Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-21
CO. AGAIN.

The Iowa Falls Citizen has pro-
pounded a long list Of questions to the |
Times-Republican as to why the state
board of education has done this, that
and the other thing in its endeavor to 1
coordinate the state schools and make
Of them . system of education without
regard to the ambitions OF localities
or partisan zeal of students and pro-
fessors.
q. ''If the board was created for
this purpose, why did it say upon dedl-
eating the domestic science building
at Ames that it was its intention to
make this one Of the strongest depart
ments at the college? Why has the
hoard spent $4,000 for ground at Iowa
City upon which to build machine
shops, $50, for the shops. $4,000 for
their equipment"
A. All of these buildings had been
determined upon before this board
came into control and this board merely
carried out the arrangements made ny
the old boards Of trustees. 1t required
nearly three years for the board tol
eauip Itself with thorough enough
knowledge Of 1owa's educational sys-
tenn to enable It to define an exact
program Of coordination. That it has
done what the former legislature
created II to do IL the testimony OF
senators J. A. Smith, Maytag. Mates,
Stuckslager. Proudfoot and many 9TH
ers Of that general assembly and the
boards action has since received the
hearty endorsement Of President Main
nf Grinnell College, President Bell. Oh
Drake University and Professor Bell, OF
Mt. Vernon. The board claims that
long list Of the older and ablest pro-
feaeors An the state institutions have
privately endorsed the plan but for
ol,vfous local reasons do not want to be
draksed into the discussion.
2. "why did Roger Leavitt. the
Cedar Falls member OF the board, not
know that such action was contem-
plated?"
"A. Ths.yery strong suspicion IS that
10 did know of It but for local reasons
10 making q noise about 1t now. He
knew that the board was working on
= plan and the date was set to decide
the matter but he had convenient en-
sa1enent to 60 east. The secretary o.
the board wrote and asked him to
r,astpcne his trip so as to be present
- tho boards action would be OF so
treat importance to him. He acted
,.e,v much like the legislator who takes
to the cloak room on roll call.
q. ~WiN the T.-R. put in print a
.sn.,a article In defense of the board
emanating from faculty, students or
alumni"
a. A committee Of A1nes alumni
published such statement in the Reg
lister mad Leader and one OF their num-
her has explained to the T.-R. that
+heir committee was appointed to rep
resent the Ames alumni in considering
tni, ver aot.::os 6. the board This
committee approves all that the board
~. done. At Iowa City the professors
outside the engineering school itself
have assured the board privately that
the university proper would be strong
- had the same funds been spent in its
,2.n.r4ments which have been expended
* trying to duplicate the Ames engin-
4 enrins school. It is very apparent that
ne professors OF all Of these schools
=. mt AFFORD to stand up in their To-
al environments and champion am
putation even tho it he for the good OF
the whole educational body. Nor are
= Iii Of them the most impartial Jurors
= which 70 submit the case. Most