The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1910-08-05

The Times Il IN receipt If 4 let.
Ter from Miss Belle Charhborlniu.
State Superintendent az Public
instruction, IN which she explains
tie roFal high school As the Ne.
tidian section will have chance to
vote on the proposition on August
10th. the letter is full Of interest
Just now
Editor Times: One Of tile edu.
cational features OF the Idaho
school system is the Rural High
! School The last session 81 the
i State Legislature enacted law
A for the organization and mhinten-
afics OF rural high schools and If
the patrons Of the rural districts
will avail themselves III the oppor-
ltunity offered there is no reason
why the boy and the girl living IN
4 the small towIa and rural com
munities can not be given equal
/ educational advantages with those,
30 frequently considered more for.
/ tunate, living In the city. Idaho Is
practically state Of rural popula.
I tion as fully eighty per cent 81 the
people live ia the country, -that is \
la the small townsOr on the farms
adjoining A system Of well or.
Ranized and splendidly equipped
high schools for the benefit OF all
graduates from tne eighth grade
OF the districts consolidating will
not only give to the children that
which 10 due them, but will result
Ia general uplift Ia tho educa.
tional standard Of the state which !
says 10 the outside citizen looking |
for favorable location in which |
10 make d home for his family:f
Every possible advantage for the
proper development Of the child is
provided for in idaho and the
opportunities offered her citizens
arc IN consequence very attractive.
A number of these schools have
been organized during the past
year and many more are now under
consideration by the patrons in the
various parts OF the state. The
course OF study must be endorsed
by the dean Of agriculture Of the
university and the state superin.
telident. Besides tie practical
academic studies necessary for
entrance to the university, domes.
ito arts and agriculture are given
regular attention in the daily pro.
gram, For a specific example, the
report jurt received from the
Rigby Rural High School, the
first TO organize under the new law
will give some idea Of tho results;
The high school district comprises
seven regular districts, a number
Of students riding from five to
seven milea daily. The enrolment
was ~ and the attendance splendid.
Fouroourses are offered, Scientific,
Commercial, Domestic and AVri.
cultural, In every course, however, |
the etudy Of literature in its fullest
sense was required
1 find in many cases that the
average age Of the student body is
over that Of the city high school
but this is due to the fact that the
system OF the state has
not been adequate for the needs
II the children until the last few
years and some of The names en-.
rolled have been out Of school from
que 20 three or more years. 1t is
he policy Of these schools to in. l
luce the child to secure the best
preparation possible for his life's
work and If no did not have the
opportunity Of attending high :
'chool immediately after eomplet.
NIX his course Ia the grades, II is
lot too late 10 take up the work at
no present time, As state super.
ntendent ! consider this one Of f
he most important questions ofan
educational nature before the
'eople, ,the organization and proper
quipment and maintenance ofthe +
lural Hiph Schpnl