The year 1915–16 has been a year of progress for the schools of Atchison county. The State department of education, by virtue of authority given them by the State legislature in 1915, established a definite standard of efficiency for the rural schools of the State, and formulated plans for standardizing rural schools. As a result, two rural school supervisors were added to the State department. J. A. Shoemaker, county superintendent of this county, was appointed as one of those supervisors, and was succeeded in office by Miss D. Anna Speer, who is making one of the most earnest and efficient county superintendents this county has ever had. It is universally conceded that the board of county commissioners made no mistake when they selected Miss Speer as a successor to Mr. Shoemaker. Miss Speer is making an earnest effort to bring our schools up to the standard set by the State department of education, in which she is receiving the cordial coöperation on the part of the school officers, parents and children of the county. The work that is being accomplished here has been highly commended by Miss Julia Stone, one of the new State supervisors, and three schools, approved by the supervisor, have the honor of the first three “Standard Schools” in northeastern Kansas. These are: New Malden District No. 45, H. S. Mahan and Eugene Crawford, teachers; Lancaster District No. 10, O. E. Seeber and Miss Ione Gibson, teachers, and White Clay District No. 6, J. M. Pennington, teacher. In 1915 the County Normal Institute was combined with Midland College Institute, at Midland College. A six weeks’ session was held, June 15 to July 28. Besides thorough reviews of all subjects required for county teachers’ certificates, numerous courses for college credit were offered. The corps of instructors consisted of county superintendent, Miss D. Anna Speer: professors, W. E. Tilberg. E. M. Stahl, S. L. Soper, D. W. Crouse. C. F. Malmberg and Bruno Meinecke. The following is a list of county superintendents of public instruction of Atchison county from the beginning of our history to the present time: Philip D. Plattenburg, served September, 1858, to May, 1861. Orlando Sawyer, served July, 1830, to January, 1867. Norman Dunsher, served January, 1867, to January, 1869. Thomas F. Cook, served January, 1869, to January, 1873. J. E. Remsburg, served January, 1873, to January, 1877. Mr. Martin, served January, 1877, to January, 1879. W. H. Tucker, served January, 1879, to January, 1883. A. G. Drew, served January, 1883, to January, 1885. J. F. Class, served January, 1885, to January, 1887. George A. Ward, served January, 1887, to January, 1889. John Klopfenstein, served January, 1889, to January, 1893. Samuel Ernst, served January, 1893, to January, 1895. C. E. Reynolds, served January, 1895, to January, 1899. John Klopfenstein, served January, 1899, to January, 1901. E. E. Campbell, served January, 1901, to May, 1901.