of publishing and editing this paper come from the generous businessmen who advertise in its columns. The full tax however may not be met this way, but the balance will be gladly met should the paper prove to be serviceable in promoting the cause for which it appears.

Its constant aim will be to reach and benefit the pupils and teachers in the public schools, the families from which come teachers and pupils, and the district officers, who are the educational guardians of their people. R. C. STORY, Co. Supt.

Cowley County Teacher, October 8, 1879.

THE NORMAL.

The attendance at the late Normal Institute was all that could be wished by anyone. For the first time the number of teachers enrolled exceeded the number of districts in the county. SKIPPED THE REST.

Cowley County Teacher, October 8, 1879.

TEACHER’S WAGES.

The question is often asked by parties living in the east, what wages do you pay teachers in Kansas? In this county wages for female teachers, in 1877 and 1878 averaged $25.99; for male teachers, $31.52 per month. The average number of weeks of school was 18.08. The returns for last year are not all in, and no exact estimate can be given. Probably the wages will range about as they were the year before.

The length of terms and the quality of teaching are increasing, while districts are growing stronger in value of property and in the number of children. These are the causes that determine the wages of teaching. As districts get out of debt; and grown in school population and in resources, it is natural to infer that better wages will be paid.

Occasionally one hears that teachers have formed a combination to put up wages; or that the examining board advises teachers to demand higher wages; or that the county superintendent is seeking to raise the pay of teachers. How or why these silly rumors begin no one can tell. The pay of teachers, like the wages of all working classes, depends on laws which are above the control of superintendents, examining boards, and teachers. The factors that make the wages given teachers are three: the financial resources of the districts, their freedom from indebtedness, and the quality of teaching. Only one of these factors can be affected by any influence from teachers or school officials, and that is the quality of the teaching. Who can exert the greatest influence on this factor? Who would be benefited most, financially, by its increase in worth? Those who labor in the school-room in the position of teachers. In this county, as elsewhere, good teachers are sought for, and are paid good wages for their labors. When teachers cry out for better wages, they should be told to increase the worth of their wares, and their pay will increase proportionally.

Cowley County Teacher, October 8, 1879.

FIRST PARAGRAPH PARTIALLY TORN...ENDS UP WITH THE FOLLOWING WORDS...”and organized a permanent association.”

ARTICLE THEN GOES ON WITH RESOLUTIONS.

The work of the general institute was practical and successful, and was summed up in the following resolutions.

Resolved, That monthly reports should be made by teachers strictly in accordance with the blank reports sent out by the county superintendent, and that such reports should be made promptly at the close of each calendar month.

Resolved, That both written and oral class examinations should be held as often as once a month, and that oral reviews should be had at least once a week.

Resolved, That county schools should be divided into pri-

mary, intermediate, and grammar grades, and that the teacher should grade his school according to its needs and advancement.

Resolved, That written work in schools should consist (1) of written preparation for recitations; (2) of written work at recitation; and (3) of writen work at monthly examinations.

Resolved, That this work should be prepared frequently, and kept by the teacher for the inspection of parents, officers, and visitors.

Resolved, That while we, as teachers, do not condemn the judicious attendance of pupils and teachers at socials and lyceums, yet we recommend that such meetings be held only on Friday or Saturday night.

Resolved, That no class of entertainments should continue in session later than 10 o’clock, p.m.

Resolved, That such entertainments should not be held oftener than once in two weeks.

Resolved, That the teachers of Cowley county hereby tender Hon. Allen B. Lemmon their sincere thanks for his recent visit, and for his hearty words uttered in behalf of education. We deeply appreciate the worth of his devoted and untiring efforts in the cause of common schools, and we trust that all true friends of education will recognize in him a worthy and conscientious co-laborer.

Resolved, That our thanks are due, and are hereby tendered, to all who have been engaged in working with us in our normal, in the capacity of instructors.

Cowley County Teacher, October 8, 1879.

Cowley County Teachers.

WINFIELD—A GRADE.

Prof. E. T. Trimble

Mrs. E. E. Timble

Miss Kate L. Meech

Miss Sarah Hodges

Miss Mina C. Johnson

Miss Allie Klingman

Miss Sarah E. Davis

P. S. Martin

T. Jay Floyd

WINFIELD—B GRADE.

