The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-02-17
THE NORMAL SCHOOL QUESTION.


on First street.
THE NORMAL SCHOOL QUESTION.
The chronic tendency on the part OF
Portland and Salem to monopolIze
everything in Oregon savoring OF a
state institution is being manifested In
new direction. The latest exhibition
Of this spirit Of selfshness is to be OBJ
served in the propaganda now waged
by the papers Of these two places
against what they derisively term
higher education In the country" 1t
appears that they want to establish the
future prerequisite qualifications for
employment as teacher in the public
schools Of the state that the applicant
shall hold certificate OF graduation
from some one or the other Of their too
numerous and starving colleges and
academies. They insist that It would
be wrong for the legislature to appro-
PIRATE taxes for the support Of a sys-
tenn Of normal schools to be located
In convenient sections Of the state, and
good deal Of talk has been INDUCED In
about scramble going on for state
money TO spend in higher education
to the neglect OF 'Jower" education
among the masses. The real motive,
for this sudden solicitude on the part |
OF these two "chief cities in Oregon,
for the education OF the masses. can
perhaps be best pointed out by the
following article taken from proml.
nent Missouri paper:
The scheme introduced in the Missouri
senate to destroy the state normal
schools. which are the property Of the
people Of Missouri. as q part of the
common school system OF the state. has
been 80 far developed as to disclose Its
motive. The assault on the normal
schools was not entirely inspired by
mere love of Ignorance and hostility
to general education for the people, but
by the Vaccinations OF tho proprietors
Of private schools assuming NOR
NAL" character-parties who make mer-
chandIse Of education" and who see
in the state normal schools "a part Of
the free school system Of the state)
rivals in business. An extensive lobby
representing these enterprises 10 at
present in Jefferson City laboring vo-
ciferously for the abolition Of the nor.
mai schools In the interest OF their
private teacher-factories
It happens. however, that the state
Of Missouri-the people OF the state
who are supposed to rule tits COM
mitted to the common school system,
Missouri. In common with the other
states OF the Union. and with the civil
llzed and enlightened nations Of the
earth, believes In free public educa'
tIon BY the state for the children of
the state, To the establishment and
maintenance OF this system the people
have pledged their faith and have
poured out their means, until there are
now 12,oOo common schools In the state .
supported by the people for the chill
dren OF the people, open to the poorest
child without "fee or reward" Besides
the schools Of common grade, there Is
a magnificent system Of High schools.
and at the head Of all state univer.
sisy. all belonging to the people for
their educational uses. Percelving the
need Of constant and increasing sup
ply OF teachers for their schools. the
people Of Missouri have established
three state normal schools. where. un.
der the care and direction OF the state. i
teachers are fitted to work in the :
schools Of the state.
Viewed in the proper light, Il will be
seen that what Is proposed BY the COM
mItsee on education Of the Missouri !
senate ana the ''subscrlptiOn school, I
Iohbv is that the state snail destroy
Ils own property and cripple it's sys- 9
tenn Of education IN the interest Of pri.
rate parties who have schooling to
'sil
Il Is not expected that . majority Of
Missouri legislators, men who know
n'hal they are about win sustain any
---e snfsmy as Is proposed, but there
E cause to mourn over the mischief
- .--...~st A. ahnI