The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-10-06
WHAT WILL THE
TEACHERS SAY

IL WOulQ De very prOutdDl0 m0ulId-
ton for the people of Blackfoot at
this time to be asking themselves
the question as to what the teachers
will say of Blackfoot, after they have
been received, taken care of for the
week and bid goodbye.
At first glance one might say it
would not matter greatly what they
think, but a town grows and gathers
population largely by what people
think Of it. If they think well of it,
the town is likely to grow. II they
speak well of it and give sensible
reasons for liking it, it will attract
others besides the speakers, and as
It is the ambition of every western
town to grow and to grow by the as
sembling Of good class of people.
That is the well-defined ambition Of
Blackfoot as expressed by its
thoughtful men and women. That
being true it is very desirable that
the 500 teachers who stay here a
week and then scatter out over nine
counties to come in contact with all
it's homes shall give a pleasing re-
port of the town and the character Of
its people. Even tho we have diff
ferent opinions and sass each
other sometimes 1t would be better
IL they report that we do 1t in toll
erably genteel manner and receive
it like good sports. If they report
that our back yards are in disorder,
it were better If they report that
they might be worse. II our furni-
ture is all battered up and needs
vanishing, it would be desirable
that they should not think it was
battered in adjusting domestic diff
fculties.
When the teachers voted to hold
the 1921 institute at Blackfoot they
did It for just few reasons or in
acting on q few considerations that
appealed to them. They considered
that they had not been treated with
proper courtesy where they had been
assembling. Note the value Of court
esy exhibited by town and its peo-
pie. They felt that they were being
held up for rooms and meals, and
they resented it. They believed that
they were being charged more than
other people, or more than had been
charged before and after the insti-
tute, and they rebelled.
They felt that their own trade was
worth something to the town, that 1t
was either not appreciated or that 1t
was cor Tered that the town looked
upon them as fixtures who could not
hold their institutes anywhere else
for want of rooms and hotels and
halls and eating houses and that the
teachers would have to put up with
whatever was given. They rebelled
against that, and whether true or
not, most of them felt that this was
a condition confronting them.
When they were invited to meet
at Blackfoot this year they were told
a few things about the town, and
they will come here watching to see
If those things are true. Here,
briefly, is what was told them:
"Blackfoot is town OF good
homes occupied by thoughtful, home
loving families who will welcome the
teachers and enjoy their company
AEzcA home at Blackfoot is more or
less Of a Y. M. c. A. seeking good
company at Its Preside, and its mem
bers will feel benefited by their as
sociations with the teachers for the
week. They will regard the teach
ers az good comrades, good intel.
lectuaI company, carrying good cheer
and al ,eleyating influence that
Blackfoot people are always seeking
whether Id literature Or, lyceunns OF
chautauauas III guests Or b0arders
II the teachers are regarded q
boarders for the week they VIII also