Miss Nellie Aldrich

Miss Lena Bartlett

Miss Celina Bliss

Miss Hattie McKinley

Miss Ella Freeland

E. P. Hickok

R. A. O’Neil

A. B. Taylor

Lincoln McKinley

John Bower

WINFIELD—C GRADE.

Miss Mollie Davis

Miss Lusetta Pyburn

Miss Amy Robertson

Miss Rose Frederick

Miss F. M. McKinley

Miss Henrietta King

Miss Mattie Minihan

Miss Ray E. Nawman

Miss F. E. Pontious

Miss Alice E. Pyburn

Miss Maggie Stansbury

Miss Effie Randall

Miss Mattie E. Walters

Mrs. P. B. Seibert

Mrs. Alice Bullock

John C. Rowland

A. E. Hon

Samuel E. Davis

Grant Stafford

Reuben S. White

ARKANSAS CITY—A GRADE.

C. H. Sylvester

Miss Lizzie Landis

Miss Fannie Skinner

Miss Al Maxwell

ARKANSAS CITY—B GRADE.

T. B. Hall

Mrs. L. M. Theaker

Miss Mattie Mitchell

C. L. Swarts

H. G. Blount

Risdon Gilstrap

ARKANSAS CITY—C GRADE.

Miss Jessie Sankey

Miss Mary L. Theaker

Miss A. O. Wright

D. P. Marshall

J. F. Hess

Charles Hutchins

TISDALE.

W. D. Noble (State certificate).

R. B. Hunter, (A)

S. A. Smith, (B)

Mrs. Ida C. Brown, (C)

T. J. Johnson, (C)

A. E. Millard, (B)

Miss Gertie Davis, (C)

Miss Sada Davis, (C)

Miss Mattie West (C)

LAZETTE.

Miss Mary Tucker, (A)

M. Hemenway, (C)

H. F. Albert, (C)

H. T. Albert, (C)

Miss Lu A. Bedell, (C)

Miss Arvilla Elliott, (C)

DEXTER.

S. F. Overman, (A)

T. J. Rude, (C)

R. B. Overman, (B)

O. Phelps, (B)

NEW SALEM—C.

Miss Ella E. Davis

Miss Mary E. Buck

MAPLE CITY.

W. E. Ketcham, (B)

G. F. Gilliland, (C)

Jas. E. Perisho, (C)

FLORAL—C.

Squire Humble

Lorenzo Harris

CEDARVALE.

Miss Allie E. Dickie, (B)

J. P. Hosmer, (C)

Miss Martha Thompson, (C)

ROCK—B.

Simeon Martin

Alex. Limerick

ROCK—C.

D. S. Armstrong

Miss Electa Strong

TANNEHILL—C.

Mrs. S. E. Sitton

Miss Mollie Rouzee

DOUGLASS—C.

Mrs. E. Gard

BRYANT—C.

Henry Waters

LITTLE DUTCH.

R. B. Corson, (A)

Adam L. Weber, (C)

SILVERDALE—C.

Jennie Scott

POLO—C.

Mrs. S. Hollingsworth

RED BUD—B.

Porter Wilson

BUSHNELL—B.

P. W. Smith

SALT CITY—C.

Libbie M. Conrad

S. J. Gilbert

BALTIMORE—C.

E. W. Woolsey

[TEACHERS’ WAGES.]

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1879 - Front Page.

From the Cowley County Teacher.

The question is often asked by parties living in the east, what wages do you pay teachers in Kansas. In this county wages for female teachers, in 1877 and 1878, averaged $25.00; the male teachers, $31.52 per month. The average number of weeks of school was 18.08. The returns for last year are not all in, and no exact estimate can be given. Probably the wages will range about as they were the year before. The length of terms and the quality of teaching are increasing, while districts are growing stronger in value of property and in the number of children. These are the causes that determine the wages of teaching. As districts get out of debt, and grow in school population and in resources, it is natural to infer that better wages will be paid.

