Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-04
"A Just Complaint. /"
The Oregon State Diploma Machine
A Republican Paper Scores the State
Superintendent.

Editor Herbert Condor in the Eu-
gene Daily Register
George W. Jones, Marion county's
efficient school superintendent, is en-
gagged In a righteous reform in his eff
forts TO correct abuses of the office of
state superintendent of public in
struction. The subject has been ag-
itatidg the minds Of may OF ore.
CONS prominent educators for some
time, and at the state education con
ventiOn Ia session at Portland,
the open criticism was made by Mr.
Jones and ably supported by others,
one Of whom denounced the superin-
tendent's Office as the estate diploma
grinding machine at Salem"
IT, has been a notorious fact that
our Oregon teachers cannot secure
recognition by their state diplomas,
and the patent reason is that the
loose and indiscriminate giving Of
state certificates and diplomas by the
Oregon official has thrown our Ger
tificate system In such ilisrepute that
our neighbOring states are justified in
misunderstanding its workings. Many
Of the teachers certificates which
are ground out at this Salem Office
(fOr So each) mean no more TO the
science Of pedagogics than they do to
the credit Of our state.
IL Is with deep regret that friends
of education have been compelled to
admit these facts.
The wholesale issuing OF diplomas
to any and all graduates of our state
institutions of learning, is another
phase Of the affair.
For several years state teachers
diplomas have been granted to stu
dents Of the state university and ag.
ricultural college. Who had such poor
grades in their college courses as TO
barely entitle them TO graduation;
who had never taught an hour in
t1eiT lives, and who had been brought
up in fashionable society homes know
ing nothing Of self-discipline, TO say
of controlling legiOns. Young
Iuen and women alike have secured
for S6) their diplomas for teaching,
when they had to make passing grades |
On bookkeeping, and after being |
awarded their diplomas (for 1861 they |
have bOasted that they did not know |
4 counter blotter from ledger.
No won der our sister states protest |
our credit!
Mr.. Jones has good support in his
Efforts to rectify this abuse of Office |
md his fearlessness is to be admired.
lCOunty Supt. Jones and Editor Con.
Ion are young native born OregOnians,
who no doubt feel keenly the cond-
ion of public school affairs in this
state. They realize that the whole
system is not progressive and not en-
Jirely creditable. But the diploma
\ - Q e.
TO complain Of. That abuse like all
others has grown great by what It
'eeds on-fees from teachers who are
lvailing themselves of bad system,
and are compelled to do so TO keep up I
20 Others who, with one of these wall
paper diplomas, will crowd them out
" employment II they don't procure
me. Supt. Irwin Is acting under
avs got up by ex-supt. McElroy, who
the Office for fees and for
political purposes in q bold, high
handed and INSCRIPTIONS manner.
Irwin Is reaplng the harvest and
getting the abuse. McElroy built up
,he diploma machine, and there Is
not one Of the older politicians kicking
1t the abuse would do it If he got
share OF the fees. McElroy who did
III these things have a party reward
If a life job ut $2500 year at teach
ng the common branches at the State
University when better teachers are
ioing the same work all over the
tate at $50 to S75 a month. In
nearly twenty years hardly sentence
If beneficial or constructive school
egislation for the benefit Of the peo-
lle has gone on the statue books.
What has been in the interests OF pol
ticans who fatten off the school sys-
EN-. We congratulate the young
nen on getting their eyes open and
demanding reforms and
progress that should make the calling
If teacher honorable and place Oregon
alongside Of the states that are max
ny progress forwards-not back
wards. ED. j.