The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1923-06-21
THE IDAHO EDUcA-
TIoNAL SYSTEM
CONTINUED from Page H.

bOdiment of the Idaho educational sys-
tenn, it is pleasant to record the unani-
nous approval of those intelligent
thousands of trained working teach
ers in our state schools, whose daily
contact with, and closeup views Of
the operation of the Idaho plan en-
title them to speak with delibera-
ton and calm judgment that no lay
onlooSer. regardless of his station,
can hope to equal. Here is what these
teachers say to the world in their
convention at Boise last November
Idaho Teachers on Idaho System.
The Idaho system of educational
supervision and control has now been
in operation long enough to show it to
be characterized by the attributes Of
saneness, efficiency and economy. We
endorse, Fundamentally the continu-
ance of this system, as the one most
conducive. at the present time, to the
fullest development of the states edu-
cational interests. We pledge anew
our loyalty to the commissioner of ed
ucation the state superintendent of
public instruction, and the state board
of education in all their work in the
interests of educational betterment."
The Idaho system was chartered by
the people of the state through con-
stitutional amendment overwhelming
~ approved at the polls in 1912, with
the idea of expressing their demand
that rivalry between state education
al institutions be abolished, as well as
the pernicious activities of independ-
ent faculties organizing their student
body, alumni boards and committees
for selfish ends, arraying section
against section, and in the biennial
attack on the legislature for appro-
priations backed by their special log
rolling lobby. until, as so we'll stated
by our great commissioner, IAN
thought of the paramount claim of
the people of the state through their
direct representatives to dictate was
lost"
The people plainly said at the cleo
ton that the control of education in !
all it's branches and parts was to be |
transferred from teachers, superin
tendents, professors and presidents |
and committees, and handed over to
themselves. The board is representa-
tive of the people.
Thus the new star in the armament |
of education: 1.-THE Idaho Plan" COM
bining coordinating, unifying and
harmonizing the complex school sys-
TEN, was born and launched for good
or i'll.
Board Represents the People.
Thirty-nine officials gave place to
five, and yet the functions of city and
county superintendent, and of local
boards of school trustees remained,
and remains undisturbed to this day.
And so the various units of the sys-
tenn from kindergarten through the
university, have experienced a unified
impulsion toward efficiency; all unne-
cessary duplication with its heavy
toll of wasteful expense altogether
abolished. Necessity for further ad-
justments unfold as we go on; new
plans, born of the ebb and flow of cur
rent development take shape and form
under stress of the idea of unity Of
effort and administration.
OF course this board of consecrated
men and women, appointed without
regard to political afiliation and
broadly representative of the public,
the banker miner, merchant farmer,
housewife and mother undoubtedly
makes some mistakes. but if we can
not plant our faith in and render full
support to committee of the people
by whom the service is regarded as a
distinction and honor; to serve with
out pay and largely on their own ex-
pense, with the sole motive in their
hearts for the highest good of the .
state. its children and youth; where S
may we turn, what other method can
we adopt?
The law directed the board TO ap- {
point its chief executive officer, 1.-THE
Commissioner" They were left I'M
trammeled, at least theoretically, and
as free to select their technical man I
ager as the directors of a great indus l
trial plant or banking house in choos-
ing an executive officer in the con- T
duct of its business affairs, where fit {
ness and tried experience is the para I
mount demand. and it is this particu-
lar function that I will later discuss. {
How the System Works.
If you have understood and can APP
propriate what | have thus far pre-
scented it may be plain that the "sys-
TEN" has accomplished nothing, or
much and among many things of ma
jor Importance. which within the linn
it's of platform address can not be
touched upon, I stress the following;
Splendid and unusual cooperation s
between the rival institutions have de-
veloped constructive and beneficent
activities and eliminated unnecessary G
duplication, where the old contests for t
duplicating and overlapping curricul-
UNI and equipment; for preferment a
and state support, had developed con- S