Occasionally one hears that teachers have formed a combination to put up wages; or that the examining board advises teachers to demand higher wages; or that the county superin-tendent is seeking to raise the pay of teachers. How or why these silly rumors begin, no one can tell. The pay of teachers, like the wages of all working classes, depends on laws which are above the control of superintendents, examining boards, and teachers.

The factors that make the wages given teachers are three: the financial resources of the districts, their freedom from indebtedness, and the quality of teaching. Only one of these factors can be affected by any influence from teachers or school officials, and that is the quality of teaching. Who can exert the greatest influence on this factor? Who would be benefited most, financially, by its increase in worth? Those who labor in the school-room in the position of teachers. In this county, as elsewhere, good teachers are sought for, and are paid good wages for their labors. When teachers cry out for better wages, they should be told to increase the worth of their wares, and their pay will increase proportionally.

[COMPLYING WITH THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.]

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1879.

The State Superintendent, A. B. Lemmon, states that in the event school district boards have not completed the work of adoption and introduction of school books by the 16th Sept., 1879, the date of the expiration of the new school law, it is their duty and right to proceed until the work is completed.

Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.

All teachers who want monthly report cards should at once notify the County Superintendent, as he is at work getting up a form for use in the county. The cost will be about fifty cents a hundred.

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879. [Date Not Given.]

Officers of Cowley County Sabbath School Convention.

President: S. S. Holloway.

Vice President: John Service.

Secretary: James McDermott.

Asst. Secretary: R. C. Story.

Treasurer: H. D. Gans.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: P. B. Lee, W. D. Mowry, W. H. Rose, A. L. Crow, and J. R. Thompson.

TOWNSHIP VICE PRESIDENTS.

Winfield City: W. O. Johnson.

Walnut: G. W. Youle.

Pleasant Valley: Joel Mason.

Vernon: S. P. Chase.

Tisdale: V. P. Rounds.

Cresswell: S. C. Murphy.

Bolton: Dr. Carlisle.

Beaver: C. W. Roseberry.

Silverdale: G. B. Harris.

Dexter: G. W. Jones.

Spring Creek: W. E. Ketcham.

Cedar: Mrs. Strong.

Otter: C. R. Myles.

Liberty: Alex. Thompson.

Windsor: Mrs. S. M. Fall.

Harvey: Lilburn Smith.

Omnia: E. A. Henthorn.

Silver Creek: T. P. Carter.

Richland: T. R. Carson.

Rock: A. Limerick.

Maple: Simeon Martin.

Ninnescah: Howard Stull.

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

ASSOCIATION DISTRICTS.

For the purpose of holding teachers’ associations in the different parts of the county, the following division of townships has been made.

District No. 1. Ninnescah, Maple, and western portion of Rock.

District No. 2. Eastern portion of Rock, Richland, and Omnia.

District No. 3. Harvey, Windsor, Silver Creek.

District No. 4. Walnut, Vernon, Beaver, Pleasant Valley, Tisdale, Liberty, and city of Winfield.

District No. 5. Creswell, Bolton, Silverdale.

District No. 6. Spring Creek, Cedar.

District No. 7. Dexter, Liberty, Otter.

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

THE LATE EXAMINATIONS.

The examinations held in September and October disclosed two serious defects in the education of a majority of our teachers. The lack of accurate knowledge of general literature and of general information is indeed lamentable. What shall be said of applicants who class Shakespeare, Tennyson, Cowper, Dryden, Byron, Milton, among American poets? Of what use has the study of history been to those who locate Bunker Hill, Lexington, and Yorktown in New Jersey, and who make Franklin and Hamilton generals in the Black Hawk war? What does that teacher know of curent events who says that the Isthmus of Darien is the “body of water” that connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean? Why should so many applicants say that John Brown’s raid was one of the most important events in Kansas history?

One other serious defect in the education of our teachers is shown in the bad spelling, bad composition, and erroneous use of capitals and punctuation marks. Many papers were given in which contained not a single mark of punctuation. Others were found in which capitals seemed to have been scattered broad-cast, in the old manner of sowing wheat.

Such ignorance and such errors must be eradicated. It will take time, labor, and perseverance, but it must be done. Applicants for certificates must show an ability to use correct English. They must know something of the present generation and of the current events of national importance.

