“I quite agree with you,” the President assured him. “We are training Idaho boys and girls for the life of Idaho. Just let us show you around the buildings and you will see more and more how closely our courses are related to all the important industries of the state.”
Then the pilgrimage commenced. Father and the Boy first made a thorough round of the Administration Building, largely devoted to classes in Letters and Science. They acquired a somewhat blurred impression of rows and rows of library shelves, of crowded laboratories, of vigorous class-room discussion, and of an array of scientific apparatus that bewildered them. But they caught certain ideas very clearly.
They saw how personal most of this instruction was, what constant opportunity was given for direct contact of student and instructor, how every effort was made to encourage students to think for themselves. They noted too the serious purpose each instructor brought to his work and the interest he took in the young people under his direction. Father was especially pleased with the vitality of the subject matter and the constant applications which were made of it to present-day conditions. He grew so interested in several classrooms that they could hardly drag him away, and the Boy was sure he was going to break in and ask questions. In the course in Business Administration they were talking about taxation and railroad rates and other things he had such deep interest in.
The Administration Building, largely devoted to Letters and Science
Next Father insisted on visiting the College of Law, half expecting to find an actual court-room in full operation. He found more shelves of books and more busy students, and learned with satisfaction how the College is shaping its courses to fit the particular needs of the state.
Ridenbaugh Hall, the Women’s Building
“Mining law, irrigation law, and the law of community property are subjects we have to emphasize here,” said the Dean of the College. “Our numbers are growing fast, and our graduates, while still young, are making good wherever they go.”
“School of Education,” read Father, as they passed an office door. “You boys go on if you want to, but the girls are going to prepare for teaching in a few years, and I’d like to talk to these people.”