The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-10-10
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
LIBRARY
Educational Movement Sug>
geSted by H. S. Lyman.
In a Letter to the Governor
He Sets Forth a Plan of
Campaign to Reach the
Teachers and Pupils.

Dear Sir: Knowing that you soon will
be, and probably already are, deuget
: with inquiries and suggestions in view o
the stirring events for which the state i,
preparing, may bring before you thii
early, partly personally and partly off.
cally, what has seemed to me as an i'm
portant feature Of the Lewis and CLARK
Centennial ceebration2 | should hardl,
feel warranted in doing this, il others, Il
whom l have already spoken Of the same
matter, had not looked upon 1t favorably
and urged me to carry it up. Among
others, have written TO the Superin.
tendent Of Public Instruction as having
particular interest in such a plan as
speak of; but realiz5 that probably
Legislative action should come first, and
should therefore come under your notice
The idea is, briefly, that in view of the
celebration of the historical events oI
nearly 100 years ago, and publicly re-
viewing the development that has come
from them, some preparatory work
should be done to show our people the
Importance of the events themselves,
and TO make the celebration historical
education. The celebration should thus
become an era in our civic consciousness,
and be the beginning, perhaps, of new
literary spirit, The point to touch would
be the school ands teachers, as through
them the public is most directly
affected and the means to reach them
would be to place in convenient and
eAsily accessible form whatever records
we have OF the explorations, settlements
and development Of Oregon. There are
the letters, reports, narratives, journals,
"reminiscences, etc, describing events as
they occurred, aud mostly in the
language OF those who performed the
work Of making our state. These records
are, in fact, abundant, and while not all
equally interesting, much, if properly
compiled, would prove intensely so,
especially to the brighter young people.
But in their original form they are out
OF reach of all but the few; and even to
those who have access to the very few
collections in the state, the print and
looks Of the books, usually in bad type,
and without illustrations, ID not invit-
ing.
My suggestion would be that either
by action of Centennial Com mission or
by direct act Of the Legislature proper
compilation be made of the materials
spoken Of; making a series Of con.
venient and we'll printed and fully
illustrated books, in the language Of the
participants in our history, but edited
enough to form con tinuous and con.
nected narrative. This should make
series Of handy little books, not to ex-
ceed 10 or Is in number, and not to cost
over 90 cents each, Then this series
should be placed in every schoolhouse
in the state. All the people IN that
case through the children at shool, or
at the fresde in the home, would trace
the growth Of our state during a
hundred years, the name Of Oregon be.
ing a kind OF star leading American
civilization to the Western ocean, and
certainly antedating the attraction OF
California, and possibly anticipating
even Louisiana as an American acquisi.
tion. As one OF my friends has said,
something OF this nature, to bring our
anticipated celebration to tie schools
and tiresides Of our scattered COM
munities, will be all that three-iourths
OF our young people will ever see. Nor
would overlook the fact that for those
who may be fortunate enough to see the
celebration some education TO enable '
them to understand its meaning, lie |
hardly less desirable.
In order that it should be fttingly 4
done, it occurred 10 me that this work ;
should be placed under a commission, +
perhaps, as follows: The il
of Public Instruction, d
president of the State University, pres. 8
dent OF Monmouth State Normal school 5
md two others not connected with C
chools, TO be appointed by the Gov.
,rnor OF the state. This commission
houd be authorized to employ an ed
tor aud compiler, who should perform
ne duties under their general direction,
.nd segregate the mater into conven-
cut books, properly divided into chap. 8
srs, consecutiyely arranged, aud using /;
he language Of the original writers, and Il
i've the reader full benefit Of the de- \
criptions aud the society OF the men 4
rho first led tue way. However, such
ecessary notes as would explain and
onnect the various narratives should \
e inserted.
As for publication, this should be done
nder contract with the commission.
,ould suggest, II this seems advisable,
hat instead OF asking the legislature 10
a sum sufficient to pay the
I pense Of publication, the school dis
ricts be authorized and required each 10
ccepi and pay for one set. This would .
e no hardship, as the books would be in \
very way worthy Of much more than !
rdinaTy interest and value, aud the ex'
enss would not be great for the entire
cries. The IS per cent. Of the state 4
,hool fund apportionment, allowed for
uTchase OF books Of reference, should
over cost, in most cases, and that II ~ ~