The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1916-11-21
IDAHO PLAN OF
SCHOOL GOVERNMENT

Idaho as a state has an organ
lied system of education by which
all school thought is focused IN
der one command, one governing
board which holds every course
of study, sustained by common
taxes, under its supervision. The
Idaho system, now in the fourth
year of its operation, stands
unique among educational sys-
TENS in its authority to handle
an educational problem in any
and all phases of school work. 1t
is essentially a system and
among educators is known as the
Idaho plan.
The Idaho plan provides that
a unity of school affairs shall be
maintained by bringing all school
interests under the supervision of
one single board of education.
which acts as a governing board
for the six state educational in
stitutions, including the univer-
sity, two normal schools, the
technical institute, the Industrial
training school and the school
for the deaf and blind, and also
exercises general supervision
over the public elementary and
high schools. The board is ap-
pointive in character and is com
posed of business men. 1t Sc
lects a education commissioner,
who, with the superintendent of
public instruction, administers
the states educational matters.
The one board Of administra-
ton holds the state as a unit ed
ucationally after the manner in
which the various schools of a
city are presided over by one
board. The commissioner of
education bears the same rela-
ton to the state that the citp SUI
perintendent does to the city
schools. Under the Idaho plan
no state institution Of learning
has a separate board of regents
or directors. No rivalry exists
between the schools more than
may be found in the pride of ac-
complishment in two schools OF
the same city; they are parts OF
o state unit and each one func-
tions from the standpoint of the
states needs.
The biennial report presented
to the Legislature covers The
whole school system from thu
elementary school to the univer-
sity and takes the place of wha
formerly was put in seven vol
umes. Catalogs and bulletins
combining information of stat
institutions under one cover, ant
also the purchase of supplies
which involve the pooling Of ar
ticles, save great expense to tn
state. A uniform system of &C
counting which prevents the in
curing of deficiencies through
inadequate accounting has bee
established and no institution i
permitted to become involved il
a deficiency.
Under the Idaho plan the ele
Ilentary schools are being stand
ardized throughout the state b
prescribing minimum course O
study. Special attention ha
been given in small schools t
safeguarding the elementar
grades from the encrOachment
of high school where the mum
Der of teachers employed is nc
sufficient to give adequate atten
ton to both grade and hig
school classes. Also the main
tenance of high school course
which are names without the re
atty are eliminated by maxim
certain requirements in teacher
laboratory equipment and lengt
of recitation periods. Giving a
pupils the opportunity Of hie
school instruction is met by les
islation which provides for II
payment Of tuition by the hon
districts not maintaining hie
schools for their pupils at
neighboring high school.