Montana State University Bozeman - Montanan Yearbook (Bozeman, MT)

Page 21 text:

Montana State Board of Education «1ohn E. Erickson Governor Ex-officio President L. A. Foot Attorney General Ex-officio Elizabeth Ireland Superintendent of Public Instruction Ex-officio E. V. I AVELElt W. S. Davidson John Deitrich M. Murray W. M. Bickford Frank Eliei. A. 0. Gullidge V. M. Johnston Administrative Officers Melvin A. Brannon. Tii.D. Alfred Atkinson. D.Sc. F. B. Linkiei.d. B.S.A. John C. Taylor. B.S. James M. Hamilton. M.S. Una B. Herrick Earle B. Norris. M.E. William K. Flew. A.E. W. H. McCall. A.M. A dele W. McCray Mildred E. Xemkck. B.S. Ray B. Bowden Chancellor of V. of Montana President Dean of Agriculture Director of Agricultural Extension .Service Dean of Men Dean of Women Dean of Engineering Supervising Architect Registrar College Xursc House Director Hamilton Hall Director of Publications

Page 20 text:

is registered by the lengthening curve of life expectancy, the high registration of the health factor of the people, the elimination of illiteracy, the increased vocational effectiveness of individuals in our industrial age. and by respect for law and other social agencies with which society is concerned. Some of these quantitative units indicate that there is definite progress in American civilization and some of them suggest that there is positive retrogression in rhe social and civic life of this country. The progress of education in Montana may he measured quantitatively bv the 100.000 young people between the ages of 0 and 21 who are registered m elementary, secondary and higher educational institutions and intelligently engaged in the industrial life of the state. Furthermore the quantitative progress of education in Montana may he measured by the number or adults who are continuing the development of their latent powers to think accurately between cause and effect in economic, social, industrial and civic life in response to the stimulation of the press, the radio and other agencies which they employ. Qualitatively the progress of the educational process in Montana may be measured by the research carried on in tin laboratories of the higher educational institutions and the industries; by the increased appreciation of beauty expressed in nature and the fine arts; and by the constructive understanding of the science and art of government. The declaration proposed by Mr. Wells may again be applied to the State of Montana. There is a race on between catastrophe and education in this as in all states and all nations. If education is n process of such outstanding importance and if ideas are the only real things in the universe it may be interesting to discover how these things are rated in rhe market places of the nation and the state. Recently a federal authority has stated that the American people, that is. the citizens from all of the forty-eight states of the Fnion. are spending out of every earned dollar 241 o cents for necessities: 22 cents for luxuries; 11 cents for investment: SVo cents for crime: 4Jj cents for government, local, state and national: 14 cents for waste; l'F. . cents for miscellaneous matters; 11cents for education, and % cents for religion and philanthropy. In the light of these statistics one is forced to admit that to the average American mind education is not the pearl of great price. The writer of parables today would not credit his American hero with selling all that lie had in order to buy the precious pearl of education. In Montana we make a somewhat better exhibit of our appreciation of the great pearl than is made by the average American citizen. Instead of spending 11 ■ cents out of every earned dollar in our current annual income the State of Montana spends a little over 4 cents out of every earned dollar for the support of public education. These general suggestions have been made relative to the progress of education nor with the idea of sounding a pessimistic note. They have been expressed with the idea of emphasizing the need of correct perspectives, first with reference to the significance and the importance of education both for youth and adult life: and secondly, that a more intelligent estimate may he made with reference to the so-called burden of supporting education in the state ami in the nation. The obvious conclusion is that the rate of progress made in the educational process in the state and nation will depend directly on two factors. 1 » what amount of money will society supply; and 121 how effectively can the available funds be employed for education in its race with catastrophe?

Page 22 text:

Greetings from the President The progress of education in recent years has come about largely through research, which is the study of phenomena. This method of accumulating facts bv means of carefully planned investigations has contributed in a large way to the body of teachable knowledge now available to students. The research method of accumulating facts has displaced our superstitions with the noble conception that nature is ruled through law. This gives us all an attitude of security which was not possible when we believed that the forces about us were governed by caprice and whim. The college student who secures lasting benefit out of his education must acquire the habit of getting and analysing facts. This insures the continued progress of the individual when college days have passed. The present age owes so much to the progress of education based on fact accumulating research that it is fitting to make this the central theme of the l! -b Montanan.