American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-06-01
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.

end Of the school year in the various
high schools and institutions of high
err learning in Idaho has had the effect
of doubling the work of the responsible
heads Of the departments of education.
Because of this both Miss Mccoy, the
state superintendent, and Dr.. L o.
Sisson, state commissioner of educa-
ton, have been something more than
busy during the past month or more.
During the past week Miss Mccoy is
spending her time in the northern
portion of the state, and will be in
attendance at the graduating exer-
cises at both the Lewiston Normal
and the university, DR.. Sisson mean-
time is making addresses at gradual
ing exercises in the various high
schools and making v~isitations to
schools which have not arrived at
such great dignity.
The work of the state educational
board during the past year has been
one of great Importance to the var
ious institutions. The members of
the board, citizens of the state, who
are giving an appreciable portion Of
their time to the work of the state
without hope of present or future re-
ward except 1t be a sense of duty we'll
performed, have during the year en-
deavored to secure a touch viewpoint
of the school system that may be us
ed in measuring up the work that
should be and may be done udring the
coming years.
AS expressed by DIR. Sisson the
board has reached the conclusion that
the school system of the state, like
other great enterprises, requires care
full planning for the future-that it
is not enough to see that the school
shall run during the present day or
year, but that the plan for the work
should take into account its continu-
ance. For this reason the state board
is planning a long way in the future.
1t is to be expected that these insti-
tutions will grow with the growth
of the state, and in the minds of the
best educators, they must grow even
more rapidly than the growth of the
state in other particulars II Idaho Is
ever to take its place without shame
in the ranks of the more progressive
and developed commonwealth.
DR.. Sisson states that at a recent
meeting of the board 1t was decided
that a survey should be made of the
comparative growth and needs of the
state educational institutions for a
period Of ten years. This is to in
clude an estimate of the growth in
numbers of the students and In
courses of instruction. The prabable
needs in the way of additional equip
ment, maintenance demands and abb
solutely necessary buildings will al
so be studied. Perhaps the greatest
crete one to be wrought by this sur
vey, will be in arriving at an under
standing of the opportunities that now
exist and will develop for additional
service to the people of the state In
various directions.
There has grown up a feeling that
those who have been debarred from
scholastic opportunity in early life,
should not continue shut off from the
world of directed thought. II Is upon
this thought hat the extension depart
ment of the state agricultural college
is founded. During the past year the
state board has determined that not
only the farmer removed from the
agricultural college should have scien'
tific knowledge brought to his door
but that the thoughtful citizen In all
parts of the state should be given OPP
portunity for mental growth. II Is
upon this that the correspondence
courses in the university extension
department are based. A correspon
dence school conducted under tn
auspices of a state government, II
something new under the sun, al
though correspondence schools gen
orally have had decided vogue durini
the past two decades.
1t will be news to a good many peo
pie that the university of Idaho ha
a full Pledged and well developed cor
r~espondence school In full swing un
der the direction of the universit.
authorities. There are really tw
c~enters to the school. One of thes
is located at the state capital undo
the direct supervision OF Prof. o. |
Center. From that gentleman IT |
learned that although the actual wor
Of the correspondence schools wi
hardly have started until after tn
present vacation season has bee
closed, this great university OF tb
common people Is already securing
wide enrolment both In regards
numbers and also in a geographic
sense.
The recent excitement over VIII;
: are termed the Huston" farm loar
by the state land board. is subsidin
at this writing. The governor h;
walked en- a field Of glowing plov
shares with naked feet and expose
ueryea His off ranaated clafma aho,