Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-03
EARLY IOWA EDUCATION
DR.. Fellows'Address at Teachers
Meetings Recited Some In
teresting History
STATE AID AT AN EARLY DATE
Territorial Legislature Took Steps to
Promote Schools and Colleges and
Many Charters Were Granted-Hiah
School Inspection Controversy Set
tied.

Special to 1'lmes- Itepublican,
Des Moines. Jan. Sit would be
good thing If all the papers and speech
es and discussions incident to the ami
versary meeting of the State Teachers
Association could be printed in a pam
phlet and placed in the hands of every
person interested in education in the
state. A perusal Of these addresses
and teach the lesson that Iowa has long
been foremost in modern educational
methods. Iowa was early to take the
initiative in regard to institutions for
higher learning. DR.. S. N. Fellows, in
his admirable paper called attention
to the fact that in 1888, when Iowa had
less than $4,000 population. the ter
ritorial legislature established seven
seminaries and two colleges, and in
1915 when Iowa City had less than 1000
population, the legislature chartered
there an academy. a seminary. a col
lege and a university. Between 1888
and 1850, fifty educational institutions
We're incorporated, only one or two of
which still live. Fifty years ago, not
any college work was done in Iowa, but
the so-called colleges were engaged in
only preparatory work. 1t was in 1858
that Governor Grimes recommended
the establishment Of the free public
school system and altho this was re-
sisted and fought on the ground that
it taxed those without children for the
benefit Of those having children, that
it was unjust and un-American, it was
nevertheless adopted. The high school
was then unknown and unthought of
and DR.. Fellows said:
1T required another struggle to en-
graft the high school on the free ele-
mentary school system. The writer of
this paper was repeatedly called to diff
ferent places in Iowa to plead for the
establishment of a high school or to
defend one from overthrow. The OPP
ponents of the high school declared it
to be an attempt to tax the many for
the benefit of the few, the poor for
the benefit of the rich, and that such
taxation was unjust. even robbery. The
high school was defended on the
ground that it was public benefit in
S1Ghl ~ lCiloo W SySlCIlIdIlAC 6AO QulCh.
en- all the grades below, and gives OPP
portunity to rich and poor alike to Sc
cure such higher legislation, and that
their establishment and maintenance
were not only proper as an act of jus
tice, but expedient as measure of
policy. The battel was fought and the
victory won, and the high school be-
came an integral part of the free public
school system"
Struggle for University.
DR. Fellows discussed also at some
length, the struggle for the state uni
versity the growth of the denomina-
tional colleges and similar Institutions
and continuing said:
In 1872 the writer of this paper then
president of the association, devoted
his inaugural address to the discussion
of state and denominational schools.
1t was intended as a defense of both
That address was referred to COM
mittee, which reaffirmed the funda-
mental positions of said address, and
the report was unanimously adopted
The most important resolutions were:
Resolved, That the noble purpose
which planted denominations colleges
in this country, the heroic self-denials
that have continued and improved
them, and their grand influence in the
promotion of intelligence and virtue of
the American people, command our
confidence, our gratitude and our hear
test good will.
Resolved, That the muniflcence Of
the federal and state governments in
the creation and support Of our state
universities has been timely and wise;
that the growth and influence of these
institutions has been most gratifying
and that we welcome them as the
crown and glory Of Our public school
system.
Resolved. That in the opponent of
this American school system, or any
part of it, we recognize the undis-
guised foe, or ill informed friend Of
liberty and PROCESS
"Denominational schools, whether
elementary or of a higher grade, are
limited, and restricted to denomina-
tional ends; state schools are limited
to state ends. Rightly pursued these
ends, though distinct and separate,
are in harmony with each other
Neither the church nor the state can
rightfully abandon to the other it's
own ends or the means for their at
tainment. Nor can either the church
or the state abandon to the other the
management or control of it's institu-
lions of learning Palsied be the tom
que that advocates any principle that
would mar the integrity Of the state
school system! Palsied be the hand
that takes one dollar from state or
federal treasury for the support of
parochial or denominational schools"
Controversy Over Inspection.
The controversy over the high school
inspection in the state which has been
agitating some Of the educators for
some time, will probably be settled
without much further friction. 1t is
not to be denied there has been some
friction, though, of course, it has been
in friendly spirit. The latest effort on
the part of the colleges was to have
the state superintendent prepare and
publish a course OF study for high
schools so that this would form the
foundation for the inspection. The
state superintendent has declined to
do this.
lowa's Strong Box.
Des Moines, Jan. 3.-Iowa starts out
the new year with only about $4,000
onn ar.l, t., ~, x,oolrat NOW lor 1vov