The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-11-07
LOARD OF EDUCATION At WORK
The Work of the State Board Of Edu-
cation.

On the 9Th of November a year ago
the people of Idaho voted overwhel-
mingly for constitutional amend
ment placing all the educational af-
fairs Of the state in charge of sin
gle board of education. A bill giving
effect to the new provision was pass
ed by the last legislature with large
majorities, was signed by the govern
or, and became law. Governor
Haines appointed on the new board,
Walter S. Bruce, Boise; Herman j.
Rossi, Wallace, H. Harland, Payette;
ID. l.. Evans, Malad; Evan Evans,
Grangeville. The state superintend-
ent of public instruction. Miss Grace
NJ Shepherd, is ex-officio member
of the board; her large knowledge of
| educational affairs, and hearty coop
Grafton in all the affairs of the board
have been an invaluable asset.
The officers of the board are: Wal
ter S. Bruce, president; H. Harland,
vice president, and Herman ]. Rossi,
secretary.
Immediately upon organization the
| board began their work by acquainting
| themselves with the institutions I'M
der their charge. They visited the
University, the two Normal schools,
the State Industrial Training school,
the Academy of Idaho, and the School
for the Deaf and Blind At each of
these institutions they based their
actions upon the plans already laid by
the outgoing trustees, and at the
same time began careful study of
the whole educational machinery of
the state, to the end of increasing har-
mony and efficiency throughout the
whole system.
One of the first tasks of the board
| under the law was the selection of a
state commissioner of education, to
act as their professional adviser and
! chief executive. They sought the
counsel of educators and other lead
ers in the state and throughout the
country, and canvassed carefully the
qualifications of a great number of
persons. Their final choice was DR..
Edward 0. Sisson, at the time Profess
sor of Education in Reed college.
Portland, previously for some years
director of the department of educa-
ton at the University of Washington,
and at one time Director of Bradley
Polytechnic Institute, at Peoria, Illi-
nois. DR.. Sisson was elected on July
16, and began active service on Sep
TENDER 1st
The commissioner has already Wis
tied all the state educational institu-
tons, although these visits were nee
essarily short At each place con-
ferences were held with the head of
the school, and recommendations were
made to the board, based on these con-
ferences. He has also attended the
sessions of number of the larger
Joint Institutes, addressing the teach |
ers and also the general public at
Boise, Twin Falls, Occur d'Alene, Ida
no Falls and Pocatello BY means of
these institutes he has met the teach
ers of twenty-five counties.
The most important immediate task
of the board is the selection of a
president for the state university, |
which has been without an official |
head for some months. Dean w. l.. |
Carlyle, as acting president, has con-
Quoted the affairs of the institution |
with admirable skill and energy; but |
in justice to the exceedingly import
ant work of his own department, the
College of Agriculture, and for the |
sake of the institution as a whole, the
board earnestly desires to fill the |
vacant place. On the other hand, they
realize the immense importance of the |
choice, both to the university and to |
the state, and do not intend to risk an
error by amking hasty choice.
AS soon as he was appointed, DR.. |
Slsson began an extensive correspond
ence with educational leaders |
throughout the whole country; by this
and other means a large number of |
available names have been collected. |
At the last meeting of the board. on
0rfnhOr and 10 u,b