To secure these two ends follow this course: Take Swinton’s or Pinneo’s Composition, and study it, making it a basis for much original work in writing. Read a selection, or memorize one--then write it out on paper, and compare this work with the original in regard to capitals, punctuation, spelling, and language. Subscribe for some leading paper of national reputation, and read and study its contents, using atlas, dictionary, and note-book constantly.

To those whose standing has been running low, let a word of warning be given. Make such use of the fall and winter months as will find you next spring able to pass a thorough examination in every subject in which your standing is low. A hint to the wise is sufficient.

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

Educational Summary of Cowley County for the Year

Ending July 31, 1879.

No. of districts organized: 122

No. of districts reported: 122

Total school population: 6,779

No. of pupils enrolled in school: 4,485

Average daily attendance: 2,580

Percentage enrolled: .66

Percentage in daily attendance: .38

Percentage not in daily attendance: .62

No. of persons between 8 and 14 not attending school 3 months: 192

No. of teachers required: 117

Grade “A”: 10

Grade “B”: 76

Grade “C”: 58

Total No. of different teachers employed: 137

Average salary—males: $30.34

Average salary—females: $22.10

Average No. of weeks of school session: 21.3

No. of rooms used for schools: 116

No. of private schools: 9

Teachers in private schools: 9

Pupils in private schools: 176

Average weeks of private schools: 10

Reported No. of persons over 16 who cannot read or write: 60

Estimated value of buildings and grounds: $52,251

Estimated value of furniture: $6,966

Estimated value of apparatus: $1,208

Amount of bonds issued this year: $2,590

Present bonded indebtedness: $36,738

Assessed valuation of personal property: $370,043

Assessed valuation of real property: $1,443,942

No. of districts furnished with record books: 89

No. of districts furnished with unabridged dictionaries: 16

No. of districts that have uniform text-books: 89

No. of persons examined: 177

Average age of applicants: 23

No. of applications rejected: 36

No. of certificates granted: 141

No. of districts visited by county superintendent: 64

No. of visits made by Co. Supt.: 134

No. of new districts organized: 6

No. of districts having 3 months school: 108

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

FINANCIAL EXHIBIT.

Balance in hands of district treasurers July 31, 1878: $3,328.82

Amount received for teachers’ wages: $15,144.42

Amount received from State Fund: $5,420.95

Amount received site & building fund: $1,844.41

Amount received library fund: $121.80

Amount received sale of bonds: $2,360.00

Amount received all other sources: $1,753.27

Amount received from all sources: $29,973.41

Amount paid for teachers’ wages: $17,420.89

Amount paid for rents, fuel, etc.: $4,285.36

Amount paid for text books: $440.92

Amount paid for books for library: $51.50

Amount paid for maps and apparatus: $289.33

Amount paid for sites, buildings: $3,126.47

Total amount paid out: $35,614.47

Amount in hands of district treasurers Aug. 1, 1879: $4,359.10

TEXT-BOOKS USED IN DISTRICTS.

Reading and Orthography.

McGuffey: 17

Harvey: 19

Monroe: 14

Edward: 16

Independent: 43

Arithmetics.

Ray: 36

Felter: 7

Hagar: 10

Peck: 17

White: 39

Penmanship.

Spencerian: 53

Eclectic: 40

Feltor’s Book-Keeping: 5

Swinton’s Language Series: 15

Geography.

Mitchell: 2

Warren: 9

Eclectic: 26

Monteith: 33

Harper: 29

Grammar.

Harvey: 46

Greene: 14

Swinton: 6

Clark: 27

History.

Barnes: 45

Ridpath: 3

Goodrich: 6

Anderson: 8

Venable: 5

Beard: 5

Swinton: 10

Unabridged Dictionaries: 16

COUNTY NORMAL.

Enrollment: 131

Average attendance: 101

Amount on hand at close of last year’s Normal: $11.00

Amount from examination fees: $177.00

Amount from registration fees: $125.00

Amount from State: $50.00

Amount from county: $70.40

TOTAL: $433.40

Amount paid instructors: $356.60

Amount for current expenses: $76.80

Total paid out: $433.40

No. of districts having nine months’ school: 5

No. of districts having six months’ school: 42

No. of districts having four months’ school: 33

No. of districts having three months’ school: 28

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

Five teachers sent in reports for September, districts 29, 42, 48, 77, and 99.

