The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1922-05-26
THE BlCSANDY
VALLEY AND THE
STATE NORMAL
Survey Commission Sug-
gested This Valley as Site
for New Training
School.

The kentucky Legislature III io<V
enacted law providing for state
educational survey. II provided for
fiye persons TO be appointed by the
Governor and directed them to employ
experts from outside OF Kentucky to.
assist Il. the examination OF kentueky's
schools.
The object OF the survey was TO make
recommendation as 10 how TO pull
Kentucky up from 45th place in the
scale OF states in the matter OF edn-
cational facilities
The Governor appointed w. A. Gan
field. President OF Center College. Dam
vs;;;;.s, Alex G. Barrett. Ia ssYeri member
or the louisville Board OF Education'
]. L.. Harman President Bowling
Green University: c, J, Hayden, Pres
ident Board q Education Springfield.
Ky; Miss Katie Mcdaniel, supt.
Christian county. Hopkinsville
This board secured the assistance OF
the General Education Board OF New
York City, which furnished the SER
vices OF DR.. Frank p. Bachman, Frank
l.. shaw, Miss Anna c. Thornblum.
MI OF New York. Dean NJ. II. Hag-
gerty, University OF Minnesota, advised
On the testing program.
In addition 10 providing the survey
commission the General Education
Board contributed the sum OF $4,000
toward the expenses of the survey
The State OF Kentucky spent $500
Fifteen months were devoted TO the
survey. During this time DR.. Bach
man visited GO counties and studied
conditions In about half OF tho prin-
cipai cities OF the state. The Big
Sandy Valley was included In his
itinerary.
standard tests or examinations were
given TO the school children in nine
representative counties and in fifteen
cities, Is 700 pupils were examined
ana nearly $1,000 test papers were
marked and the results tabulated. In
formation wps collected on the train
ing OF SO per cent OF the teachers.
DR.. Wallace Butriok, President or
the General Education Board, and DR..
Abraham F1exner, secretary or the
Board. gave libcrally OF their time and
made several visits 10 the state 10
counsel with the commission and stan.
The above resume Is printed here to
show the character OF the survey made
for Kentucky and TO give our readers
a correct Idea OF the value OF the re-
port and recommendation made by
this body Of experts.
with this preface we submit the
recommendation OF the commission as
TO the establishment OF normal school
IN easiorn Kentucky
The -easnr.ission recommended the
establishment OF two new normal
schools. one in the eastern and one
In the western part Of the state. Then
they said:
"Thc now schools should be put
where they will do the most good.
One should probably be located in
the Big Sandy Valley"
An appropriation OF $4,000 annually
Is suggested ms n starter for running
expenses. The Legislature in a gen.
erai way followed out the recommen-
,iations OF the commission. The Biz
Sandy Valley was named in the first
bill, but had to be eliminated because
members OF the Legislature from other
parts OF eastern Kentucky insisted
that Il be broadened sufficiently 70
give their counties chance at the
school. But the dlslnterested survey
commission saw the situation so clear
~ that It named this territory and
hat/recommendation ought to be car
ried out.
Other things have happened tina,
threaten TO disturb the program. bu,
the public is entitled to all the facts
The commission appointed as the
result OF the action of the Legislature
has very grave duty to. perform