The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-01-08

condition may be open to censure but
the censiire should not be given as
long as she is in the school, If par
ents and club women would firmly
suppress all gossip in regard to the
schools and Loyalty support the
authority of the teacher, there would
be fewer teachers fail in school work,
and a better quality of citizenship
would result.
Regular attendance and punctual-
ity are also absolute necessities to
good schools. Mothers who are club
women can do service here. See
that your children are In every day
and on time. There is a clause in
the compulsory school law that gives
every club woman a chance to work
for regularity Of attendance. All Of
you I am sure, come under the cap
tion of reputable persons. A repu-
table person can file q complaint in
the Probate court just as well as the
superintendent, the teachers or the
probation officer. If you know Of a
child that is not in school, 1t is clear
ly your duty to Investigate and carry
the matter to court II necessary.
I have pointed out a number Of
things to be studied in connection
with our schools, changed or i'm
proved if necessary. 1t is obvious
that some of these things must be
personal work in the schools with
the teachers and pupils. In this
class come the culture of the esthet-
ical by beautiful surroundings, the
lessening the tendency to degeneracy
by removing suggestions of impurity,
the support of the teachers author
ity, the suppression of unkind Cos
sip, and the enforcement of the COM
pulsory school law. Other things
such as lighting, seating, ventilation,
heating, cleanliness and quality of
superintendence and teaching must
be controlled through the board of
trustees. With the ballot women can
accomplish everything, if they will
only take the trouble to find out
what the needs are. knowledge is
power and knowledge she must have,
both of men and conditions, if she
uses the ballot wisely and effectively.
Besides the board of trustees, the
elective officers that affect school
work materially are the superinten-
dents, both state and county, the
probate Judge and the county attor-
ney. Needless to say these officers
should be carefully chosen and
scarcely Is it necessary to remind you
that this is not always true. More
often their choice is the result of
chance or political pull rather than
any fitness to discharge the duties of
the office. Political parties should
be taught that these things are not
to be tolerated. Woman's suffrage is
a farce so long as women take no
part in the nomination Of the candi-
dates for office. But women can
rule-note the election of Ben Lind
say, the Kids Judge" in Denver.
The state and county superintendent
set the pace in their respective fields
and for this reason should be selected
with care and Loyalty supported. Re-
member they are sworn officers and
while they may do things that seem
radical at the time, they should be
judged by the final results. 1t is
upon these people that the quality of
our teachers, both Intellectually and
morally depends.
Without the assistance of the coun-
ty attorney and the probate judge our
efforts to enforce the compulsory
school law must fail. These men will
do the will of the people, when it is
made plain to them.
The board of trustees should also
be made to feel their responsibility
to the people that placed them in Of
flee. The important thing is for the
people to be so thoroughly informed
on the school question that they can
intelligently make their wishes
known. They should know the con-
dition of the school buildings and
what can be afforded, what the teach
ers are and the qualifications needed.
So l have set you task-that of
becoming acquainted with the
schools. / have not called attention
to any specific abuses as that would
be neither expedient nor courteous. If
there are such, you will find them If
you visit the schools as l suggest.
This that / ask will take time, pa
tient and tactful work. 1t must be
regular and it must be persistent. Are
you willing to make the sacrifice?
Questions Discussed.