Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-06-18
Want EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM CHANGED
RADICALLY
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AD-
vIsEs ABoLIsHING AND COM
BINING OF SCHOOLS.
PLAN FOR JUNIOR COLLEGES
Would Do Away With Office of State
Superintendent Via Constitutional
Amendment Route.

Important changes affecting the edu-
cational interests of the state, includ-
ing the abolishing of one institution, the
combining Of another with the high
school system of the city where it is
located, and the establishment of two
new institutions, without additional
buildings, however, to serve to bring
educational facilities of higher
character between the high schools of
the state and the state university, are
made in a bulletin just issued by the
state board of education.
The changes proposed are defended
on the grounds of the indefensible
conditions of the present educational
situation on the grounds that the
will cost the people Of the state less for
higher education of their youths, and
on the ground of greater efficiency that
can be brought about in bringing that
education to a greater number of pupils
1t is proposed to abandon the Albion
Normal school; to abandon the Academy
of Idaho at Pocatello, as at the present
! constituted and planned, combining that
institution with the high school at the
same city and making of the two
"Junior College, designed to furnish
at least two years of the work now
done by the state university; correlat-
| ing the Lewiston normal school with the
state university and making it in reality
part of that institution, but main
tanning its separate identity and saving
the building in connection Herewith,
and the establishment of "Junior
College" at Boise in connection with
the Boise high school to do work similar
to that proposed for the "Junior Col
lege" proposed for Pocatello.
1t is also proposed to give state aid
by way of payment of tuition for non
resident pupils to all high schools Of the
state maintaining certain standard
and furnishing a certain training, more
particularly a vocational training for
its pupils, in this manner providing for
a training close at home for pupils now
educated at much greater expense at
Albion and at Pocatello.
1t is also proposed to abolish the
office of state superintendent of public
instruction by constitutional amendment.
Cooperation is Keynote.
"The report contained in this bulle-
tin says the report which has the
unanimous approval of the state board
of education, of which Evan Evans Of
this city is member of the commits
sioner of education, and of Miss Shep-
herd, state superintendent Of public in
struction, presents brief summary Of
educational conditions in the state and
a proposal for reorganization of the
state institutions. On this subject the
board and the commissioner have sought
not only the facts, but also advice and
suggestions from many sources through
out the state; the report is the outcome
of this study, and is published for the
consideration of the people of the state.
The proposed change, or any other plan
calling for consideration reconstruction
would, of course, require action by the
legislature. The aim of the plan is to
increase and disseminate educational
opportunity, without increasing cost.
The keynote Of the method is co-opera-
} tion.'
! The educational institutions of the
! state are reviewed and enumerated
with the statement that there are now
, about 134 high schools in the state of
which over go give full four years
: course. The total enrolment is ap-
) proximately 5000, or about Z per cent
of the total school enrolment, about
the same proportion as in Montana, but
less than in Washington, Oregon and
, Utah. More than half the pupils of the
state have no high school opportunity
in their home districts.
! OF the state university, it is said that
: we have fewer students in proportion to
} population than most neighboring
! states; that we pay less, in proportion
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