The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-23
PROPOSED LEGISLATION
IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOLS

School legislation is one Of the most i'm
portant and far-reachiug issues before the
present session of the legislature, and the
bills that have been introduced, If passed,
will result in the greatest educational ad-
vancement that has taken place in the
state Of Utah since the enactment Of the
free school laws.
From the present legislation every COM
munity will be benefited and every branch
Of education improved. Provision is made
for the betterment Of every class from the
kindergarten to the university. and the
enactment of the proposed measures will
put Utah among the first states of the
country in the various branches of edu-
cdtlonai activity The proposed new laws
more funds for the support of schools
more efficient high schools, better text
books, improved sanitary conditions. u
regulation OF school boards in cities of the
second class. an engineering experiment
station at the university. protection for
teachers. teachers Institutes more free
scholarships at the state normal school,
new building at the university. better
equipment at the Agricultural college and
the university and other changes which
viii greatly increase the standard and CT
ficiency of the Utah schools.
Work for Legislators.
This is the first meeting of the legisla-
ture at which there has been any organ
tied movement among the educators OF
the state to advance the interests of the
schools. For this session the campaign
was fostered by the state Teachers aSso-
citation, AMI a committee was appointed
to look after the welfare OF the schools.
This committee, composed Of some of the
most eminent educators I'm the state, was
empowered &c suggest the improvements
outline the bills and attend 10 their pre-
sentation in the legislature. The plan has
been successful, and by this method the
most important school legislation in wears
has come before the lawmakers. Tho com
mittee that has charge OF the work IS
composed Of State Superintendent a. e
Nelson, DR.. w. NJ Stewart, principal of
The state normal school: President J. II.
Kingsbury of the university, President
John A. Widtsoe of the Agricultural col
lege, Superintendent d. H. Christensen Of
the Salt Lake schools. County Supcriu-
tendent Smith of Salt Lake, DR.. Thomas
former president of the association: So
perintendent G. s. ChiEls of the titan
county schools and Superintendent Frank
briggs OF the state school for the blind.
An Organized Movement.
In speaking Of the work Of the commit
tee, DR.. Stewart. who is one of the most
enthusiastic workers. said: This has been
the first year when there has been an
organized effort to present the education
interests: and it was due to this that we
have received such profitable legislation.
The bills that have been introduced this
year mean more TO the schools of the state
than anything that has been done since
the enactment OF the free school laws
and it has been many years since any
thing so valuable for education has been
done. These laws cover all that we want
and their enactment will greatly increase
the standard and efficiency of the Utah
schools"
One of the most important bills was the
one introduced in the house by Represent
alive Wootton. granting 100 free scholar
ships IN the state normal school, Cstah-
fishing a secondary training school for
high school teachers. making possible the
elimination Of the preparatory school at
the university, enabling the faculty to
give teachers certificate to a student
to teach the subjects in which he is spe-
cializirg and making the normal course ut
the university fOur-year course leading
TO a degree This enabled the univeTsit-
to meet the requirements for the CarueE.s
fund for old or "supersnnuatad' profess
sors.
The bill introduced in the senate BIS John
Y. Smith is for an act establishing a state
library and gymnasium commission Ih,s
provides for an advisory bo1rd ct re-
sponsibls and qualified persons. which viii
work up libraries and gymnasiunis in the
smaller cities. which viii be Of great ad-
vantage 10 the public schools, improving
the moral and physical as we'll as the
educational conditions.
An important measure WIS introduced
by Senator Bullen. providing state text
book commission and the selection Of text
books BY this plan twenty-eight men.
representing ali parts 81 TIE STATE. VIII
serve on the commission. and the text
books for the entire state will be selected
at orce, giving the schools many adyan-
tages.
A bill has beer introduced and passed IN
the house TO install IN engine ering exDer-
mental station at the state school of
mines at the university. This viii be Of
great importance TO the university, as well
as the engineering industries. and it will
give the school of mines the same pres
tige among the engineering Industries that
the Agricultural college has in agricul-
ture. horticulture and dalryine
House bill No. 90 requires that an ap-
pIicant to teach In the schools of the state.
in addition to passing the regular exanin-
atoms. must have had four years of high
school education, and similar bill has
been introduced requiring those who teacn
in high schools TO have finished four years
in some college course, with few pre-
scribed subjects.
A bill introduced By Senator Miller is for