The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-06-04
OREGON
STATE
NORMAL
Charges That 1t Has Been
Run
Under Domination of One
Denomination

The Capital Journal, Salem:
In view of the resignation of Prince
l.. Campbell from the presidency OF
the State Normal School at Mon.
mouth, would It not be wise to enquire
into the cause of the decrease in the
number of students in attendance
from 400 to about l50. Also the cause
of the widespread opposition to said
school throughout the state. Especial
ly should this be done before the board
of regents fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Mr.. Campbell.
If the regents will take the trouble
to attend the district conference and
associations of the various churches
in the state of Oregon, and heed the
discussions on religious education,
they will hear the State Normal
School at Monmouth classed with the
Willamette University the Albany
College, the McMinnville College and
others, as q church or sectarian
school
When this school is the topic Of
conversation on the cars or boats Il
is invariably classed as church
school Even this belief finds its way
into the committee rooms of the leg
isative committee on appropriations
to- state schools. But the widespread
dissafection and opposition is among
the farmers, who believe they bear the
burden of taxes, and they strenuously
| object 10 being taxed for sectarian pur-
poses. Especially is this true among
the farmers within a radius of twen-
ty miles of Monmouth. This belief
largely grows out of the personnel Of
the faculty. Four members of the fac
ulty, including the president, are mem
bers Of the Disciples church--by far,
numerically, the strongest church In
Monmouth.
Upon the designations of Professors
Blancomb and Wann the vacancies
We're filed by two members OF the Dis
ciples' church, one a politician, the
other a minister. Hence the opinion
prevails that the school is made an
asylum for political and ministerial
failures. To remove this stigma from
our school, let the board of regents
place at the head OF the school a man
who Is himself or family not connected
with any church represented in Mon
mouth, Also change the religious per
sonnel of the teachers, so that no
church in Monmouth will be repre-.
sented by more than one member on
the faculty.
Those who pay the taxes, and those
who have the educational interests OF
Monmouth at heart should write the
regents personal letters, or. by petit
tion, ask them To grant these desired
changes. The resignation of President
Campbell opens the way for this
change with the least friction.
FARMER PATRON.
The Journal prints the foregoing
with reluctance, and ii Is not ready to
belieye that the Oregon State Normal
School, at Monmouth Is TO be classed
with the sectarian schools of the state.
The attendance In pupils has prob
ably fallen OF on account OF inferior
methods pursued, or rather on account
OF superior methods pursued In other
schools that are in competition with
Monmouth. We shall gladly give place
TO any statement of facts that any of
the faculty or managers have TO offer.
merely TO get at the truth, II they are
being misrepresented The falling on
in attendance is a serious matter. as
the state has made large appropria.
tions for the Monmouth school, and II
should have large attendance, and
be doing the best kind of work for the
money IL costs the DeODle.