Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-03-31

which teachers have been stimulated
Ia greater activity. For details o
scbool matters. / refer you TO the sl
> nerintendent's report which dea''
! comprehensively with them.
NORMAL SCHOOLS.
The object Of the normal schools Is
: IN furnish teachers for our comllOl
schools. The scope Of their Work 10.
eludes special instruction 10 thoSe
branches Of education which arc
taugnt in the public schools, ano
: thorough training in the science Oh
teaching. The effect OF their "orAi
when successfully prosecuted Is 70
increase the usefulness OF tue teacher
and elevate the standard Of our puoilc
schools. Our normal schools are a
useful and indispensable adjunct u
our common school system. without
them We cannot expect to have young
men and women trained and equipped
10 supply the demand Of our local
schools. 1t is gratifying to Know
that the value Of normal training Is
recognized BY u people, and that
the work of the normal schools Is
progressing satisfactorily, and result
ing in great benefit to our common
| schools Let them Dc held strictly to
the true object Of their work, ana
aloof from educating in other branches
or for other purposes, than training
experts for teaching; then their sue
cess is assured and their expense will
probably be greatly reduced.
UNIVERSITY.
There are those who think our uni
versity should not receive financial
support, while there are Others who
think it is bad policy and worse econ
omy to withhold from it any needed
aid. 1t is no doubt true that taxation
s for the general benefit, and that
objects Of its fostering care should
conserve the public good. But the
fact that comparatively few can en-
joy the universiiy's advantages is not
conclusive that its benefits are not for
the public welfare. If the university
is an essential part Of onr educational
system ia conducting to the progress
and development Of our state, and to
the prosperity and Intellectual great
ness Of the people, it is Of general
benefit and entitled to receive public
support. The university aims to fur
nish such an education as will enable
these-always the few-who possess
the requisite abilities, to become use
full citizens aud leaders Of thought in
the professions, 10 craftsmanship, in
the various branches of learning, in
philanthropy and works Of charity,
in promoting industrial projects and
conducting commercial enterprises,
and in deyising methods for the moral
and political advancement of the peo-
pie. Its existence is due to recognl-
tion of the fact that the state needs
captains in every department Of life,
affecting human happiness and well
fare, and that, as a means to this end,
il should provide an institution Of
learning whose course of study would
the foundation to supply them;
and perhaps, too, some Of those bene-
factors Of our race, whose enlightened
influences shall hereafter be traced in
the improved condition of our species,
and in the increased prestige and
power Of our state. The state cannot
afford to wait or depend on local en-
terprise, or church organizations, to
establish and maintain institutions
Of neutrality-suspicious. and worthy as
have been their efforts and success
for the accomplishment OF THESE great
objects of public concern. The crown
Df our educational system is the uni
We should strive to lift it to
4 plane where it may compete with
institutions of other states,
and save our children the necessity
md expense Of going abroad to acquire
higher education. 1t is entitled to
the financial aid and fostering
of the state. Money spent to fur
her its legitimate aims and ends, is
lot a gratuity but a good investment
or the state. These do not include a |
preparatory department or school, or
commercial adjuncts for bookkeeping,
)ut the curriculum should be confined
strictly to a university course. The !
Use of money to pay the expenses OF
uch departments lisa diversion of the
.unds of the university, and ought to
)e discontinued. At the present time
here are over three hundred students
L the university, and only about one
lundred-or athird OF them-are pur-
uing a university course. The other
wo-thirds-or two hundred-are stu
in the preparatory department.
This is all wrong, and in conflict with