Richmond Chapter 12: Progressive Politics and Progress

This chapter covered some of the best times in Kansas. After Kansas became a state, she continued to grow and develop at a rate equal to or exceeding that of other states. New technologies like the telephone and automobile were popping up throughout the state to the extent that it was no longer necessary to speak of them.

I especially found the information about Frederick Funston interesting. Growing up in Iola, I had always known of Funston, but to finally read of the specific things he is credited with is neat. Richmond also mentions that Allen County was the site of the first concrete highway in Kansas--something else I didn't know.

Because this chapter mentioned a number of Kansas governors, it gave me the idea to have my students choose one of the governors of Kansas from the beginning to today to do research on. They will report on their lives, but most importantly, how they contributed to the Kansas we know today.

Another idea is to have them research and report on the inovators from Kansas. In the end, we could bring them all together in a collage showing what came out of Kansas.