Archive for Saturday, April 5, 2014

100 years ago: Plan suggested for reorganization of Lawrence schools

April 5, 2014


From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 5, 1914:

  • "In many towns the work of the elementary school and the high school is divided into two groups of six years each. This plan places the present 7th and 8th grades into the high school and forms what is called the six year high school. The location of the buildings in Lawrence is such that this kind of a redistribution of the work of our schools would fit in very nicely. The high school, the manual training and central buildings form a group in which the work of the 7th and 8th grades and the present high school could be advantageously done. Among others the following advantages would result: 1. The 7th and 8th grade pupils would have instruction from specialized teachers. 2. Much better equipment, which is very necessary and useful for this work could be furnished at less cost. The 7th and 8th grades would be collected around the high school group of buildings and they could use the same equipment. 3. Pupils who are to go to college could begin their language work earlier while they are still in the memory stage. 4. More manual training could be given those pupils who are going into the trades. These last two advantages would result from the specialization that could be introduced at the beginning of the present 7th grade. 5. Smaller buildings could be built in various parts of town where needed, so that the small children would not have so far to go. 6. Many children, particularly boys, would be kept in school longer, as they would get started into the high school before they have reached the school age limit. The break between the grades and the high school would come at an earlier period."
  • "The date of the annual 'Uncle Jimmie' day of the Law School of the University has been set for Monday, April 6. This is the day when the Laws pay special honor to Dean Green. The committee making the arrangements for the day has received the promises of Governor Hodges, Congressman Neeley and Chief Justice Mason of the Supreme Court to attend the banquet.... 'Uncle Jimmie' Green, dean of the University law school, is probably better known over Kansas than any member of the University faculty. To every graduate of the institution and to the 2,500 students on Mount Oread 'Uncle Jimmie' is a name that stands for friendship for all undergraduates. The students in the law school swear by their dean and some people wonder why. It is not hard to find the reason.... 'I believe in giving the students a square deal,' said Dean Green. 'I find that if you do that they will do what you want them to. A crowd of students are like a bunch of Texas steers when they are stampeding. If you get in their way they will run over you. The best thing to do is to get around and head them off.'... Dean Green has seen more of the ups and downs of Kansas University than any other person connected with the institution. In November, 1887, Chancellor Marvin got the idea that there should be a law department at the school. At that time 'Uncle Jimmie' was a practicing lawyer in Lawrence, having come here the year before from Olathe. 'Dr. Marvin told me that there were forty students who wanted to be lawyers,' Dean Green explained. 'He said we could charge each man $15 tuition and that I would get the money, but when I started the school I found that there were only eight men who wanted to become lawyers and two of the boys were too poor to pay the fifteen dollars. So I did not get as much as Dr. Marvin said I would.'... For thirty-six years Dean Green, the father of the K. U. law school, has taught contracts. Students of the school now say that to be in 'Uncle Jimmie's' contracts class is one of the best things in the entire course."
  • "The assessing is going merrily on in the county. The dearth of corn is noticeable. Assessor Armstrong declares that so far the largest crib of corn that has been reported is 400 bushels. Last year there was a great deal of corn and this year there is practically none. This shortage of corn will decrease the personal property assessments considerably in both city and county."



Commenting has been disabled for this item.