The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-06-04
BLANK DIPLOMAS.

WhileThe Index does not agree wit
the structures placed upon teachers b
the Caldwell Tribune in. the followin
severe castigation of the practice 0
giving blank diplomas to graduate
who failed to make the required cred
its, the article is timely and worth,
of serious consideration. The Trib
une says:
The public school system of thu
United States is habitually inefficient
The teachers employed, as a class, ar,
VIGOROUSLY incompetent. In order Il
cover up this inefficiency and incom-
potency, students are permitted to &c
through the ceremony Of graduation
although they have not the required
credits and are unable to pass salts
factory examinations. The com
mencement exercises of the Caldwell
public schools have just closed. There
were seven members Of the gradual
ing class who received what is com
monty called blank diplomas. Last
year there were four such graduates
These diplomas are the badge of dis
grace to the teacher; an indignity to
the student, and an insult to the pat
rons of the school. Their sole pur-
pose is to cover up the incompetency
of the teacher. Heaven knows that
the average school teacher needs COW
ering up. They must make showing
and they do it in this manner. Only
the teacher, the pupil and few 9TH
ers are permitted to know that the
diploma is fake. This is honesty
with vengeance, and suggests the
ethics our public schools inculcate.
Not content with failing to teach and
train these young men and women,
they crown their ignominy with dis
honesty.
Teachers should not be callow
youths of either sex. They should be
men and women who have decided to
make teaching their life work. We
would not employ a woman teacher
who has not abandoned all hope of
unless she were successfully |
Married women, preferably
with children of their own, would
make ideal teachers. Men in train
ing for the law, medicine or farming
should not be considered at all. Teach
ing must be raised out of the rut that
eads to something else. 1t must be-
come real profession whose end is
itself. When this comes about we
nay be able to get honest, conscien-
.ious men and women to engage in
eaching as their life work. Until
I does come about the public schools
# this country will be what they are
inefficient means of I
separating the taxpayer from his
money with no adequate return to his
hildren.
OF the fourteen members of this
ears graduating class from the En-
nett schools, eleven passed and three
allied. The three that failed were
iven blank diplomas.
Who is to blame for this state of
fairs The Index is not prepared to :,
aye liit AaNt NAlelt Atll VI NiAN
ates passed ereditably would indi- "
ate that the blame should not
g laid upon the instructors. The pu- "
i who will not apply himself to his =
.udies, whose mind is not in his =
ork, the best teacher in existence w
lnnot help. To permit such one
graduate under false pretenses is y
lower the standard of the schools a.
I'd to encourage slothfulness, ineom- y,
,tency and dishonesty. No matter ~
hat other schools may do, the prac- -
&c Of giving blank diplomas should :"
abolished forever in the Emmett i.
hools. Besides it is not fair to the %
udent who is faithful in his work :"
ID makes the requirements. In short &c
certificate of graduation should ~
and for thoroughness and real schol- :"
ship.