Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-12
GOVERNORS MESSAGE


standard, become indifferent or dis
couraged. For, instead of repeating a
term s work and doing it well, they
are promoted to make room for others.
In time all attempts to do the required
work properly become utterly hope
less-yet the child must go on.
"Trying to do many things, at
tempting the impossible, so that moth
ing can be really thoroughly or well
done, will be sure to have i'll effects in
a moral sense, too. In many cases the
wrong thus done to individuals can
never be repaired Are we not creating
race of mental dyspepties, superficial
in eharacterf Why are children not
permitted to remain at the lemenetary
work until they have thoroughly mas
tered it before being advanced to
higher grades9 Let us have more ele-
mentary classes, if need be.
The most sanguine, the most enthu-
siastic advocates of the radical
changes made in the curriculum with
in recent years admit that the present
course of study is too crowded. Why
not cut out the non-essentials and give
the child an opportunity to acquire
more thorough knowledge of the essen
tials9 A step is being taken in this
direction, but nothing short of COM
plete change viii remedy the evil.
Education should give pupils the
working tools, the ability for future
self-help. If our schools do not give
this they fail in their purpose. If a
child finds himself advanced to the up
per grades without being able even to
add, subtract, multiply and divide with
rapidity and accuracy, and to read
fiuently and comprehensively, when
and where will be made up the def
ciency9 But this is quite a common
occurrence. Students of high grades
blunder in the simplest figuring, spell
poorly and fail to take the meaning
of what they read, so that they are,
as a rule, unable to obtain informa-
tion from the printed pages by their
own Efforts
There is great force in what is here
said. and steps should be taken now
looking to such reduction OF the
number of text books in the public
schools that when q pupil finishes the
highest established grades it can be
safely assumed he has thoroughly mas
tered every subject taught therein.
The State University and the Agricul-
tural College.
The reports of these two institutions
of learning are before you, and l in
vite your careful attention to them and
the recommendations therein made
Both are doing most excellent work,
and I think it safe to say that while
our states are much more liberal IN
making appropriations in the cause of
higher education, these two institutions
keep pace with all others.
Normal Schools.
In nv first message to the legislature
| I recommended the abolishment of at
least two of the normal schools of the
state. Instead of needing this recon-
mendation q bill was passed but ve-
toed by me creating an additional one.
If those already established are to re-
main as fixed and permanent institu-
tions, it is the duty of the state to inn
prove the service which these schools
Inow render to the people by contining
Appropriations for their support to
their legitimate work of training
teachers. There is increasing demand
for thoroughly trained teachers. The
work of normal schools could be made
far more effective for this purpose by
eliminating all preparatory work, and
concentrating the labors of their fac
ulties upon a purely professional course
of study There is no economy in TAX
ing the time of normal school fac
Iulty for teaching pupils in grades that
are already provided for in the conn
mon schools.
An important educational reform
Il h. a1 hxT hn o1n of
la uniform course of study for all the
normal, schools of the state, so that
persons fitting themselves for teach
| ing could receive the same credit and
recognition for work done in any one
of them and have better standing at
home or abroad. By placing all the
normal schools under single board of
regents with a uniform course of study
for all, and basing appropriations upon
the number of qualified students salts
factorily completing full years work
in the prescribed course, the state
would obviate the manifest injustice
and inequalities in the present system.
oregon Soldiers Home.
| The affairs of the home were never
lin better condition than at present.
Too much credit cannot be given to
the commandant and his excellent
corps of assistants for the excellence
of their work, and the old soldiers
and sailors are themselves to be con-
graduated upon the fact that, though
many of them are sufferers from the
infrmities of old age, wounds and dis
ease, all show disposition to cheer
fully abide by the rules and regula-
tions adopted for the preservation of
discipline and the conduct of the
home.
Since my incumbency the barracks
building which was commenced under
the preceding administration has been
completed and equipped, and a new
and sufficient water supply has been
installed. The last appropriation made
for the maintenance of the home was