Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-03-26

NORMAL
SCHOOL
WILL COME BEFORE THE VOTERS
ON AN INITIATIVE PETITION
FOR REFERENDUM VOTE.

Since the establishment of the
first normal school in the state OF
New York in 1858, there has been
steady, persistent growth and devel-
opment in the number of schools es-
tablished in that state, as well as
throughout the United States, until
there is no state in the union that
does r"' have normal training, sava
and except Oregon alone. This is
an unenviable distinction Califor-
mia, Idaho, Washington, her nearest
neighbors, all generously maintain
their normal schools. Many of the
states, and most of the cities, re-
quire their teachers to have had
training in a normal school, The
rural schools in all the states are as
justly entitled to this superior SER
vice. 1t Is only denied them be-
cause of the scarcity of trained
teachers, and the remedy in our state
now lies with the people.
Every other state in the union has
from one to nineteen normal school.
This means that the normal school
has passed the experimental stage,
and has proved its worth and merits
by the results. The public schools
must have teachers; the supply must
come from the eighth grade, the de
nominational schools, the state
schools or, far better, from the
properly equipped normal school,
rightful source. These teachers are
required to handle the most difficult
delicate and intricate product of So
ciety, the child The Impressions
the child receives at school are the
most lasting. 1t stands to reason,
then, that a trained teacher will give
the best returns to the state. The
late U. s. Com. of Ed, w. r. Harris
said: THE ordinary person sees re-
suits, but does not take note of the
methods by which they are produced.
Hence the teacher who has never
received instruction in normal
school may happen to be a good
teacher but it is quite unusual for
him to understand how he secures
his own results; and he is often not
able to profit by seeing the work of
other good teachers"
The work done by the normal
schools is not 'antagonistic to that
of the high schools or the denomin-
ational schools, because it is work
peculiar to itself, in that it trains
teachers only. The teachers in the
public schools should be trained by
the state wholly free from sectarian
ideas.
By the method proposed in the In
itiative for the Monmouth Normal
school, the question is taken wholly
out of politics. 1t is fairly put up
to the voters for their intelligent
verdict.
Another fact, the teacher from
The Normal school returns a direct,
immediate, benefit TO the state. TO
use his acquired skill and knowl-
edge, he must give the children the
benefit, and in order to earn a live
lihood he must end does, teach. or
the graduates of the Monmouth nor
NAL, the record shows that ninety
five per cent have, and are, teaching
In teaching, he gives the children
the direct benefit of his superior
skill and training. The proposed
cost for maintaining this school en-
the initiative bill now pending is but
a matter Of a few cents to each tax.
payer. II a man pays taxes on one
thousand dollars, he will pay four
cents year to the support of the
normal school This money will be
tApfhutu ulutl lub uiIeCliOu Oh lut
one board of regents, with the secre-
tary of state as the auditing ofiicial.
Hence the matter is closely safe
guarded
The state has a well-equipped
plant established at Monmouth; .
fair estimate of It's valuation would
be more than one hundred thousand
dollars. Being near the center OF
population, easy of access. IL is To-
Gated in the most beautiful ant
healthful part of the state. The
are well designed and
equipped for work. having all mod /
ern conveniences. II would be worse
than folly to discontinue its use, for
the school must be located some /
place, and this is a well-selected |
site.
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