Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-03-15
Iona newspapers.
THE EDUCATIONAL BOARD.
Esprit Lake Beacon.l

Speaking Of the selection Of a sue
cassor to DR.. Storms at Ames, the
MarshaHtown Times Republican says
the state board Of education lis facing
its first test Of executive capacity" In
the opinion of the T.-R. this selection
must be made with especial reference
to the farm side of the institution;
moreover, that the State College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts should
be all the name implies and no more.
This assumption seems logical fairly
self-evident. 1t is such an easy matter
to settle weighty matters off-hand in
the newspapers. This paper ought to
know, for it has been in the business
so long itself.
In installing system of institution
government new and unique the state
board of education is confronted by
conditions and einbarras sed by theo-
RIGS Naturally discriminating public
assumes that each institution should
occupy separate educational territory
and pursue distinctive lines of higher
education. Why should the state main
tain competitive colleges? Why should
the university and the state college
duplicate courses in engineering? Why
should the state teachers college and
the agricultural college vie with the
university in departments of liberal
arts? Why should not the institution
at Anles have been built up along
technical lines intent only upon the de-
yelopmeni of agriculture ard the me-
chanic arts? Why should not the in
stitution at Cedar Falls have confined
its energies wholly to the uplifting OF
the common schools of the state with
out aspiring TO prominence in the field
of liberal arts? Why. indeed! 1t is
so easy to settle these matters right
off the reel of speculation.
This new board, however, in the ma
ture Of the case, is mea surably sub
ject to conditions. Without stopping to
identity the right or the wrong. the
wise or the foolish policy, suffice it to
call attention to the fact that the new
board finds at Iowa City and Ames en-
cheering departments Of splendid char
acter and development. where the ev-
penditure of many hundreds of thous-
and and the exercise of comma nding
ability have planted deeply the roots
OF establishment. At this point the
board finds its work cut out. 1t was
created to build up; not to destroy.
At Ames the college Of liberal art is so
far OOCteSSed into the Curriculum as 10
make divorce an invitation to vital dis
indignation. At Cedar Falls the return
to the program for which this institu-
ton was originally intended and to
which in many states the normal is
confined might mean Generalization
difficult to estimate.
Tese are few of the more simple
situations wherein the board is apt to
disappoint its critics friendly or other
wise. A purpose combining patriotism
and zeal and harmony and fidelity is
inspiring the twelve men who are en-
deavoring to work out the problems
suggested by this new system. These
men viii not be able to meet the ex-
pectation of the public generally. 1t
is hardly probable they will be able
more than part Of the time to satisfy
themselves. But it is quite too early
to decide that the legislature has not
served well and helpfully its state and
its generation in placing the three in
situations under single governing
board clothed with large discretion and
| responsibility.