The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-12-03
ANTELOPE EDUCATIONAL MEETING

ANTELOPE EDUCATIONAL MEETING.
Some Valuable Suggestions for Amend
ments to the State school Laws.
The educational meeting at Antelope
was attended by county superinten-
dents and teachers from Wasco. Crook
and Sherman counties. The meeting
was called to order, in the advanced
room ofthe public school, Friday after
noon by superintendent Gilbert. Fol-
lowing the short address, stating the
purpose and circum stances f o the
meeting, the Assem- bled teachers ard
patrons Joined in singing, with Mrs. H.
G. RoOper at the organ.
"Value of High School Education"
was introduced for discussion by Prof.
J. S. Landers, who clearly stated the
general increase of mental power re
sulting from the high school educa-
ton as supplementing the grammar or
rural school course and the special
practical value of the study of civil
government as q reparation for intel
ligent citizenship; physical geography
and physics, as means of understand
fing and using natures forces, and
higher arithmetic and bookkeeping,
asa preparation for business. A gener
al discussion followed in which many
additional points were made by the
several speakers.
The question of "School Room Deco
rations" was we'll presented by Miss
Matte Barnes, teacher of the primary
department OF the Antelope school.
Miss Barnes rightly thinks that child
rem do better school work amid pleas
ant surroundings, and suggested pict-
ures for suitable decoration in the
sehoolroom, and recommended the use
of flowers and foliage in season. At
this stage Supt Gilbert called Supt.
johnson to the chair and by his re
marks precipitated lively discussion
as regards particular modes of deco
ration.
The subject "Penmanship" was dis
cussed oy Principal Haley, of the An
telope school, and his methods of
teaching were illustrated by black
board work. Mr.. Haley is good pen.
man, a believer in the superiority of
the forearm moveme ut, and is evident
! ly an excellent teacher of the art.
The afterno session closed with a
geneaal discussion on "Physiology."
The evening session was held in the
| M. E. church. After the invocation
Miss frankie Kinacid, G. M. Frcse, of
Moro, favored the audience with a
vocal solo and guitar accompaniment.
Supt. VIM. job nson of Crook county,
was then introduced and made the
address of the evening on "The Duties
of Directors" He emphasized the
fact that directors should be free to
act for the best interests of the entire
district and should put aside all Pc
cuniary and personal interests, should
visit the school. and should transact
all school business iu business way.
Director. Orr, of the Wasco board,
stated the practice in his district of
holding regular board meetings, and
at stated times, of hearing suggestions
from the teachers concerning inn
provements in the various rooms, and
general suggestions concerning the |
school work. In answer to inquiry,
Supt. johnson stated that directors
we're Individually liable for purchase of !
charts anu apparatus made without the |
board.
AS committee of the legislature
is preparing revision of the school
laws of Oregon, and has invited
county superintendents and teachers |
to advise in the matter, the subject of |
NEEDED Changes in tho Oregon |
School Laws" was next taken up and |
partly discussed. Final action was |
deferred until the morning session. |
The evening session closed with a
pleasing solo by Prof. Landers and |
recitations by John Silvertooth and |
Charles Caldwell.
The discussion of the resolutions
and changes in the school law was re-
sumed at 9 o'clock Saturday morning
AS in the evening discussion. Messrs.
Gavin, Johnson. Beatty. Haley, Leach
and Supt. Ragsdale, Of Sherman
county, took active part in the con-
sideration of the various resolutions.
Finally upon motion of Mr.. Beatty,
the twelve resolutions were unani-
mously adopted as first introduced as
follows:
lst. The financial year should be
made to conform TO the school year
and end about the first Monday in
July.
ID. 1t should be made more difficult
to obtain state papers and the fees
charged for granting same should be
reduced one half, and said reduced
fees should all go to the county insti-
tute fund with the fees for county GER
tificates.
Sd. With fewer state papers, second
and first grade county certificates
should be re-issued as the result of
regular examinations.
5th. Teachers should be required to
attend the county institute at
least five days, and if during school
term, be allowed full pay for the time
5th. The state board of education
should be authorized to prepare a
course of study for rural schools.
7th. The members of the state
board of examiners should be paid for
their services, and should meet after
each examination, and grade the work
Of all applicants for state papers. 3
7th. The enumeration for the pur- !
pose of drawing school money should /;
be changed from 4 to 20 years, as at :
present. to from to ~ years inclus- 9
we to conform with the ages for free +
school attendance. !
Sth. The term of the county superin. '
,endent should be increased from 2 to
wears. and Oply persons holding E