The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-01-02
UTAH TO FRONT
IN EDUCATION
State Superintendent Of Public In.
struction Backs Assertion
With Figures

ago to percentage Of 2.5 at pres
Ind me state has advanced to q
point where 1t stands almost without
a peer in the educational achieve
ments Of the nation.
So recites the biennial report OF
/ A. c. Nelson, state superintendent
of public instruction, filed with Gov.
ernor Spry Monday.
With facts and figures and well
drawn comparisons the report spells
out record of remarkable progress.
revealing a condition OF enlighten-
ment and progress that the state
may well be proud of.
Even two years ago Utah stood
fourth in the record of the states for
low percentage of illiteracy. Then
only Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas top.
ped Utah's record and by margins
the very slightest. But that the state
has cut down the slight lead and now
stands in the foremost ranks is eyi.
dent, says the report when the reduc.
ton in the percentage achieved dur.
ing the last two years is taken note
Of
Proof Of Progress
Looking backward across the past
decade, Supt Nelson, reviews the ad.
vancement Of educational facilities.
educational standards and equipment
In every portion of the state and pre-
sents facts almost startling in their
significance of growth.
In that period the value of school
property has increased from $4,000.
OUV, TO 10000 and hardly hamlet
nor community of the state but boasts
its tempe of learning, built on the
most modern and well equipped lines
where the elementary branches and
even the rudiments of higher learn
ing are instilled into the minds of
the younger generations. Ten years
ago the state had three high schools
now there are forty high schools
scattered from Cache County en- the
north to Dixie on the south. The
enrolment in the elementary schools
has increased from $4,000 to $4,000
and the expenditure for education in
elementary schools from less than
100000 TO $4,000,000 per annum.
Speaking Of the ten years of pro-
gress, the superintendent says:
BY consulting this report the most
casual reader cannot fail to see that
during the last decade We have made
commendable advancement education
ally. Our citizens are keenly inter-
ested in the improvement of their
schools. Indeed, as We look back we
marvel at the wonderful changes
that have been brought about in such
a brief period They exceed the fond
est anticipation of our fathers, whose
hopes for the future were high.
Changes That Help
In one decade we have changed
our school laws and therefore our
standards so that now We have free
uniform text books, uniform state ex.
aminations for teachers. uniform ex.
aminations for eighth grade pupils,
school Libraries, better organized
county institutes, committee 70 pre-
pare a state course of study, county
consolidation of districts commas
sion to approve schoolhouse plans,
and, in the schools of our cities and
most OF our counties, medical inspec-
ton Now our high schools receive
state aid when they reach such stand
ards of efficiency as is prescribed by
the state board of education They
are also visited and inspected twice
each year by state high school in.
spector
Ten years ago an eighth grade
graduate was eligible for examina-
ton as a teacher Now four years of
accredited high school work and nine
credits in professional work are re-
quired for entrance to the examina-
ton. The requirements of our state
certificates and diplomas have been
greatly increased.
Through these requirements our
schools have grown in influence and
efficiency. Our teachers were never
more interested than now, never 50
well prepared before.
Solution In Sight
The question of industrial educa-
ton and lis place In the public
schools is one of the most important
problems Of the age, thinks Mr.. Mel
son, Much has been done in Utah
to meet the growing demand for in
training and the superinten-
dent looks for solution of the prob
lem within the next ten years,
The financial portion OF the report
shows that there is but one other
state In the union that spends more
money per capita of population than