Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-26

IOWA SCHOOL CHANGES.
The state board of education in
report to the governor gives an ex'
PLANTATION of Its scheme for changing
the courses Of study at Iowa City,
Ames and Cedar Falls. The board
holds that in planning for co-ordinat'
ing the institutions of higher learn
ing 1t was carrying out the idea Tor
which It was created, namely to
cause these state owned and state
supported institutions to cease being
rivals and become cooperating units
in a comprehensive system Of higher
object of it's coordination plan as fol.
lows:
F1rst-A university with strong col.
lege of liberal arts including home
economies; graduate college which
shall attract earnest men and women,
.affording them ample opportunity for
advanced study and research work; a
college of medicine and homeopathic
medicine thoroughly equipped to give
the most efficient training in medicine,
the main object being quality rather
than quantity; colleges of law, dentis-
try and pharmacy, of which we shall
all be proud; and college Of educa-
ton equal to the best.
Second-An institution at Ames
which shall be the greatest technical
institution in the Mississippi valley
along the lines of agriculture, engi-
neering and veterinary medicine, with
college standards as high as the high
est: and, supplementary to this, work
along sub-collegiate lines which shall
bring the beneficent influences of this
institution within the reach Of all those
who have only so much as little time
to devote to fitting themselves to do
the world always has to do in abund-
ance. sE<
Third-A system of normal schools
second to none, for the training of
teachers for the rural and elementary
schools of this state-schools where
there may be opportunity to work out
some OF the manifold educational and
social problems incident to the symme-
tricaI development of a state like our
own. -
It Is explained that these institu-
lions, with separate boards and de-
veloped without much thought Of the
other, became to all extent and pur-
poses rivals, instead of cooperating
units in general system. The board
held it was absolutely unjustif1able
for the state to maintain within 1875
miles Of each other, two engineering
schools covering practically the same
field" The board, therefore, decided
to discontinue the college of applied
science at Iowa City and concentrate
engineering work at Ames. .,"
The board also took steps to do
something for the great body Of
young people who have hitherto been
practically neglected in Americas
scheme Of popular education.
''By far the larger majority of pub
lie school pupils never enter the high
school," says the report. MANY who
do enter go through in desultory sort
Of way without receiving much, if any,
benefit. Hitherto the public schools
have been shaped primarily to fit the
students to enter college: but today
people are everywhere thinking about
the great body Of young people who
do not go to college, and who, perhaps,
ought to go to college. Something
must be done for them. Without
thought Of lowering the professional
standards which exist in the state col.
lege it is recommended that addition
al short courses in agriculture be es-
tablished at Ames, and that, in con-
nection with the engineering depart
~ hot in cfif do Io
courses and a system of trade school
extension work designed to help work
men In the factories of Iowa be es-
tablished. A considerable portion of
the increased appropriations asked for
is requested for work along these
lines.''
The plans for the trade school ex-
tension includes:
A trade school extension depart
ment at Ames, maintaining headduar-
tiers for the state work. under the en-
cheering department.
Gradual development of district
headquarters in the more important
Industrial cities Of the state.
The establishment, first in the prin-
cipal industrial centers of the state,
and then in the smaller industrial
towns, of continuation classes meeting
at such intervals as may later be de-
cided upon, but not less frequently
than once each week, in which the
youth and the adult engaged in the
general trades may secure elementary
instruction in such subjects as are best
adapted to their needs, while at the
same time continuing their daily work.
These will be taught by experts from
nearest district headquarters
The development of correspondence
study along Industrial lines for the
benefit Of such youth and adult work
men as can not attend the continu-
alton classes.
The object will be to provide train
ing courses for stationary engineers
and artisans who desire to engage in
the various trades. This is work
strongly rsc1zmended by the Iowa