The Winfield teachers are over-worked, and two of them think of going out of the service.

Miss Fannie McKinley is seriously ill. Hopes of her recovery have been given up by her friends.

Sixty-seven teachers have reported contracts made for teaching school, while only 39 have sent in reports for work done in October.

A supply of the new edition of the School law has been received, and district clerks can get copies by calling at the Superintendent’s office.

Six hundred copies of the first and seven hundred copies of this number of the TEACHER have been sent out. This paper goes into the hands of every teacher and school official in the county.

Cowley County Teacher, November, 1879.

A Teachers’ Directory was given in this issue.

The Districts for Teachers Listed was given.

“This list is made from postal cards sent in by teachers. Those whose names are not in this list will please report promptly on making contracts with district boards.”

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1879.

Two of the most efficient of the Winfield teachers, Miss Johnson and Miss Meech, have tendered their resignations, to take place at the close of the present term. The crowded condition of our schools makes it almost impossible for a teacher to keep up with the work. The grammar department, over which Miss Meech presides, had an average attendance for the month of October of 52, when 40 is as many as one person can possibly teach and do justice to the pupils. Some step should be taken in this matter.

Cowley County Teacher, December, 1879.

Miss Fanny McKinley has recovered from her late serious illness.

The problem given in the November TEACHER was solved by Miss Fannie Skinner, Miss Henrietta King, Jerry Adams, and Harry C. Shaw, the last named being a pupil of Miss Lizzie Landis and aged thirteen years.

Winfield Courier, December 4, 1879.

The school examinations for the present term will occur in the High school on Wednesday and Thursday and in the other rooms on Thursday and Friday. The examinations will be both oral and written, and by attending parents can judge of the advancement of their children. The teachers will be pleased to have parents and friends of the schools present at the examinations.

[ARTICLE FROM “A FATHER” TO EDITOR.]

Winfield Courier, December 4, 1879.

ED. COURIER: Is Winfield a first class city? And does it propose to keep that rank among the cities of Kansas? If such are its pretentions and aspirations, would it not be well to stir up the school board to a proper realization of the educational demands from towns that plume themselves on being first class?

If the glory of our county lies in its system of free schools, does not our share of that glory grow beautifully less when our schools are run on a basis that was demanded for them when the city was half its present size? When there were less than four hundred children in the district, six rooms and six teachers were considered necessary. Now, when there are nearly eight hundred children, six teachers and six rooms are still deemed sufficient! Granting that only half the children of school age attend regularly, that would give more than sixty pupils to a room. And what are the facts? In the COURIER of a few weeks ago a statement of the enrollment was given by rooms or departments, and it is seen that the total enrollment was 378 and the average attendance 329, thus giving an average of over fifty to each teacher. But the case is still worse if we look at the schools separately. The primary schools had an average attendance during October of 69 and 63; the intermediate, 54 and 60; the grammar, 52; and the high school, 31. Here we find our rooms overcrowded, three in a seat, and many of them scattered promiscuously around the rostrums, or hanging on the corners of teachers’ desks. But to cap the climax, our children below seven are forced out of school because there is not room for them! Then to make matters even worse, those who do go to the primary school can drink at the fountain of learning only half a day at a time. Truly somebody needs punching up, and if it isn’t the board, who in the world is it? Why don’t they rent rooms, and employ three or four more teachers? A couple of temporary frame buildings could be erected at an expense of two or three thousand dollars, and our children could then be allowed to go to school. I for one don’t like the way things run in the school line. A FATHER.

[REPORT OF THE WINFIELD SCHOOLS.]

Winfield Courier, December 11, 1879.

TABLE SHOWING DEPARTMENTS/NO. ADMITTED, ETC. I SKIPPED AS IT WAS TOO HARD TO READ.

In presenting to the School Board and citizens the above report, I wish to call attention to a few facts regarding the term’s work in the different departments of the public schools.

