Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-02-22
scHuoL LEcrsLArorN.
Some Suggestions About Reform in Our
Code Of School Laws.

| OOQe OF school Laws.
EDITOR JoURNAL:-A political
campaign is now on. Soon the people
OF Oregon will choose state officials
representatives, etc. Much attention
is given TO the subjectssof the initia-
| tive, referendum, and imperative
mandate, as we'll as economy in the
administration Jf state affairs. And
all this is very proper-in fact | con-
slider sthe initiative, referendum,
and imperative mandate necessities
to a Democracy, and a Democracy lso
called) without these principles are
little better than a monarchy.
But in the selection of men to ad-
minister the affairs of the state aud
TO frame laws for our future welfare,
let us not forget the interests Of the
most important and most saLTed OF
American institutions, the public
school. Upon the training and in.
structiOn given in the public school
depends the future welfare Of the ma
tiOn. | do not undervalue home
training-in fact | believe that in
some instances home training does
more to shape the future course OF
the child than the training Of the
school. But when our schools i'm
prove the home will improve. The
public school and the free kindergar-
ten must take the lead in educational
reform. And educational reform Is as
much needed as any other reform.
la our next legislature these ques-
tiOns should arise for settlement.
]. Shall several thousand dollars
be appropriated TO the support of
''state normals," which are graduat-
ing many incompetent teachers"
every year, while thousands of tax
payers in the country districts can
give their children but.an Indifferent
ed ucation in their home school, which
is often taught by the said incompe-
tents for six or seven months each
year? 10; course many competent
teachers are z aduated from these in-
but brains are not neces-
sary TO secure normal diploma.)
2. Shall the future voters, the "sov
erigns" of the country study tn
United States Constitution and tn
Of our state, or shal
they be allowed to grow up and vote
with little or no knowledge of the
foundation principles OF the govern
ment?
3. Shall the third grade certificate
be abolished?
Sndll Ulle minimum age OF ellRl-
hlty TO teach be raised, or shall
continue to teach children
s. Shall the state superintendent
continue To take part of the fees for
diplomas, thus furnishing himself an
to issue diplomas to the
worthy and the worthy alike ?
9. Shall county superintendents be
to hold private summer nor
.Lals and deal in school furniture?
Z. Shall the annual school elec-
tiOn continue TO come near the
middle OF the real school year or
might better say the natural school
year, and continue TO cause incon-
venience and misunderstanding espe-
cially in country districts?
There are at her school, questions
that ough to be settled by the legis-
ature. KinderHartens should be en-
and assisted.
Let us find out how our candidates
for the legislature stand on these
luestions; and would it no be well to
incorporate an answer to some Of these
In our platform Of principles?
Again | say let us not overlook
needed school legislation in the pres
ent political campaign.
Respectfully,
HERBERT w. COPELAND.
Or, Feb II, 1898.