Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-12-09
EDITORIAL OPINION OF
IDAHO EDITORS
WHERE MORE MONEY IS NOT THE
SOLVENT.
(Tribune LeWiston),

(Tribune Lewiston).
President Lindley of the University
of Idaho on returning from an east
ern trip brings the report that
143,000 teachers have left the profess
sion in the last year because of the
pressure of economic conditions apd
certain other causes, and fears that
a further drain Is to come unless the
compensation granted to teachers is
made proportionate to the decreased
buying power of the dollar. The ques-
ton raised is whether it is the desire
of men of affairs that their sons should
have 12-cylinder cars and one-cylinder
teachers? The closing of numerous
schools in every state, with 1900 in
one state alone, for the lack of teach
ers, New Jerseys fear of 100000 of
its children having to give up school,
and the turning over Of even greater
numbers to teachers who are incompe-
tent or inept many to the degree that
makes 1t questionable II their minis
trations are not more mischievous than
beneficial, are facts which constitute a
public warning Of the first conse-
quence. They warn us that in the
momentous and unending contest be-
tween the forces of ignorance and
those of enlightenment, the forces of
enlightenment are fighting, if not al
ready losing battle, one that must
shortly become so unless they are
recruited and made more efficient.
The question of money, of higher
salaries, is not the totality of the ques-
ton. perhaps not even the main part
of it. The increasing, even the dou-
bling Of the salaries of teachers would
give them no undue compensation If
they are fit for their task; and one of
the benefits resulting from increased
salaries would be to crowd out the I'M
fit, and attract into the profession men
and women who are competent and
purposeful. But the prescription as
sumes that public education will re-
quire as many teachers as have been
employed until the recession set in;
and that assumption. we should say is
one that should be examined very
carefully. 1t Is by no means certain
that the appropriation of larger sums
for the schools is the only or the bet
ter way of supply competent teach !
ing force. Most, if not all. of that pur-
pose can be accomplished by reducing
the number of teachers required, and
this would mean revision Of the
courses now made a part of the sys-
tenn. This, the Tribune, believes, is
the most urgent single task in the
problem of making the schools what
they ought to be. The studies and ac-
tivities of the schools have been null :
tiplied to the point which overtaxes
the abilities of the pupils, with the
result that it is only the prodigy of
energy and mental receptiyeness who
can become proficient in any one of
the subjects imposed on the pupils. To .
continue on the present scale would .
only have the effect of crystalizing the i
present curricula and a system of in !
struction which, we believe, Is indie
feasible and which initiates against F
the cause of education quite as much
as does incompetent teaching. Here
in will doubtless be found the explain
ton of why employers of large num-
bers of high school graduates in the
cities maintain their own individual
schools for the purpose of teaching
their annual crop of new employees
the rudiments of spelling, writing.
grammar and geography,
which they have failed to acquire in
the indigestible mass and range of
subjects required of them in the city
schools The first need I'm public ed
ucation is to radically reform the pre-
yaiIing ideas OF what Is to be taught
to enable the pupils of the public
schools to become properly and useful
" educated, and not until that is done
can other aspects of the subject be
dealt with successfully.
-4%e |
There are at present nine aim
theatres in operation at Bangkok.
siam. and another building which will
house large movie theatre IL now
under construction. This structure vii,
cost about 100000 ticals, and another
100, 900 will be spent on its furnishings
When complete 1t will have a seatinr
capacity Of about 5000. =,