The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-12

The Tribune was of the opinion that tn,
9 blank diploma" idea originated and was ex
clusively practised in Caldwell. 1t seems tina
we are in error. Emmett public schools also re
sort to the same method of deceiving the public
We take from the Emmett Index the following
"Of the fourteen members of this years gradual
ing class from the Emmett schools eleven passed and
three failed. The three that failed given blank
diplomas.
who is to blame for this state of affairs The
Index is prepared to say The fact that of the
graduates passed creditaby would indicate that the
blame should not be laid upon the instructors. The
pupil who will not apply himself to his studies whose
mind is not in his work. the best teacher in existence
cannot help. To permit such to graduate under
false preenSes is to lower the standard of the schools
and to encourage sothfulness incompetency and dis
honesty. No matter what other schools may do the
practice of giving blank diplomas should be abolished
forever in the Emmett schools Besides it is fair
to the student who is faithful in his work and makes
the requirements. In short certificate OF graduation
should stand for thoroughness and real scholarship
The Tribune, it seems to us, goes to the extreme
in its denunciation of the school system and the
teachers That is imperfect few will deny and that
is too expensive for the benefits received is pretty
generally admitted, There is great deal of economic
waste in educational system 1t is not practical
enought Its prime object should not be to prepare
boy girl for college, but deveope the best there
is in every student mentally and physically and fin
naly turn each ono out trained and ready to do
parcteuar useful work That we believe, is the trend
of our educational system and toward which con-
sctentouS educators working,
THAT there teachers in every school who are
incompetent and unworthy there can be no question,
But to include all teachers in that category unjust
The great majority OF them faithful conscientious,
jealous Everywhere they giving to the work their
best efforts and talents and unse6shly and devotedly
educating the youth OF this land not only mentally but
that they may become useful and good citizens and
fitted to discharge their duties such in intellig
ent manner"
The fact that Emmett public schools issue
blank diplomas" is not direct nor conclusive
evidence that the Caldwell public schools do
the same thing. However the schools of the two
towns are as much alike as two peas. Our sys-
tenn is a groove which turns out product uni
form in every particular. Teachers are all alike.
Graduates are all alike. In fact the purpose
seems to be to make everything alike
The Tribune knows that there are splendid
men and women in the public schools We have
never intimated that such was not the case. We
complain of the system. A system which en-
lbles splendid men and women to smother their
conscience to the extent that they will issue fake
diplomas is certainly wrong in its vital points.
He who says that there has been progress in
he process of educating children knows not of
What he is talking, There has been change
experimentation no real progress 1t is
he only profession in the world that has markell
o progress in the last hundred years One year
follows this plan, the next year that plan andl
he third the first plan. 1t is travelling in cir
e.
The test of progress in educating is the gradu-
,e. Business men the country over deplore the
capacity of bright men and women graduates
the public schools. After they graduate their