The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-31
IDAHO EDUCATORS FAVOR
EDUCATING ALL FOREIGNERS

| BOISE.-A bill providing that all
persons over 16 years of age who
cannot read and write the English
language, shall attend night school
for certain number of hours each
school year until such knowledge is
Eattained, and making financial pro-
vision for such schools in all districts
was unanimously indorsed by the
members in attendance upon the con-
ference of superintendent and prin-
cipals and of the executive board of
the Idaho State Teachers association,
at the closing sessions Saturday.
This bill was recommended by the
AmerlcaniZation committee of the
State Council of Defense through it's
chairman, President G. A. Axline of
the Albion normal, and is modelled
closely after the Wyoming bill.
Many Should Be Taught.
The last official census of Idaho
shows that the state has 5453 persons
above the age of 10 years who are il
iterate or 2.2 per cent. Of illiterate
males of voting age there are 3415 or
3.12 per cent. Of this number Ada
county has 695 and Bannock county
ATS.
Most of the illiteracy of this state
it is believed, is among the foreign
born who may be able to read and
write their own languages, but not
the English language. 1t is believed
that the passage of this bill by the
coming legislature will do much to
raise the standard Of citizenship
throughout the entire state which, ac
cording to the last census, has for
eign born to the number of 40 per
cent.
Boise and POcatellO Start.
According to discussion brought
out at the conference, Boise and Po-
catello are the only two cities in the
state which have made a systematic
effort to hold schools for foreign born
adults. The Idaho Technical Institute,
according to N. B. Adison, acting
president, has conducted a successful
night school for the last two years,
the present year showing an increas-
ed membership.
While most of the students have
come simply for reading, writing and
arithmetic, some have taken the auto
mechanics course and other industrial
studies. The pupils are from the
Greek, Japanese, Italian, Swedish and
Belgian colonies. This year President
ADDISON hopes to interest the foreign
born women in an afternoon class
along the lines planned by the Good
Citizenship club and Y. w. G. A. of
Boise.
The committee presenting the rec
concentrations of the Wyoming bill
was composed of N. B. Adison, chair
man, President Elliott of the Lewis
ton normal, Superintendent Shank of
Idaho Falls, Superintendent Clifford
of Caldwell and President Axline of
Albion.
The reports on the federal educa-
tion bill known as the Smith bill
which provoked much discussion at
the conference, by committee COM
posed of Superintendent Rose, Super
intendent Brock, Superintendent Cum
mings and County Superintendent
Miller, was as follows:
"The Idaho State Teachers associ-
alton having considered the provis-
ions Of the educational bill designated
as S. B. 1887 now before congress,
and having weighed the arguments
for and against such measure, hereby
resolve,
"That we favor the creation of an
executive department in the govern
ment to be called the department of /
education, with a secretary of educa-
tion who is to be the head thereof,
and member Of the presidents cab
met:
"That we favor the transfer to the
department of education Of all offices,
bureaus, divisions, boards or branches
Of the U. S. government devoted to
educational matters which cancern
the United States as a. whole;
That we favor the federal appro-
priation of monies to the states for !
the abolition of illiteracy, for the
Americanization Of immigrants, for
the equalization of educational oppor-
tunities, for the promotion of physi-
Continued on page four)