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


Miss Shaw at general meeting of
the Current Event club of Blackfoot.
Miss Shaw is the county superintend-
ent of schools for Bingham county,
and has studied school matters thor
oughly.
What Can We Do for Our schools?
1t has been said that "a republic
can survive war, famine and pesti-
lence, but it cannot survive the intel
ligence of its people" History fur
nishes us with such abundant proof
Of the above statement that it's truth
must be acknowledged without dis
cussion and as the average intelli-
gence Of our people depends on the
efficiency of our public schools, no
more appropriate question can come
up before clubs, teachers and citizens
than ways and means of increasing
that efficiency.
II + were asked to name in few
words our greatest need, would say
"a school spirit" BY that l mean a
widespread desire on the part OF the
people for education, an interest in
the school that would demand the
best in every line for the schools.
We are all interested In some de-
gree in the schools but not enough to
cause us to make any very great sac
rifice of time or ease in their behalf.
We have hired experts to run the ma
chinery and that having been done
we feel that our whole duty has been
discharged. We need an awakening
to the fact that boys and girls are the
nations most valuable asset and that
other questions are indeed of minor
consideration when compared with
the question of the education Of the
masses. No class of people are doing
a nobler work under greater disad-
vantages than our public school
workers. 1t is true that we spend a
great deal Of money and the me-
chanics are furnished, but the spirit
is mostly supplied by the teachers.
Let me impress this upon your minds.
We are most interested in the things
of which we have the most thorough
knowledge. To get school spirit we
must first get knowledge Of the
workings of the school,. This knowl-
edge can only come by and through
study and this study must be per-
sonal. If 20 club women of this
town would pledge each other to
visit our schools once month for the
entire school year and conscientiously
study the conditions found there, do
you think the results would be nil?
AS / think of 1t, my mind is over
whelmed with the possibility of good
or evil that might result. | say
"evil'' for unless the 20 women be
wise, discreet and loving; unless
they have a knowledge of what the
school should be, unless they dis
creetly put "a watch before their
lips" and unless they lovingly SYM
patnize with the teachers, they might
do incalcuable harm. But consider
those $50 visits made in the right
spirit and with intense desire to be
helpful and you can readily see that
the mere presence of these women in
the school room would lie benedic-
ton.
would suggest several conditions
to study in visiting schools: Are the
school rooms clean, well ventilated
and lighted, and comfortably seated
and heated? Above all things the
children should be in comfortable and
sanitary surroundings.
After these things do the condi-
lions tend to the development and
enrichment of the child's esthetical
nature or are there things in the
surroundings that encourage de-
generacy. wonder if mothers know
that their innocent darlings often en-
ter places on the school grounds
where the vilest and lowest thoughts
are depicted with such emphasis that
The who runs may read" Beautiful
pictures, not expensive but copies of
the best, harmonious coloring, clean
and well kept lawns and well select
ed libraries are obtainable in every
school and their educative values can
not be measured by money standards.
Let us remember our teachers are
human as we all are, liable to err.
They also have their likes and dis
likes, their ambitions and sorrows.
Many of them until now were accus-
toned to the tender ministrations of
a mother and loving friends and the
protection of father and brothers.
Tempted by the munificent salary of
$40 month or the love of adventure
they have left home and friends and