Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-06-15
GREAT INTEREST
IN PROPOSITION
MADE BY BOARD
Plan for Radical Changes in
Educational System of the
State Causes Widespread
Comment.

Albion Normal school, combining the
Academy of Idaho with the Pocatello
high school system, and the establish
ment of "jrnior colleges at Boise and
at Pocatello, more of the report of the
board and the reasons advanced for
their recommendations are given than
was possible in the first story pub
lished yesterday.
The report contains arguments
showing that schools of higher train
ing are necessarily concentrated and
removed from the homes OF most OF
\ the students and that the purpose
must be to provide the best education
possible, without duplication of work,
in institutions distributed as nearly
as possible among the youths of the
state, which can best be done in local
high schools, rather than in institu-
lions such as the Albion and the Po-
catello institutions, which do such a
large proportion of high school work
and the following differences are
drawn:
differences.
what may we conclude from the
above facts and principles?
81. We cannot concentrate high
school instructions; we must dissent
permit.
80. on the other hand, the highest
and most advanced instruction can be
concentrated because few seek It, and
thew will travel any reasonable dis
lance to obtain 1t, and are sufficiently
mature to be on their own response
bility And it must be concentrated,
because duplication will involve great
increase in cost and lowering OF efh-
cheney This means one university
and only one in the state
"s. Now between the most adyanc-
ed work, which must be concentrated
in one institution of highest rank, and
the secondary or high school work, full
four wear courses of which are even
now in operation in more than 60
places in the state, there is an i'm
portant middle ground, consisting of
the first two years of the college
course. This comedies with the ad-
vanced course in a normal school, that
is the part of the normal course that
does not in any way parallel the high
school This two years above the nigh
school is sometimes called the Junior
college and we Will adopt that name
for the sake OF convenience. owing
to geographical conditions in Idaho the
Junior college idea has peculiar inter-
est hence we will discuss it at length
in the next chapter"
After discussing the advantages of
these "irnior colleges" and showing
their necessity by quoting figures to
show that in SO institutions in other
states there are 226 students from
southern Idaho. of whom 100 are In
the first two years, while las go from
the same section to north Idaho the
following proposals for reorganiza-
ton" are made:
Proposals for Reorganization.
81. We should recognize the fact
that the Albion Normal school cannot
be made successful and efficient oW-
ing to the drawbacks of the situation,
and cease to attempt to operate It.
There is no reason why the plant
cannot be utilized for other state pur-
poses. A number of possible uses have
been suggested. All movable equip
ment can easily be utilized either
locally or elsewhere. Those now at
tending the school can be provided for
amply by the plans outlined below.
80. The immediate fact in the
academy situation is the presence in
Pocatello of two separate groups of
secondary students, a little over 200 In
each group, one group in the academy
and the other in the high school. These
two groups have in general the same
educational needs, and are doing large
Nv the same work. There will be nc
true efficiency until these two groups
are combined under one unified ad-
ministration They will then make UP
a splendid fody of 400 or 500 students
the material for one of the finest sec
ondary schools in the northwest.
we cannot throw the Pocatello
high school on the state; neither the
state nor the city of Pocatello would
tolerate that Even the present stua-
ton goes too far in that direction, as
rs Pocatello secondary students are
being educated at the cost of the state
The other alternative is cooperation
let the state join forces with the loca
school, in both secondary work ano
such higher work as the situation de-
mands. The academy plant can be
utilized in this way far more fully and
efficiently than at present. The cost
of maintenance can be greatly reduced
and splendid Institution can be BULL
up, worthy of the state and the city
This is proposed as part of the plan
outlined below.
49, The two schools would continue
substantially as at present until July
1915, when the reorganization would
be begun; the most careful plans
would be made to effect the changes
with the least possible friction and
loss.
"A. Students now in attendance al
Albion and the academy would be pro-
vided for in the new cooperative sys-
tenn, the Junior college at Pocatellc
:. nngmoAlarly would be planned to meet
their needs"
The conditions existing in the two
schools that 1t is proposed to abolish
the Albion normal and the Academy
of Idaho are reviewed and reasons are
advanced why they should be abolish
ed, as follows: