East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-08-15
MORE FREEDOM
WILL Be GIVEN
TO H. S. PUPILS
New State Superintendent Makes
Graduation in Years Pos
sible-Credits in Music.

SALEM, Ore, Aug. 15-In prepar-
ing the new course of study for the
high schools of oregon, state Superin-
tendent ]. A. Churchill has given pu
pills a greater freedom in selection
even than was forecasted in the re-
port of the committee of city school
superintendents, appointed at the
meeting of the department of super
intendents at Portland last June TO
outline tentative course of study.
I'VE have gotten away from the
idea that the high school course must
be fitted to the college declared Mr..
Churchill ''In fact we have emanci-
pated ourselves from college domin-
ance. But | am, instructing the high
school principals to advise each pu-
pill entering high school what the col
lege entrance requirements are, so
that the pupil may prepare for enter
ing college if he desires. AS soon as
l can get to it / intend to have sta
tistics gathered showing the per cent
of high school pupils in this state
that go to college. l estimate it viii
be about Is per cent.
school courses. consideration has been
given for the different aptitudes of
pupils and for the different prepara-
tions which a shigh school must give
to fit all of it's pupils for larger
spheres of usefulness.
Developing Natural Bents.
Greater freedom in the choice OF
electives has been given with the hope
| that pupils will not be forced to take
| a subject for which they have no ap-
| titude but rather that courses will be
selected that will give natural devel-
| opment of the faculties"
Two important innovations have
! been made by superintendent Church
! i'll One is that pupil who is botf
mentally and physically strong may
comlete high school course in three
years, instead of four, by taking five
subjects. the maximum number eacf
year Another is that a pupil ma!
study music outside of school and b'
given credit for it as part of thu
course.
MY experience in high school worl
years ago led me to believe an injus
tice was being done pupils who had ;
talent for instrumental or vocal mu
sic. and were not permitted to devel
op it because of the rigid high schoo
course which recognized no value Il
any subject taught outside the pre-
scribed course studies of the course,
said Mr.. Churchill MANY voic
that might have been a joy to the pos
SCISSOR and his friends by entertaining
or by assisting in worship. has bee
hushed by the inability of the pup
, to find time to practice. The sam
may be said of those who might hav
become proficient on some stringe
; instrument, but who were denied tina
! pleasure because the rigid curriculum
of the high school demanded all thei
) time. So we are instructing that pu
pills who so desire be given credit fo
music done outside of school, whic
J will permit them to carry one les
} study in school and have time fo
} practice on their music. In doing thi
} feel that the best interests of man
} pupils as we'll as those of the commu
nifty generally are being served"
But Must Practice 80 Minutes.
Under the prescribed course, whic
} was completed by Superintender
} Churchill and put in the hands Of tn
} printer, pupil may earn from on
to three credits for graduation,
} either vocal or instrumental mus
} taken outside of school, provided ths
} the pupil has spent at least 80 mir
utes in practice or instruction eac
} day, and that the principal of til
} high school shall be satisfied as
} the competency of the teacher. A tC
} tai of Is credits Is required for graz
} uation. The teachers training cours
} in the high schools has been strength
} ened in the new course by requirin
} pupils taking it to have definite teach
ing practice and submit written r.
ports of each assignment.