Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1886-04-09

w euc Huciioy VI ouT REPRESENTATIVES, III
the legislature, upheld by the broad
farseeing wisdom of public spirited
citizens who urged with eloquence such
action upon the part of the state. The
school with efficient instructors is
making its influence felt. With all
these flattering evidences of subtantial
it would be wrong not to
mention with qualification the marked
in our own thrifty little
city. The rapid growth Of the school
under the skilful hands Of Prof
Horner and his able assistants is a
source of just pride and the prospect
of an elegant now school building
more in keeping with our growth and
enterprise in other directions, warrants
the hope that new era of thrift and !
prosperity is drawing upon us. Yet
we are not to he deceived by the mis-
taken idea that nothing remains to be
done. Our schools are far from being
placed upon the most effective working
basis. Our districts are small, poorly
equipped and without sufficient means
to improve their condition. Three
months of school per year which is all
that can be had in many of the districts
on account of the small amount of the
public fund, are inadequate to accom-
plish any satisfactory results Our
sister State California expends thirteen
and eleven-hundredths dollars per
capita for the education of her boys
and girls while Oregon is negatively
CONSPICUOUS for expending the puny
sum of five and nineteen-hundreth
dollars. Of course while we could
wish it to be larger we can not increase
the irleduciblc school fund.
Every district in the county should
have at least six months public school
without the unsatisfactory ''rate
bills" and special district tax leyies.
This could not be done at present with
out an increase in the county levy for
school purposes. The development of
the county, immigration, public spirited
enterprise and the consequent increased
wealth Of the county will materially
though gradually increase the revenue
for public education. Another matter
worthy the attention of the people re
fers to the office of County School
Superintendent, (which will be occu-
pied by some one else in a few months. }
The Importance of the Office should
engross the entire time and attention
of the incumbent. A fact not realized
by many is the great extent of territory
over which our school districts extend.
The area of Douglas county is five
thousands square miles. In order to
realize what this means let us compare
with other places and mark the result,
The area of the state of Rhode Island
| is only one thousand three hundred
square miles, Douglas county is there
fore nearly five times as large as Rhode
Island: The area of Delaware is two
thousand one hundred and twenty
square miles, Douglas county is more
than twice as large: The area of Con
necticut is four thousand seven hundred
and fifty square miles, Douglas county
. is larger: Massachusetts is scarcely g
8 third larger than our county, while al
Belgium would not make more thar
? two counties like Douglas. When on
considers these facts and recalls tn
duties Of the Superintendent it require
no special intelligence to grasp til
truth that the entire time of the in
cumbent is absolutely necessary to tn
fullest efficiency of the office. Thi
has never been the case nor can it b
= while the Office pays salary whic
does not compensate for half the tim
and labor expended. In making
: single tour of inspection of the school
considerably oyer one thousand mile
! must be travelled. Right here be
: your indulgence to present some sta
:, tistics Of our schools, which althoug
: rather dry may be of passing interes
to those who do not care to hun
? through official documents for such il
formation. The number of childre
in our county is four thousand two hur
dred, about equally divided as to se1
The number enrolled in our school
. during the past year is two thousan
:, six hundred. OF course it does no
follow that nearly half of the boys an
: girls are not receiving an education
Many are attending high schools an
. Universities abroad, and others havt
: completed their education as far as th
= district school is concerned. Howeve
- this can not excuse or palliate the fat
- that the average daily attendance fall
!. so far below the enrolment. In th
se s fact there is food for reflection I
: teachers and parents. The ayeras
. number of months of public scho'
taught in our county this year is thre
:, and nine tenths al against four and or
seventh months in the year precedin!