The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-06-10
BLACKFOOT. PUBLIC SCHOOLS

1t is true, although trite. that the
standing of any community Is judged
to a great extent by the efficiency of
Its schools. This is as it should be,
for If a. city is dead to the needs of
education it is certainly lacking in
those things which go to make de-
sirable place in which to live and
rear family. Great as city maybe
commercially, rich as it maybe in fac
tories and industries, yet the schools
after all reflect the really vital senti-
ment and intrinsic value of a city's
civic worth to the state and to the
nation.
The public schools of Blackfoot are
organized under the state law and
have already reached sphere of USE
fulness and advancement that make
them the envy of surrounding towns.
Modern methods are used throughout
all the grades. The advent of up-to-
date studies, however, has not lessen
ed thoroughness in the common
branches which are so fundamental to
everyone's education; in fact, re-
turn to old time educational basis
to those subjects which have been
sighted in the past few decades, is
in exact keeping with the demands of
our commercial age. Spelling, read
ing and penmanship in our schools
are given prominent places, notwith-
standing the past tendency to crowd
these subjects out of our courses or
supplant them with some modern
fad.
The attention given to the indust-
rial studies Is commendable feature |
of the past years work. This is a |
thing demanded by the age and GER
tainly just demand it is. 1t has
long been a question of dispute be-
tween the business world and the
educators as to the educational value
of these industrial subjects. The bus
mess men have asked that our schools
educate toward occupations, not away
from them. The educators have been
loath to give in but actual experience
has taught them that to educate the
hand, head and heart at one and the
same time is best accomplishe ed
through the introduction into our
schools OF such things as paper sloyd.
paper folding and cutting, Swedish
wood work, drawing. manual train
ng, sewing and domestic science The
recent exhibit, in the gymnasium of
our city, showed what our schools
ire doing along these lines. All the .
visitors were greatly surprised at the
quantity and quality of the work
shown. Commencing with the first .
grades there were hundreds of speci-
mems of handy work. on exhibit ,,
rom each of the grades up to and in ,
'luding the high school. Many use /,
I'll articles had been made by the :
'upils but more important than the :
rticles, is the fact that these pupils p,
ave learned to depend upon them
elves. have acquired skill in manip- g.
llation and aDtness in design. They =
ave unconsciously imbibed "knack =
nd taste which will aid and enrich :,
hem all their lives. :.
These subjects of an industrial ma =.
ure are in our schools to stay and it ',
, with pleasure that we record the =
rogress of them in the BIackfoot !.
chools. The Republican has long :,
dvocated their use as part of every y
mes education.
This past year there were enrolled .,
l all grades of our school 919 pupils. II
corps of twenty teachers, most of
HON are normal or college gradu-
ties. took care of this large enroll A
tent. Crowded conditions did not y
revent thorough and efficient work
ew teachers will be added this COM h
ng school year so that a better, 3;