1911 Gem of the Mountains, Volume 8 - University of Idaho Yearbook

TilE NINETEEN ELEVEN 1f this is done the proposition becomes possible and practicable.

L'nder the new plan the pupil would be retained in the old courses founded to promote general intelligence as long as possible. As tlee end of hi" term approaches YOcational studies would occupy a greater portion of his time. Finally. when fully equipped for his vocation he would go back to life through the v.>cational door.

Second. the school is a consumer of social energy and should be a producer of social efficiency. The public has no real interest in the education of an individual for a purely individual purpose. Cnlc~s the individual who has received an education at the public expense is able lhrough work of his hands and tongue and pen to increase the social value of his output by an amount which will equal the cost of his education. society is a \o:-,cr. so far a:-; that individual is concerned. Society is not concerned with the plc:tsure the individual may receive from the perusal of the masterpiece-; of literature. or from a review of the triumphs of science. or the contemplation of fine paintings.

The State has absolutely no interest in these pleasures and satisfactions that begin and end with the individual. Unless the gr:tduate is a producer, the State loses. The end and aim of edution in a n institution supported by public taxation is social effic iency and social service. and the value of the education is known by the result.

In this view of education. the Gnivcrsity of Idaho is avocational school. Practically all of its graduates ha,•e received special training for a definite \'OCation or profcs:-,ion, and their records will show that social service has always been a dominant clement in thci r lives. . \I so many of the High Schools of Idaho, either by themselves or in conjunction with other agencies, are planning to ofTer all the clements of an integral education; and to repay through social service the social cost they represent.

The old Puritan s knew what they wanted and knew how to secure it. They knew that the chief service a man can render his generation usually consists in the practice of his vocation, and in founding r [arvard College they provided for \'OCational training. \\'hat Idaho chiefly needs is the man or woman, who by work of his pen or tongue or hands. is able to do something for Idaho. and Idaho will require that its schoob and students plan their educational courses more definitely to this end.

J .\MES A. MACLE,\N. S IXTEEN