The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-01-22
law RK8 RKi
/ will flrst make the very general


statement that in order to execute
successful supervision, 1t is very
essential that a superintendent should
KNOW his teachers. lie should
know, not ONLY their scholarship,
but also their ability to govern in the
school rooins their ability TO apply
successful methods, their moral
standl 6g, their literary tastes, and
their interest in the teaching pro-
fession. Teachers should also know
each OTHER, and So far as possible
cultivate professional spirit, and 4
true sympathy 10 their common In
terests.
Perhaps NO. other factor is more
potent 10 promoting this fellowship
of teachers and superintendent than
the teachers' meeting. The new law
requiring county superintendcnts to
organize and maintain monthly
teachers meetings, was very wisely
drafted 50 as to give wide discretion
In the matter Of plans which may
thus be made adjustable to the diff
ferent conditions existing in the
different counties. Some counties
are s6 populated as to make it possi-
bic to hold these meetings at some
one central point, or at the county
seat. In other counties this would
be an impossibility. For example,
Kootenai County now comprises 90
school districts well distributed over
a territory four times as large rs the
State of Rhode Island, three times as
large as Delaware, or nearly twice US
large as the State Of C)nnectlcut.
A number of teachers have tO travel
over 100 miles to reach the county
seat, and l think this is true 10 other
counties Of Idaho.
Where such conditions exist. / wish
to recommend the plan of districting
the county for the purpose of holding
these meetinds. Counties may be
divided into a convenient number of
, districts, and the meetings moved
from one district to another, having
some central point in each district as
a meeting place. A leader should be
appointed for each district whose
duty it should be to arrange a pro-
!: gram for the meeting in his respective
district, aud provide for the enter
/ tainment of visiting teachers. BY
this arrangement the meetings will
be brought within easy reach Of all,
and the matter OF securing a change
of program rendered bv different tai
ent, becomes a much simpler problem
In connection with these teachers
district meetings I wish to commend
the publication of a monthly teact ers'
paper, as being very important fac.
tor in creating a general interest, and
making 1t possible for the teachers IL
the most distant parts OF the county
to derive benefit from each meeting
While this plan is not yet beyond tn,
experimental stage in Kootena
County, the success SO far has bee 81
PRONOUNCED that L feel perfectly
justified in recommending it. Their
are several advantages uf the publica
ton. Papers read at the distric
meetings are published for the benef
OF those unable to attend by reason
of the distance. Programs for tn
: next meeting, and correspondent
, from various parts Of the county G
u special interest to teachers and tru.
| tees, are published. 1t also serves a
Q a factor In awakening interest o
the part Of trustees, and in geners
e way brings trustees, teachers, an
, superintendent into closer relati %
ships. 1t is also a great FINAN
y cIAL saving to the teachers, as th
subscription price Of the paper
D Insignificant compared with the el
!. pense that would be necessitated
e attending meetings in distant part
8 of the county. I shall be glad I
: furnish sample copies of the pape
4 published In Kootenaf County, to an
' who feel interested.
Il feel confident that this plan wi
r prove successful, and will serve
e overcome many dlf1iculties Of success
e full supervision, 10 counties OF lar,
2 territory, and enable teachers an
Y superintendent to know each 9th
n better.
q concluded next weekly
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