East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-10-28
ADDITIONAL NORMAL
SCHOOLS ARE URGED
INSTITUTIONS DECLARED TO BE
ESSENTIAL TO EDUCATION
AL NEEDS.
(By Clark Woodl

1
WESTON, Ore.-The Eastern Ore
gon State Normal school was est4b-
lished by an act of the legislature
approved February 20. 1885, AM
graduated It's first elias in 1890.
The school has since maintained a
singularly checkered and varied ex-
istence-always flourishing, however,
when permitted TO do 80. It's adr.;n-
istratiye officials never knew from
session TO session Of the legislature
whether It would survive or perish,
and the school was Of necessity han
uicapped by such uncertainty II vas
as though the state were an inexpori-
snced gardner who occasionally tram
ped upor a strange new plan In his
tear that It would grow into nox-
iOus Seed rather than into a fragrant
and beautiful flower.
T'ne growth OF the normal schooi
idea, fostered and nourished by Hor-
ace Mann in Massachusetts, mora than
10 years ago, was slow in Oregon.
The normal schools were locke upon
with Gistrust and jealousy, and were
opposed by large number OF people
unfamiliar with their work.
In early years the Eastern Oregon
Normal failed OF an appropriation.
but its work was carried forward by
contributions until the legislature
again decided TO recognize Il.
The following legislature mace
AMENDS and in 1867 the school
was revived under very favorabie ans
pices. Its growth from a new plant
ins was really remarkable under the
enc rge;ic direction OF its president,
Robert c. French, now educa tional
director OF the Portland Y. VI. c. A,
in 19O7-s the enrolment in the nor
NAL department reached a maximum
Of 275. and including the training ie-
partment the school housed 4 total
Of 345 pupils.
When the plant was thus blossom
ing. the legislative grubbing hoe
struck at its roots. In the session o:
1909 the schools supporters in the
lower house numbered approximately /
two TO one, but the senate was two TO I
one against. II was abandoned IN |
the middle OF the school car. no
provision being made 20 carry out
the states contracts with the teach
eIs or TO graduate its senior class. |
This duty was performed by means
o! private subscriptions. and the sub
Fcribers were reimbursed at the re-
cent session. when the present ri'lage /
tax bills for both the Eastern and 1
Southern oregon Normais were re-
ferTed to the people by the legisla
lure.
Great was the distress among the
teachers and students over 1.-The
schools abandonment The $4,000
main building for which no caretak-
er was provided. would ultimately fall
into decay There were books iE
plenty but none toi read; pianos. but
none to play: class rooms equipped
with every article Of school furniture.
but none to teach or TO recite: labor
atories but none TO experiment:
for the training school,
hut no children: a campus, but no
students to make merry thereon IN
athletic sports and games It is cas-
Ter to destroy than to create, they
said. and the splendid work Of wears
was undone in few faterul days by
iconoclasts.
Thus they gloomed, and their fore
bodings would have been realized bu;
for the action Of the state in leas-
ing the normal school plant to he To- ]
'al school district, which now uses
/ TO house its public and high schools ,