Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-11-02
THE COUNTY HIGH
SCHOOL FUND LAW

1ne American niBn SCHOOL is now
an established part of our educa-
tlonal system. It has come to stay,
and any effort that tends to delay
its perfect organization in any COM
munity results only in delaying the
good work that It might be doing
for the present generation.
Oregon is fortunate in two things
/ In the development of her high
school system. First, the course of
study Is planned for the need of the
high schools. This work was done
by the state superintendent and
principals OF the high schools, and
the question of college entrance re-
quirements did not enter in any way
in forming the course OF study
For example, in the first year of the
high school, a half year of office
work in business methods is re-
quired. Such work was not at that
time thought of as college entrance
requirement, but now II is accepted
by the state university and at least
one other university of Oregon In
other states the high school course
OF study is dictated by the colleges
and universities.
Second, as many pupils as finish
the eighth grade, just that many
complete Mt least two and q half
years of high school work. This is
proved by the official reports (1909-
1g1O) of the county school super
intendent's report now on file in the
Office of the superintendent OF public
instruction. It Is estimated that for
the entire United States 90 per cent
of the children who finish the grade
work do not enter high schools.
Oregon takes no part in making up
such showing.
Now since our boys and girls are
attending the high schools and since
the course OF study Is planned so as
to give finished education to those
who can go no further, no one coun-
ty can AFFORD to neglect the work
of making more efficient its system
of high schools.
In Lane and Linn counties, the
county high school fund has been
established. In each county, the
number of high schools and their
efficiency has increased rapidly since
adopting this plan. A letter adj
dressed TO the county school super
intendent OF either of these counties
will procure Information as to the
practical workings of the law, and
as TO the general satisfaction OF the
people.
In as much as the parents are de-
termined to send their children
through the high schools, such
schools must be maintained, and It
Is no more expensive to maintain the
county high school plan than any
other. In fact, II seems to be the
most economical plan yet devised.
The plan briefly stated is this:
The people at the general election
vote yes or no on the establishment
OF the county high school fund. II
the measure carries. the county
coHrt after a careful estimate levies
tax for the maintenance OF high
schools. A county high school board
Is organized composed of the county
court. the county treasurer and the
county school superintendent. This
board contracts with each district
IN the county that maintains a high
school up to the standards set by
the state board of education. as
specified In section z. page III,
General Laws 1909. or section eel,
Oregon School Laws. The contract
states the basis OF the distribution
of the county high school fund
shall be upon the average daily at
tendance during the school year.
The total amount of money paid to
any district during the school year
shall not De less than $40 per pupil
for the first 30 OF such average
daily attendance. and $S0 for the
second 30; nor more than s12.5o
per pupil for all the remaining pu-
pills.
The property OF the entire county
Is placed back OF the high schools.
but n district wishes 20 maintain
a high school. It must furnish good
school building and keep the school
np TO the state standard The distri-
hutton OF the fund Is based upon the