Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-01
FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT
TELLS OF AIMS OF BOARD
Engineering Schools at Ames and Iowa
City to Be Placed on Harmonious
sasis-Aorieuturai Course Of Two
Years to Be Made Permanent Pro.
vided Legislature Gives Support.
Special to Times Republican.


the governor and the legislature The
law which called this board into being
makes II the duty of the board TO re-
port to the governor and legislature
both its observations and conclusions
respecting each and every one of the
institutions named, to-wit: The State
University, the State College of Agri
culture and Mechanic Arts and the
State Teachers College The report
starts out with an outline of the boards
policy in general. 1t says:
IL was evidently the intention of the
legislature that the three state institu-
tons governed by the board should be
coordinate parts OF the general edu-
cational system of Iowa. l. was mani
testify the first duty of the board to be-
come thoroughly acquainted with the
institutions thus placed under its con-
troll and not a little time has been
given by members. both individually
and collectively. during the pas: wear,
TO study of these institutions and of
current educational problems. Expert
advice has now and then been sought
from the outside, and this policy viii
be continued.
The board holds. to this general
principle that it is a governing rather
than an administrative body AS a
governing body it's duty is 70 keep a
sense OF proportion among the three
institutions intrusted to its care and
to coordinate their activities SO far,
the board has had time 70 do little
more than study the problem. 1t un
dertook this work with an open mind
and without prediction toward any
one form of orga MIA ton Ii assumes.
however. that there is best way to
deal with all questions and that this
way may be found by scientific analy
sis of data sifted and made ready for
its judgment thru the assistance Of
competent executives and experts.
Hopes to End Rivalry.
1t has been and shay continue to be
the purpose Of this hoara as far as
possible to put an end TO rivalry and
reduce Implications to minimum.
Necessarily work along these lines
must be well considered and TOO rapid
progress must not be expected. It
was na,ural that there should be dup
licatiors of work under thu old system.
and il Will not be possible 10 do away
entirely with these duplications even
after the lapse of some years, but the
board feels confident that they can be
and will be reduced to a minimum
AS an example of how this latter
purpose may be accom- plfshed, it is
pointed out that the two schools of en-
cheering. one at Ames, and the other
q, Iowa City. may in time be so CO.
ordinated that one shall do the under
graduate work in engineering and the
other the graduate work; and that the
State Teachers College and the uni
versitv school Of education may be
similarly co-ordinated.
University College Of Medicine.
Considerable space is given to a dis
cussior of the problems incident to the
State University College of Medicine.
1t is evidently the intention Of the
board TO develop this college along the
highest possible lines and to make 1t
serve the people of the state to the
fullest extent There have been num-
erous marked changes in methods of
medical instruction during recent years
and that in order TO keep step with
this progress 1t will be necessary to
adopt a much more liberal policy in
the matter of the budget for this par
ticular college than has hitherto OBJ
tanned.
State College Of Agriculture.
The problems incident to this insti-
tuition are fully and frankly discussed
in the report. 1t is stated that from
the standpoint Of business administra-
ton this institution is more intricate
than any other under the boards con-
troll, this for the reason that it carries
Oh numerous commercial transa ctions
its farm. its dairy, and its creamery.
The report argues III favor Of ma in
tanning the institution along the lines
of development thus far pursued. The
new board evidently is averse to the
lowering Of any standards.
Short Course at Ames.
The report calls attention to the fact
that, yielding for the time to what
seemed TO be not only popular de-
mand but public need the board has
sanctioned the installation at Ames of
two-year course in agriculture which
students who have completed the stud
les usually designated as the common
branches may enter. but from which
any student who is prepared to enter
the regular course in agriculture shall
be excluded.
This arrangement is only tempo
rary," says the report THE board
recognized the demand for such in.
struction and the need Of 1t; and II in
tends to present this matter frankly to
the general assembly as something
which the Legislature should consider
on it's merits and provide for-if in its
wisdom it recognizes the necessity Of
providing for tin such way as not
to interfere with the high standards
which have always been maintained at
this institution and which the board
hopes to see maintained in the flu
ture."
State Teachers College.
The State Teachers College is char.
acterized by the report as "a magnifi-
cent institution, honored at home and
abroad-one that trains FOR all the de-
partments Of the common schools"
eff" says the report, 1.-The interpreta-
ton OF the statutory provision estab-
fishing this college has been liberal, It
surely will be conceded that the work
attempted has been nobly done"
Additional Buildings Needed.
The report then goes into the need
for additional buildings at the several
institutions Touching this matter, 1t
says:
THE board has given careful consid-
GRAFTON to the need for additional