Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-12-30
Salem Public
Schools Show
Rapid Growth

The remarkable growth of the Sa-
lem public schools during the last five
or six years is shown by the following
statistics taken from the records of
the board of education;
The school census, which includes
all children in the district between
four and twenty years of age, has in
creased from 1852 in 1907 to 1850 in
November, 1911; the annual pay roll
has increased from $27,063.57 in 1907
to $74,000.00 which has been set aside
in the budget for December, 1911; the
total enrolment in the schools has
increased from 1891 in 1905 to 2640
in June 1911; the corps of teachers
has increased from 39 in 1905 to 81 in
1911; the average yearly salary of
teachers has increased from S544.68
in 1905 to $S48.64 in 1911; the number
of volumes in the school library has
increased from 60 in 1905 to 5000 in
1911. In 1905 no special teachers were
employed to teach special subjects,
while at the present time there are
employed, one special teacher of mu-
sic, two special teachers Of drawing,
two special teachers Of manual train
ing, and two special teachers of do
nestle science and art. Moreover, the
demand for instruction in the arts and
handicrafts is becoming so strong that
the board of education is obliged to
employ additional teachers for these
subjects from term to term. Drawing
Is at present taught in all grades of
the public schools. Clay modelling
paper folding, tearing and cutting, and
raphia work are features Of the hand
work in the first four or five grades.
Sewing and wood work are taught in
the sixth, seventh and eighth grades,
and the high school is splendidly
equipped for the work which is being
done in manual training and domestic
science and art. Vocal music has
been taught in our public schools for
the past five years and the results are
noticeable in the large number of
those who can read music, and who
participate in local musical entertain
ments, church singinug, etc.
Agriculture in its theoretical phases
and in some of it's practical phases
is required in the seventh and eighth
grades Of the elementary schools, and
Is an optional study in the high school.
1t Is proposed in the near future to
give particular emphasis to the prac-
tical applications Of this subject with
special reference to this section Of
the state.
The high school now has one of the
most successful commercial and busi-
ness departments that can be found
anywhere in the country, and large
numbers of students are now enrolled
in these departments.
Working upon the principle that
good teachers make good schools, "
the board of education has for several
years given special attention to the
qualifications Of the teachers who are
employed to instruct the boys and
girls of this city. Good teachers de-
mand, and are entitled to good sal
aries, and the board has not hesitated
when 1t has had to decide between
poor teachers and low salaries, and
good teachers and good salaries. Con-
/ sequently the corps of teachers in Sa-
lem is far above the average, and the
pupils reap the benefits of intelligent
and expert instruction.
The valuation of the Salem school
plant at present is as follows: Build
ings, $250,000; grounds, $4,000;
equipment, $4,000, making total of
$S5O,00O. An unusually healthful SEN
timent in support of public education
exists in Salem. At the last meeting
of the taxpayers at which over three
hundred were present, it was unani-
mouslY voted to levy five and nine
tenths mills for maintenance. and
three additional mills to apply upon
the construction of two new grade
school buildings for next year, making
total school levy of eight and nine
tenths mills upon the full valuation
Of the district, which is upwards Of
twelve and half million dollars.
The Journal wishes to thank County
Superintendent Walter NJ Smith and
City Superintendent ]. NJ Powers for
the foregoing articles.