The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-04-10
Dr.. GOwans Would
Call |nlExpeTts
Suggests Commission Of outside edu.
Gators to Make Survey Of
Utah institutions

versity OF Utaft not only In connec
ton with the controversy which has
kept the state institution in turmoil
for the past three weeks, but also in
connection with future policy and
procedure, DR.. E. G.. Gowans state
superintendent Of public instruction.
has suggested that an exhaustive sur
vey of Utah's educational institutions
be made by commission Of educa
tional experts. This commission,
Supt. Gowans thinks, should be COM
posed of men from outside the state
in order that no question OF preju
dice or bias could arise in connec-
ton with their investigations and
findings. They should be men, he
says, who have been trained in the
work of education survey and who
have become recognized for their
ability along this line.
Not only could the present unfor.
tunate situation at the university be
cleared up" said DR.. Gowans this
morning, but inestimable good for
the state would result from such a
survey. The university and the Ag-
ricultural college have in recent
years grown far more rapidly than
the population or the assessed valua
ton Of the state. This inevitably
means complication. The future
rate of growth of these institutions
must be commensurate with the in
crease in the states power to care
for them properly-commensu
with the increase in the assessed val.
uation of the state.
"A survey by a competent educa-
tional commission would point out the
policies to be pursued II the best re-
suits are to be obtained from the
schools. Educational experts could
indicate the path to be followed for
the next 10, 20 or 20 years, and the
schools themselves and the state
would be infinitely benefited"
Problem for Experts
THE university situation is now
problem for experts in university
affairs, who can approachI the situa-
ton without bias or prejudice and
with no purpose but the elimination
of difficulties that threaten the best
good Of the school. There are men
in the United States capable of deal.
ing with the case in way to bring
order out of what now appears to be
medley of misunderstanding.
Three men could be chosen from
among the great educators of the
country, who could not only point
the way out of the present situation,
but whose findings with regard to
the conditions at the state univers-
ity, or any other like institution would
be of great value under any circum.
stances to those intrusted with the
ordering of its Affairs. When a man
is vitality i'll, his case is one for spe-
cialists. The rule should hold with
a university, as indeed 1t does In
great business concerns.
so far as l can see the resigning
members of the faculty took their
cases out Of court when they severed
their connection with the university.
They are not in position to do more,
On the other hand, the position of
the board Of regents is such as to
handicap them in their best inten
tons. 1t is safe to say that every
one Of the opposing factions in the
contention that has arisen have the
best good of the university at heart
and would subscribe to anything that
would insure its emergence from the
deplorable situation the better for the
questions that have been raised rath.
er than crippled by their incomplete
solution.
All Should Welcome Scheme
Should the fortunes of Utahs
chief educational institution be in
trusted to men selected for their
known ability and integrity in deal.
ing with problems of edu.ative ad,
ministration, every one of thinking
mind, no matter which side of the
present contention he might sympa,
thize with, would feel that the out
come must be sure, safe and sane.
AS 1t is, no Roadway is being made,
SO far as the unlocking citizen can
see. The action for a survey would
be one that might be reasonably ask.
ed by the representative committee
OF twenty five appointed by the alum
nj to work in an effort to alleviate
the Ills Of their alma mater. The
board of regents could not resent
such a suggestion for the reason that
II is along the lines of most approved
methods in dealing with such prob.
lens and would be a legitimate pro
ceeding with regard to the better
| ment Of the institution under any cir