The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-04-23
SCHOOL DIRECTORS.

domestic science club at Waterloo,
I'll. In the article is one very signi-
fcant paragraph. 1t reads:
We are aiming to have domestic
science instruction given in our pub
lie schools, but have not ais yet sue
ceeded. The cause Of failure seems
to be the lack of a suitable room.
AND THEN THE DIRECTORS ARE
NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH THE
MOVEMENT"
The course of action OF the Water
loo Domestic Science club, In this
matter, is cut out for 1t. The first
thing fofait to do is to begin CAM
paign that will result In the election
of directors who are In sympathy
with domestic science instruction.
The matter Of getting a properly
equipped roof for the class work will
not be an obstacle II the proper d.
rectors are elected. It is not, in real
ity, we will warrant, very serious
obstacle right now. it's, however, a
very convenient excuse.
Attention would not here be di-
rected to this purely local matter If
the Walertoo situation did not paral-
lei conditions existing very generally
in the land. There are many school
directors who are menaces to educa-
ton. There are men who are always
ready to condemn an innovation
simply because 1t is an innovation.
frequently these men are given
places on school boards. When this
happens. they will invariably be
found standing as champions Of old
methods and as opponents Of pro-
gress. They often adhere to the idea
that what was good enough for them
is good enough for their children.
They forget that the man or woman
OF tomorrow must be very much bet
ter equipped mentally and in practi-
cal training than are the men and |
women Of today. To refuse to give i
children every possible advantage
within our means is to handicap them
In their life work They may sue
coed In spite OF such handicaps, but
even II they do, they are not likely
to become more than the shadow Of
what they might have been had their
education been more thorough. Edu-
cation stands for progress With
out 1t, we would still be savages. I'll
offers our hope, and our only hope, Of
attaining perfect civilization. The
school director who aids In limiting
education aids In limiting the work Of
future generations. He is fungus
social growtha positive danger to
the community in which he resides.
There might be reasonable objec-
ton made to. the plan of Introducing
the study of domestic science in the
schools OF district or city il a few |
people in that community were the
only ones In the world who were the
only ones In the world who were ad- !
yocating such an innovation. But no
has any such monopolists.
Domestic science is a generally recog-
nized course OF study. 1t is taught |
at this moment In the schools Of Ii
every large city Of the K
land and in the schools of many Of Z
The smaller towns and some of the q
.ural districts. 1t will only be a mat
,er of time until 1t will be taught / l
n every school. 1t has come to stay, /
hough unfortunately the beneficial
'esults that are certain to result from r
is adoption in school curriculums n
AN not be made to extend in very q
Improbable manner to the genera
ion that is now turning the top Of a
he hill Of life. The education that A
ons and daughters receive is not I,
likely to be Of material benefit to n
heir parents. Education is essential p
provision against the future. p
We are tending more and more
oward practical education. we haveI
ct our backs on many Of the old
heories. There was a time when 1t =
'as considered improper for girl
} attend school. We passed from r.
lat period to the period during OF
hich girls were sent to so-called st
nishing schools, where "art' and - -
music" were served between break Of
lst, dinner and supper and fudge the I'll
alance OF the time. Now we have ca
,me to understand that there is not, -
Id never can be, any such thing as IN
finishing school No education, ia
,wever thorough, is complete. The ~
,ntle shove that the schools give us =
to the great realm Of the known
rves but to show US how little Of Id
2 world's knowledge one Individual IT
n hope to acquire in life time, ~
Ia how vast the fiald IF Ignorance IL -