The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-31
Local Editor Has Been Studying Their Ways
and Taking the Measure Of the Things
They Do and the Thoughts They
Think---Some Work Hard and
Some are Dead to Duty.
Is Great Need Of a School F air

Without discussing the merits Of
lack of merit of the school fair, these
circumstances are sufficient to show
the marked lack of interest which
these folks feel in their vocation. II
they were in any active commercial
pursuit they would read anything
pertaining to their business, whether
| it had merit or not. They would read
| 1t because it was local and would
happen or fail to happen in their own
locality. If it were anything that
looked like their business or bore
relation to it they would go through
it. How, then, can these folks who
,, are dead to their work, expect to
succeed or to merit even the salaries
and aid given to them by their
boards.
We met one lady teacher who had
received the paper and did not know
whether she had read the invitation
to join in the school fair or not. But
she had very pronounced ideas about
the dreariness of the locality in
which she was teaching We showed
her the copy about the school fair,
and then she remembered that she
had read it. We called her atten-
ton to an article below it, comment
ing on the hardships of teachers, and
the new school law requiring the
trustees to furnish janitors, and in
half an hour we saw her again and
asked what she thought of it. She
thought it was all right. When ask
ed what part of it or what feature
she approved or disapproved, she did
not know She did not seem to have
comprehended any particular thought
in it.
She is drawing $55 a month for
staying in that district. We hope
she is doing $55 worth of good
among the children, but if we have
one guess coming we venture that
she is damage, and it would be bet
ter for all if she would go back to
her former home in the state bound
ing Idaho on the south.
We do not mean by citing these
examples, to cast odium upon teach
ers who are alive and working, nor
to condemn teachers for not taking
up with the suggestions made to
them. But we feel more than ever,
the necessity of having school fairs
and whatever else will stir up school
enthusiasm and separate the work
ers from the drones. We are sorry |
for the real teachers who have to be
classed with pretended teachers who
have no interest in their work and !
no comprehension of anything they
read that has a direct application to
their work.
We are much more sorry for the
children who have to attend school
where this class of teachers curtail
their efforts. We are indeed sorry1
for the parents who witness their
children spending prescious school
months in charge of non-entities who
count the days to the end of the
week, and the number of Fridays
that have to come before pay day or
the end of the term.
We look forward with interest to
see whether the trustees and patrons
of the schools will come to town on
the 22nd of February to get in touch
with school work at the school fair,
and at the teachers association that
is to be held later School work is
in need of tremendous overhauling
and it is up to you and all of us to
do the work.