The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-12-02
COUNTRY CHILD SUPERIOR TO
CITY PUPIL
] So Say the County School Superin-
tendants of Idaho in Present !.
=
Session
SHOWN BY EXAMINATIONS
Convention Against Segregation OF
City and Rural Districts on Tests
(Statesman)

NoCdCCCLudA)
Important school law and financia
of Idaho were discussed at length a
matters relating to the school system
the Wednesday session OF. the conven
ton of county superintendants, who
met at the call of State Superintend.
ent, s. Belle Chamberlain. The State
Observation-Disclosures, Miss Grace
Shepherd. was present and obtained
much and useful information from
the discussions. ''g7mn-
The county superfntendents dis
cussed the finances Of the school
districts throughout the state. They
recommended a. change in the method
of apportionment whieh.sis of great
Importance. Under the present system,
the state now apportions the whole
state school fund to the various coun-
lies according to the census list per
capita. The convention recommended
that one-third of that fund be in
future apportioned to the counties re-
gardless Of size and that the other
two-thirds Of the fund be apportioned
according to the per capita basis.
This plan, it is urged, would make
the apportionment generally fairer to
those counties which happen to have
mparatively small population and
low property valuation.
The convention recommended that
county apportionment be changed so
that the districts will receive a per
capita apportionment according to
the enrolment in various districts.
A division of school districts was
discussed in detail. Annual reports
of trustees to county superintendent
the reports of county superintendent
to the state superintendents, and ali
records of such officers required by
law, were also taken up.
Against Segregation
~ The county superintendent placed
themselves on record as opposing any
plan that might be suggested to seq
regate the city from the rural school
regate tae city from the rural schools
relative to- the eighth grade examina-
tons, according to the law now in
fierce.
1t appears that the state superin-
tendent gives out the examination
questions for all pupils in Idaho who
are to be examined for promotion
from the eigth grade to high school,
The county superintendent, under
this law, distribute these papers, set
the places for examinations, and ap-
point those teachers who shall be in
charge. In this way state stand
ard of education is set.
The principal opponents of this
system are cities like Pocotello and
Nainpa, which want to hold their
own examinations independently.
But 1t IS urged by the county super
intendents that to change this law
would be to let down the bars. They
aver that state and county control
Is necessary and acts as a guard
against incompetency. They claim
that some city superintendent might {
be too easy in their questions and {
too liberal in correcting examination l
papers. and would let pupils pass t
who should not be allowed to enter '
high school. 3
Maintain Standard
AS 1t is, every pupil must satisfac- .
orily answer the questions givenout j,
or the whole state, and this guaran- =
ees uniformity in examinations and >,
| common standard of education and ;,
of pupils in every city ;,
md town, it is averred. >
This convention is of great i'm ;,
'ortance in that State Superintend- r,
mt Chamberlain has thereby gathered
he concensus of opinion on various =,
matters from the county superintend !,
nts. These views will be given a !,
caring at the meeting of the school =,
ode commission to be held in Boise
aturday. That commission was ap- u
ointed by Governor Brady in accord :,
nee with an act of legislature passed n