The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-25
BOARD Of REGENTS
DOING 4 BIG WORK
MAS CHARGE OF THE HIGHER
EDUCATION IN STATE.
HANDLES LARGE INVESTMENT
oseretary Brewer Explains Its Aims
for University, College Of Agricui-
ture, Normal Schools and Other
Institutions Of Learning.
Oy Charles Brewer, Secretary State
Board Of Regents.

In response to q statewide demand,
the legislative session of 1915 passed
. law creating the State Board OF Re-
gents to have charge of the education
Il institutions Of the state. Governor
Hanna, acting under authority OF the
law, appointed the following members
whose terms expire on the dates men
TONED: L. F. Crawford, Sentinel
Butte, July /. 1921; Frank White, Val
Valley City, July l. 1919; DR.. ]. d. Tay-
lpr, Grand Forks, July l, 1919; Emil
0oow, Bowman, July l, 1917; J. A.
Powers, Leonard, July l, 1917.
Tho board was organized on July s,
1915, succeeding the state normal
board which had control of the Valley
City, Mayville and Miuot Normals and
the individual boards of the other insti.
buttons. The institutions under direc
ton OF the Board of Regents are:
University, at University; Agricultural
College, at Agricultural College; State
Normal School, at Valley City; State
Normal School, at Mayville; State Nor
NAL school, at Minot; State Normal
Industrial School, at Glendale; State
School of Science, at Wahpeton; State
School of Forestry, at Bottineau; State
Public Library Commission, at Bis
marck.
With the creation of the Board Of
Regents and the fixing of responsible
ity there Immediately arose an inspir-
alton for greater educational system.
one that could be properly correlated
and coordinated, making each institu-
ton stand for something distinctive
and individual, making it possible for
the boys and girls to secure that kind
Of an education that appealed to them
most strongly or which would most
nearly meet their desires.
Gives Statewide Views.
It also gave the opportunity for the
members to have a statewide rather
than social viewpoint of all admins
trative and financial matters pertain
Ing to the institutions. This IL a phase
In which every taxpayer of the state
has vital interest. 1t affords the op-
portunity for those supporting the edu-
sational institutions to receive more
nearly 100 cents on the dollar for their
expenditures. The State Board Of Re
gents was able to familiarize itself
with the intimate and exact needs OF
Ill institutions and to study the prob.
lens Of each in comparison with the
requirements of all, to the benefit OF
the taxpayers and with increased ser
vice to the state.
These objects have been accom-
plished along more economical lines
than were possible under the old sys
tenn.
With the added experience that will
some through careful and thorough
study Of all the conditions surround
Ing each institution, the board feels
there are wonderful possibilities 70,
the betterment of the states great
schools and for the economical ad
ministration of their financial affairs
The members of the board are keen
" and personally interested in edu
cational matters and have devoted $
great deal of time to a close study
Of the situation in this state. The
chief ambition of the members il tC
unity the educational system of North
Dakota and to correlate the work Of
the different institutions in such a
manner that each will occupy dis
hnctive field. A further object is tc
prevent as far as possible all un
accessory duplication and to develop
system that Is both efficient and
economical.
Work Of Survey Commission.
With this in view, the board In No
vember, 1915, named the survey com
mission Of which Dr. P. P. C1axton
United States commissioner Of edu.
cation, was the leading member and
had the directing hand in the work
The survey commission devoted
from November /, 1915, until July
I, 1916, to the study Of conditions in
this state and submitted to the board
ks findings. These have been pub.
nshed as bulletin Of his department
by DIR. Claxton.
The task which has confronted the
State Board Of Regents has been a
yather difficult one because there was
% uniformity In the methods former.
II In vogue at the different educa.
uonal institutions. Each was conduct.
Cd by individual board which sought
- large an appropriation as possible
for it's particular institution. The
work overlapped to considerable do
gree and there was much duplica.
Non. The board has eliminated quits
. little Of this and has gone far in
The establishment Of a systematized
plan Of educational work In North Da
kota. The time has been so brief that
necessarily much remains yet to bs
done.
In general way. the university d
20 be made the seat Of learning foi
the professional degrees and its dc
partment of education is to be
strengthened for the preparation Of
teachers for high school work and
lpr institutions Of the lower grades.
The agricultural college ID to b.
~ " a. far - pdAsibls along Dsao