The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-09-02
Continued from last week. )

Ai9a9s tCts w NpAheSg hbhSh VI "hNs
appears 10 the newspapers IL educa-
tional II il a sign that the people
are taking an interest In these mat.
ters; for the newspapers. as general
rule, do not mould public opinion
but merely reflect II. An excellent
suggestion has recently been made by
the Idaho st,te Board OF Education,
namely, that the schools should make
public what they are doing; that
more space be given In she local
papers to news OF the schools than to
news OF the police courts.
/ am afraid that sounds rather
Utoplan, since most newspaper
men a.e business men and realize
that there Is nothing fattening 10
the rewards Of missionary work. !
do believe, however, that the people
in every school district should know
what Is going ON In their own rural
school. At least, there should eb
something Of the nature Of Par
ents and Teachers Association
where school affairs can be discussed
mot fcussed. 1t Is an amazing
thing that there are parents who do
not dream--Of accepting the Judgment
OF their children upon the work OF a
mechanic, sheepherder or any day
laborer, yet THESE same parents I'M
hesitatingly swallow and believe the
criticisms OF their children upon the
work Of a teacher. Unfortunately,
the name OF that kind OF people Is
legion. Against such monumental
stupidity as this the very gods them
selves are powerless.
The keynote OF u successful school
is cooperation. Cooperation among
tins parents, the teachers, the chill
dren and the people OF the district.
There must be an intelligent un
Outstanding OF what Is wanted In the
rural school. The teacher In the re-
directed rural school should be OF q
type for n new sort of person: a per
son familiar with rural industries q
person Interested IN rural life: per.
son Grained In the sciences underly
Ing rural industries person trained
to interpret Nature in terms OF util
ltv and beauty person trained t.
interpret words In terms IT action
And, above all, the teacher should
have commonsense. tact and (undel
present couditlonsl independent
means and the hide of rhlrocero
to Withstand the poison darts Of lg
norant criticism.
Mt. N. Il. Carver, Adviser In Ag
ricult nral Economics, u. s. Depart
ment OF Agriculture, has published
an excellent bulletin on the organlza
tloh OF rural community. Ut is
pits that more. use IL not made of th,
valuable bulletins which can be Oh
tained trJm the government publish
ing offices, lie says that there 1
SCARCELY phase OF country life Ii
which the country school may no
become vitalizing factor. Tn
boys --and girls clubs should begl
there. The study Of farm produe
ton, OF marketing, OF sources of sup
ply, OF farm accounts, and OF road
aud telephone eonstruc tlon should b
a part OF the work of the countr
school, To these things must be al
ded domestic economy, sewing, san
tation aud the laws of health. Her
| II mas DO said hAat teachers are bul
dened with work which should prof.
erly be done by the parents.
HI MI Carver proposes that tins 81
tire school system of the state b
supported and administered as
unit, aS the school system OF city
now. .Under present condition
schools are supported, not In propo
= tion TO the need for them, which
the only correct principle, but mail
: ~ IN proportion 10 the amount While
each community can raise. lie "a.
further that at the head Of the sta
system there should be highly tralnC
expert, not elected, but appointed
Is the superintendent Of city schU
system. lie should nave ample poy
OF aud an adequate stan Of sssislan
and inspectors 10 enable him actual
" inspect the schools of every coul
~ la the state, Here, In Idaho, y
are making trial Of such a plan, eli
certain restrictions imposed by a fal
Idea OF economy.
I Again, Mr. Carver says, in eaC
county there should he an educate
not elected As are county superb
teudeais noS, but Aepolnted as a
eiy superinteudeals, with amp
power and a s;atf % assistants Viii,
will eoabIe him 10 iuspeet aud coutr
every school 10 the county.
Il The Office Of county superinten
snt, rightly considered. is one of q