Memories spring eternal ...

100 YEARS AGO

(1908)

The compulsory educational law as affecting school children under the age of 15 and over 8 years old will be enforced from the first day of school. Those were the words of Superintendent D.M. Bowen in commenting upon the law which requires all children of such ages to be in school. Heretofore it has been the custom to not enforce the attendance of the children until after school had commenced and the teachers and officers had everything lined up. This year it will be different. Mr. Bowen advises all corporations and private concerns employing children 8 to 15 must release them in time for them to commence school on next Monday, the opening day. The truancy officer, who is W.A. Preston, will be reappointed and as he is in possession of the names of children who usually do not start at opening day, he will call upon their parents and force them to start the children. This new turn of affairs will have a good and lasting effect. There are 3,000 children of school age in the city, but attendance can be enforced only as to those between the ages of 8 and 15. Under the law, parents can be prosecuted for not having their children in school.

75 YEARS AGO

(1933)

A remarkable fact about this year's teachers is that there is not a new one among them, all of the teachers having taught here last year. Superintendent Liston said today that as far as he can remember that is unprecedented. All of the 97 members of the faculties of Fort Scott's schools were in their offices or their school rooms today getting everything in readiness for the beginning of class work tomorrow. Superintendent Liston said the indications are that there will be no unusual features about school opening tomorrow. He said the senior high school and junior college will have enrollments equal to, if not greater than, those of last year. The ungraded rooms at the Margrave and Central schools used to give special aid to children needing individual attention. This program has been discontinued. The rooms for fifth and sixth grade students at Bell School have been abandoned and members of those classes will be taken care of at Central School.

50 YEARS AGO

(1958)

Editorial Comment:

Our junior college continues to receive attention by educators. They see it is playing an important role in the forthcoming crisis of overcrowded colleges. Basically, the reason that the community college is the least expensive way to provide the first two years of college education -- least expensive for both taxpayers and students. Along with these savings, no evidence was found in a survey that junior college students get any less quality education. The survey leads to the conclusion that the junior college is to keep on growing and the prediction that it will be supported jointly by local and state funds, with possibly some federal aid.

The Norris Plumbing Co., 9 North Main Street, is adding electric wiring to its long list of services and can now do big contract jobs, as well as general electric installation of all kinds. Rex McElmurry, an electrician, has joined the staff and will do wiring of homes, rewiring and electrical work, new housing or other types of structures.

Friday special, ham and beans with cornbread and coffee, 60 cents. -- Elmer's Cafe, 20 South National

Diana Cowan, young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cowan of Devon, was treated at the Newman-Young Clinic for a fractured left arm. She suffered the injury in a fall from a bicycle.

25 YEARS AGO

(1983)

No publication.