The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-18
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF IDAHO.

Less than half century ago tn
pioneers of Idaho laid the foundation
OF a state in what was then a wilder
ness. Great has been the progress
since then along all lines, but 1t /
especially in the educational field an,
more especially still in that portion o
1t that relates to the public school
that progress has been most marked
Victor Hugo once said that he VIII,
opens school closes penitentiary
Education of the right kind make
penitentiaries less ad less in demand
Among the institutions that hav,
made the United States great ant
powerful the common schools have
place in the very front rank. Som,
of the ablest men of the century hav,
arisen from the ranks of the pupils O
our common schools.
Idaho has arisen in the last few
years to commanding position
among her sister states of the Pa
cific coast by reason, among othel
things, of the efficiency and modern
ness of her common school system.
While she is proud of her CONNER.
cial Importance, of her mines and he,
timber, of her vast areas of fruit, and
her almost illimitable agricultural re.
sources, she points to her common
schools, as did the mother of the
Gracchi to her sons, and says. "These
are my Jewels"
The present value of Idaho's school
property Is not far from 100000
Her total receipts for school purposes
are two and half millions. She pays
teachers nearly a millions dollars an
nually; $1,000 pupils are enrolled in
the public schools of the state; her
total expenditure for public school
purposes this year will reach nearly
100000.
Handsome, well equipped, modern
buildings are the rule in all the cities
and in many of the towns and viii
lagos. The country school buildings
compare favorably with those of other
states. ,
Idaho has a system of free text
books and these are uniform through
out the state. She has a splendid
school library system and fine lot of
books. The system of district teach
ers' associations that have taken the
place of the old county system is a
feature with big educational results.
Heretofore the counties each held
a separate institute, with the result
that the money appropriated for this
purpose was dribbled away and but
little good was accomplished. Now
number of counties unite and hold a
big institute and the teachers have
The advantage of listening to lectures
by the very best professional talent /
hat can be obtained. These Institutes
are now quite p pular and of great
value.
The summer normal schools are a
'eature that is attracting much IA
'orable comment from every educa-
or in the state. There are three of
heSe, one at Boise, another at Poca-
clio and one in Occur d. Alene City.
Here, during the summer months,
hose preparing to teach can attend
nd hear the very best of lectures on
subjects, and at the same
ime study the necessary text books.
he examination following gives them
n opportunity to go into the contest
resh from study and Is productive Of :
high teaching standard.
Another of the items that help to
lake the present high educational :
of this state Is the change
methods introduced in the last two :,
ears in the matter of teachers exam >
ations. The county superintend- .
its have been relieved of the duty :,
grading papers and the work has j,
ZEN placed in the hands of state !,
ard of examiners, who look after
e papers that are numbered, no
me attached, and who grade uni
rmly and on merit. This has been
und to raise the standard of teach
8 and cannot but be of great bee
to the public schools.
The trustees organizations that are T
v instituted in every coutny In the Q
to are a ew feature ad are bearing al
ID fruit. In these meetings that ul