Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-03
STATE AUTHORITIES TO UNDER.
TAKE DELICATE TASK OF
DECIDING QUESTION.
DISTRICTS ADOPT TERM
TO AVOID PAYING TUITION
Number Of Rural Districts Resort to
Trieksry to Save Money and Eduea-
tors Propose to Stop II Other
Schools Organized in Part to Secure
Tuition Pupils Fall Short,
Special TO Times-Republican.

Des Moines, Jan. 3.-What consti-
tutes high school? There is nothing
in the law or the custom making an
answer to the question The state de-
partment of education will undertake
the delicate task OF deciding.
State Superintendent A NJ Deyoe
has just sent out d circular 10 county
and city superintenden1s and boards of
school directors outlining a plan for ar
irving at some understanding on this
subject that Will lead TO uniformity OF
standards turnout the state In this
circular he says:
"A small number of rural districts
have set up claim of fur FISHING high
school facilities in the one-room
schools One teacher is expected nos
only to conduct classes in the grades
but to organize classes in high school
su objects. This has been attempted re-
gardless of the qualifications of the
teacher employed and regardless of the
fact that there may be no equipment
in the way of library and apparatus
II is matter of common knowledge
that some communities have attempted
TO carry on regular four-year high
school course with only one teacher
in charge. These conditions are not
only an imposition upon the teacher
and the taxpayer but positive wrong
to the children"
The new tuition law is declared to be
responsible for much of the confusion;
for there are districts that organize and
maintain what they call & high school
chiefly for the purpose Of. avoiding the
payment of tuition for plpils in dis
tricts that have>real high schools. and
there are other high schools That nave
organized at least in part TO secure
the tuition pupils.
Backed BY State Law.
The state board Of educational ex-
aminers has the right 10 classify the
high schools into fully accredited ones,
partially accredited and non accredited.
and this relates only 10 entrance 10 the
state colleges. No effort has ever been
made 10 decide as among the non ac-
credited high schools just what shall
be deemed sufficient to entitle the
school to be called q high school. Sup
erintendent Deyoe now purposes doing
this very thing, the attorney general
having ruled that it is entirely within
! the province of his department 10 fix
and determine standard for Iowa
high schools. Superintendent Deyoe
says that certain fundamental prin-
ciples should be recognized:
1T is impossible for one teacher in
charge of the ordinary one-room school
to conduct classes above the eighth
grade.
1T is impossible for one teacher to
do justice TO more than two years Of
high school work when Gevoting all his
time 10 recitation periods during the
school hours a three or four-year
high school should employ not less
than two teachers.
Teachers employed to teach high
school subjects should have had at
least two years training above the high
school.
"A library including reference works.
and apparatus TO be used in connection
with the teaching Ct certain subjects is
essential A great amount Of apparatus
may not De absolutely required in small
. high schools
Unless the classes are very small.
but three years of high school work
should be attempted with only two
teachers in charge"
Full Statement Required.
In order that the departn. mt may have
basis for tn eclassitication or rather
Standardization Of these numerous non
accredited high schools of the state. a
request is made for full statement as
to number of teachers. qualification
courses Of study. etc. and blanks Will
soon be sent to all parts Of the state
for securing this information. The de-
partment will give aid 10 the extent Of
its ability In organizing high schools in
| the rural districts. and two-year and
| a three-year course of study is sub
nitted as a suggestion. The authority
| of the department. is TO be exercised
only as to these non-accredited schools
and it will in no manner affect the re-
lation of the high school to the state
educational institutions.
This IS one Of the most important re-
| cent forward steps in the program for
| educational advancement.