Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-05-17
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTE.
FRipAY.. MAY II, 1901.
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Oregonians feel just pride III
their system of public schools,
for which the state has made
sacli generous provision and tor
the support Of which our people
cheerfully tax themselves.
There can be no question that
the existence of a well supported
and efficient system of public in
struction is strong incentive in
directing immigration to the
state, and for this reason the fact
that Oregon has such a system
should be widely published.
1t is TO he dsrl ,red w.lea off
cial inaIieasance robs tie schools
of ony part of the fund created
for their support, but as this is
of rare occurrence we may direct
cir efforts towards increasing
their efficiency.
1t may be feared that we some
times lose sight Of the real work
to be accomplished through their
agency. 1t is possible TO burden
them with work which is justly
no part OF their true province.
Elsewhere educators have made
this mistake, and the charge IS
sometimes made that our school
men have thrust their educa-
tional theories upoa the school
system and carried il into fields
of endeavor wholly foreign to its
rightful purpose. 1t is not the
purpose of the GAZETTE either
TO affirm or deny this, but simply
to set forth what we conceive to
be the prime purposes to be ac-
complisfed through the agency
of public schools.
Briefly stated it is to provide
the youth Of the state within Ger
tain specified ages with the means
of securing such an elementary
English education as shall qualify
them, at future period, intel
ligently to assume the ordinary
duties of American citizenship,
while it also shall be a solid
foundation upon which the indi-
vidual through his own eferts
may build any educational fabric
he chooses. This is the prime
function of the public school
from which it should not be d.
verted by fine theories as to the
place it should occupy in an ex-
tended educational scheme be-
ginning with the public school
and ending with the university.
The public school has its own
proper mission which certainly
Is quite apart from that of the
college, seminary or university.
The schools of Corvallis are
believed to be as efficient as any
Of like grade in the state. Only
by constant and watchful cafe on
part of those having them in
control may their efficiency be
maintained and increased.
Parents and guardians whose
children and wards are attending
them should frequently visit the
schools, become acquainted with
the teachers and encourage both
pupils and teachers by manifest
ing lively interest in their work.
Every right-ninded teacher will
appreciate such visits.
Efficient public schools pre-
clude the necessity for private
schools which work on the same
lines, for few men will pay heavy
tuition fees for the instruction of
their children in private schools
while paying taxes to support
public schools which should give
such instruction and give it more
efficiently. Where such private
schools exist within the radius of
the schools controlled by them,
directors should sharply INQUIRE
whether or not the abuse of
power, neglect of duty or inefh-
cheney of any teacher in the pub
lie schools under their direction,
or any sort of 1nisnianagement
on their own part contribute to
the existence of the private en-
terprise. The earnest frieAds of
the public schools desire to see
them become so efficient in their
own proper sphere as to preclude
all shadow of necessity for other
agencies working On the same
educational lines.