According to the school census taken last fall, there were in the school district 132 persons of school age. Since that time some territory has been admitted into the school district, and the number has been still further increased by families moving into the city. Owing to the fact that we have but six rooms, it was necessary to keep all under seven years of age out of the schools.

During the present term there has been enrolled in all the departments 550 pupils; 113 of these have for various reasons withdrawn, leaving an actual attendance of 437. Could this number be equally divided, it would give 73 pupils to each room. But this cannot be done, as the greater number are in the Primary and Intermediate departments. In the First Primary there is at present an attendance of 107, with a daily average of 70 for the term. The last week of the present term the daily average was 86. In the Second Primary there are 86 pupils in attendnce, with an average of the last week of the term of 74.

In the First Primary it became necessary to divide the school into two divisions, and have one division attend in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon, as there are not seats to accommodate over one half the pupils.

In some of the other rooms, pupils are compelled to sit three in a seat, and should there be an increase in attendance during the coming term, there will be no alternative but to divide the other departments as has already been done in the First Primary.

The work of the term, while as good as could be expected under the cirrcumstances, cannot but be unsatisfactory to both parents and teachers, for no teacher can do thorough work under such unfavorable circumstances.

By an examination of the above report, it will be seen that the average attendance is not so large as it should be, and yet it is really larger than could be expected, as it is not surprising that children should prefer to remain away from school when they are obliged to sit on the rostrum while there.

If we are to have prosperous and pleasant schools, some steps should immediately be taken to provide better facilities. With the present enrollment we should have at least two more teachers, and were we to admit children between 5 and 7 years, we would need at least four more teachers.

It certainly is a wise policy for any community to furnish the best of facilities in the way of public schools, as no other ever does so much toward raising a people to that plain of knowledge and enlightenment upon which every American citizen should stand.

In a state having a compulsory school law, every community should have the power to provide schools for all its children, and it is unjust that people should be compelled to pay school tax and yet be obliged to send their children to private schools.

Yours respectfully, E. T. TRIMBLE.

Cowley County Teacher, January, 1880.

T. J. Floyd has gotten married, and of course will make no school reports during the next few months.

Foster Tucker came home from the State University to spend the holidays. He likes his school well, and reports all interests flourishing.

George Thompson, of Baltimore, now a student in the Agricultural College, Manhattan, writes us a pleasant letter about that institution. He seems well pleased with the school, and is making good progress.

Cowley County Teacher, February, 1880.

Teachers’ Examination.

An examination of applicants for teachers’ certificates will be held March 19 at Winfield. The work will begin at 9 a.m. precisely.

Certificates will be issued as follows: Grade B to every applicant whose average standing is 90, and who falls below 80 in no one subject. Grade C to every applicant whose average standing is 80, and who falls below 70 in no one branch. Answers to questions will be carefully examined and rigidly graded. Candidates must show good scholarship in the papers submitted to entitle them to certificates. The standard herein mentioned will be insisted upon invariably.

The subjects on which examinations will be made are Orthography, Orthoepy, Reading, Penmanship, Geography, Arithmetic, Grammar, U. S. History, U. S. Constitution, and Theory and Practice. R. C. STORY, County Superintendent.

[STATE FUND DECREASED FOR TEACHERS.]

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880

The State fund for 1880 and 1881 will be about one-half what it has been in years past. Instead of 70 cents per capita of school population the apportionment will be 30 or 35 cents. This will make considerable difference in the teacher’s fund in many districts. This is attributable to the wise (!) spirit of economy that the last legislature manifested. Teacher.

Cowley County Teacher, April, 1880. [Vol. I, No. 6.]

DEXTER SCHOOLS.

My school is running delightfully, not a single case of tardiness this month; the concentration of mind to business is excellent, the daily results very gratifying. We have a young class in bookkeeping, full of promise, one in physisiology, one in botany, and rigid and exacting reviews. The work in defining words and using them has grown fascinating, and the buying of dictionaries is becoming lively. I am much encouraged by the enthusiasm that has arisen to dig to the bottom, to the very root. The large boys have left for work, but I am surprised and pleased that our best classes go on climbing, with plenty of good scholars.

O. PHELPS.