Part 28 (1/2)

The amount of land set aside for the use of the State educational inst.i.tutions is as follows: State University, including School of Science and Agricultural College, 286,000 acres; Lewiston Normal, 50,000 acres; Albion Normal, 50,000 acres; Academy of Idaho, 40,000 acres; Industrial Reform School, 40,000 acres.

The State University at Moscow stands at the head of the educational inst.i.tutions of the State. There are three princ.i.p.al departments in the university. In the Department of Letters and Sciences the courses lead to degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Music. In the Department of Agriculture the course leads to a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. In connection with the Agricultural Course is kept a model farm of one hundred acres and an experiment station in which laboratories are provided for soil physics, chemistry, entomology, and botany. In the Department of Applied Science courses are given in civil engineering, mining engineering, and in electrical and mechanical engineering.

The University was established at Moscow by special act of the Territorial Legislature in 1889, and since that date it has had a splendid growth. It is well equipped in apparatus necessary for the pursuit of the courses given.

The State Normal Schools.--As an evidence of the fact that the framers of our State government had in mind a liberal education for the youth of our State 100,000 acres of public land was set apart for the maintenance of normal schools, with the provision that none of this land must be sold for less than ten dollars per acre.

The second State Legislature established in 1893 two State Normal Schools, one at Lewiston and one at Albion. The purpose of these schools, as set forth in the acts which created them, is to educate and train teachers in the art of teaching and governing in the public schools of the State.

Idaho, although one of the youngest states in the Union, ranks high in her educational facilities, and the Normal Training Schools have been very influential in bringing about these results.

The Lewiston State Normal is empowered to grant certificates to its students to teach in Idaho. These certificates are:

A. Elementary Certificates, good for one year.

B. Secondary Certificates, good for five years.

C. Diplomas, good for life.

Until recently the Albion State Normal School has issued only three-year certificates on graduation, and life diplomas only after twelve months'

successful teaching. On April 24, 1907, the Board of Trustees of the Albion State Normal pa.s.sed a resolution, providing that the regular course be lengthened to five years, and that life diplomas may be granted to graduates who have taught successfully for five months.

Academy of Idaho.--The Academy of Idaho is located at Pocatello. The purpose of this school, as set forth in Section 980 of the School Laws of Idaho, is to teach those subjects usually taught in academic and business courses and to give instructions pertaining to a good common school education.

Each department is well equipped with the latest devices for furthering the work of the pupils. The students have free access to the large library and reading room of the inst.i.tution.