The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-03-05
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MAKES INTERESTING REPORT
Tells What 1t Has Done, What 1t Is Expected to Do
and What 1t Wants to Do to Advance State
Educational Interests.

istration? First of course, that the board
and vigorous administration of existing
laws and institutions; this report has
already indicated how this is being done.
But this is not all; the people are look
ing to the new board to introduce i'm
provements and reforms, especially in
the organization and relations of the
state educational institutions. The pol
Icy of the board is quite clear on this
point; 1t is first to make a careful and
thoro study of the educational conditions
of the whole state. covering both state
and city schools and district schools;
then to act. Some things the board
can do ITSELF The larger and more
important changes must be made by the
legislature and the people. The board
and clear recommendations on these
questions.
Acting for the Whole state.
The greatest enemy of state educa-
tional institutions in practically all of
the western states has been local ambi-
ton and local prejudice. This has
caused institutions to be located in the
places that have made the strongest
pull instead of where they could best
serve the state. One western state has
three state schools within a radius of
! in of ha
state has placed a great state school
within ten miles of the great school of
another state.
The local community inevitably comes
to regard the institution as their pro-
perty especially for business advantage.
Legislative appropriations are then look
ed upon as perquisites of the locality.
There are notorious instances of insti-
tutions In certain states obtaining far
more than their just proportion of edu-
cational funds simply because the local
ity could make effective demands upon
the legislature. On the other hand.
the localities remote from any particu-
lar school are too often inclined to be
suspicious and hostile. The most mer-
itorious claims for appropriations are
not infrequently denied by such condi-
tionA These facts do not involve any
necessary condemnation of the ipdivid-
, uals or the communities concerned. They
are the inevitable outcome of the sys-
, tenn. Blood is thicker than water, and
the normal man or woman, in or out OF
} office. is powerfully swayed by local af-
: filiations.
, 1t Is q growing sense of these evils
that has led a number of states to pro-
, vide some form Of single board to con-
' troll all the educational institutions. The
! Idaho plan Is more thoro and complete
l than any of the others But the rea
issue is deeper than any system. The
j new plan in Idaho is designed to per
NIT the state to handle the education
= problems in terms of the whole state
g always and everywhere. The presen
i board is committed to this program
: they will strive to discover the rea
Will Oh the people OF loaho concerning
g education and to carry 1t into effect
|. The essence of the Idaho plan is tina
t we should get together in the interest
: of our schools and our children; tha
:. we should think educationally for tn
: whole state, and not for any one insti
y tuition or community or section.
# The people of Idaho are now wild
awake and are thinking about thei
e Teachers and schools. The teacher
ers and school administrators, AS we
: as the general public, all over the stat
! are giving generous support, for whic