The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-07-18

CANYON COUNTY
TO The FRONT

MISS &. ray Fowler, county super
intendent of schools. returned from
Salt Lake Sunday. She attended the
annual meeting of the National Edu-
cational association. The conven-
ton was one of the most successful
and profitable in the history of the
organization, notwithstanding the
fact that the attendance was much
smaller than usual. Miss Fowler in
forms us that the people of Salt Lake
had made preparations to entertain
10000 persons and that not over half
that number were in attendance She
speaks very highly of the efforts put
forth by the people Of the Utah met.
ropolis to properly entertain and ac-
comodate the big convention. The
next meeting of the association will
be at St. Paul, and at Oakland in
1915. The meeting at Salt Lake was
the first one ever held in the west
The fact that two years from now
another convention will be held in
the west indicates the prominence of
the western states in educational af-
fairs.
Rural schools, their necessity and
the proper development of the rural
school system" said Miss Fowler,
was the central and principal idea
advanced at the convention. United
States Commissioner of Education
Claxton advanced some very good
ideas on this subject His ieda is
that the consolidation of districts is
the solution of the rural school prob
lem. A fewer number of districts of
insure richer and more populous dis
tricts and as a matter of course bet
ter and stronger schools and longer
school terms, better school buildings
and more adequate equipment. The
greater distance to the schools which
children must travel is readily over
come by school wagons which are
already in use in several districts in
Canyon county.
Another idea brought to the atten-
ton of the convention was that of
furnishing a home for the school
teacher. The district would supply
the teacher with house and few
acres of ground which would be used
as a model or experimental form for
the school children. of the district
thus encouraging in them healthy
interest in agriculture. In addition
it Is thought that better and higher
class teachers could be secured at no
other increase In salary.
1T 10 interesting to note that the
two big ideas advanced at the con-
vention were already in operation to
more or less extent In Canyon coun-
~. have encouraged the CONSOLE
dation Of school districts, and 20 have
my predecessors before me. School
wagons are used in Caldwell and at
other places In the county The
and Lone Star h have e" crowded h homes
for the school teacher. These dis
tricts are very we'll satisfied with
their experiment and I am in hopes
that the idea will prevail generally
within few years. was proud Of
the progress the schools of this coun-
~ had made along these advanced
lines. believe that Idaho and es-
pecially this county, will rank among
the highest In the country in every
line OF school work. The teaching
OF trades in the public schools was adj
vanced at the convention. Along this
line little has been done in this state,
but the tendency Is in that direction"
Miss Fowler. who Is one of the
most progressive county school SUI
Perintendents in the state, is greatly
interested in all matters pertaining to
school work. She feels amply re-
paid for the time spent at the con-
vention and Is of the opinion that
every school teacher who can posi-
bly, do 30. should attend these ma
tional conventions of the National
association.