American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-03-22
TDAHOs EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
A MODEL FOR THE NATION.

I
Idaho as a state has an organized
system OF education by which ali
school thought Is focused under one
command. one governing board which
holds every course Of study. sustained
BY common taxes. under It's superyi-
sion. The Idaho system. now IN the
fourth year OF its operation. stands
unique among educational systems In
it, authority TO handle an educational
problem ia any and all phases OF
school work. II n e%asetially a sys-
TEN aud among educators Is known as
the Idaho plan.
The Idaho plan provides hat unity
Of school affairs shall be maintained
by bringing all school Interests under
the supervision Of % single board OF
education. which acts as a governing
board for the six state educational In
stitutions. including he university,
two normal schols, the technical in
s~tstute. the Industrial training school
and the school for the leaf and blind.
aud also exercises general supervi-
sion over the public elementary and
high schools. The board Is appoin-
tive in character and Is composed OF
business men. IN selects a commits
siOner OF education. who. with the SUI
perintendent OF public instruction. adj
ministers the states educational mat
ters.
The one board OF administration
holds the state as a unit edu~cationally
after the ann In which the various
schools OF a city are presided over by
a board. The commissioner OF edu-
cation bears the same relations to the
state that the city superintendent does
20 he city schols. Under the Idaho
plan 40 state institution OF learning
has a separate board OF regents or d.
rectors. No rivalry exists between
the schools more than may bo found In
the pride OF accomplishment In two
schools OF the same city; they are
parts OF a State unit and zach n
functions from The standpoint OF the
states needs.
Harmony and mutual assistance
among the state institutions and the
public schools are fostered by the
board. and each institution Is striving
20 build itself up. not at the expense
OF any other institution. but In order
10 perform les mission 10 the state
more fully. Conferences at which the
heads OF all state institutions and the
board OF education study common
UNOUAthuN AIN AItQntnts AT Hutn lOlul
conferences the appropriations 10 be
asked from the legislature are dis
cussed and the amount for each insti-
tuition and the amount OF the appropri-
alton which the board will ask for are
made public some weeks before the
~convenlng OF the legislature and dis
cuased In the press. The customary
lobbying of the school presidents and
boards OF regents with the frequent re-
sort 90 political methods TO secure the
appropriations for their schools Is
eliminated by the commissioner OF
education OF comprehensive budget
covering all the states expenditures
for It's schools.
Contemplated legislation Is also
handled Ina the same manner. by the
one board. which determines It's course
OF action from previous conferences
with tho county superintendents and
az state teachers associations. The
financial saving I'm managing all In
situations under one board and the
employment OF uniform business
methods Is one of the quickest bene-
hts 10 be dlscerned In the Idaho plan.
The biennial report presented TO he
legislature covers the whole school
system from the elementary school to
tho university and takes the place OF
what formerly was put In seven vol
umes. Catalogues aud bulletins com
bining information OF state institutions
under one cover. and also the pur-
chase Of supplies which involve the
pooling OF articles. save great expense
20 the state. A uniform system OF &C
counting which prevents the mourning
Of deficiencies through inadequate ac-
counting has been established and no
institution Is permitted 10 become In
voived In a deficiency.
Under the Idaho plan the element
airy schools are being standardized
Throughout the state by prescribing a
minimum curse OF study. Special
attention has been given In small
schools 10 safeguarding the element
airy grades from the encroachments OF
a high school where the number OF
teachers employed Is not sufficient 10
give adequate attention 10 both grade
aud high school classes. Also the
maintenance OF high school courses
which are names without the reality
are eliminated by making certain re-
quiremcnts In teachers, laboratory
equipment and length OF recitation
periods. Giving all pupils the oppor-
tunity OF high school instruction Is
met by legislation which provides for
the payment OF tuition by the home
districts not maintaining high schools
for their pupils at a n~eighboring high