Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-10-15
Teachers Return
From Institute


Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The teachers were given an entertain
ing as well as beneficial time. The
Commercial Club took them for an
auto ride through the city and around
the neighboring valley. They also
had the pleasure of listening to Ralph
Parlette's lecture at the expense of
the Medford citizens. The play
ground movement was much agitat-
ed and discussed, and given approba-
tion. They were also enthusiastic
| boosters for the normal, and the fol-
( lowing resolutions concerning its re-
establishment were made:
''Inasmuch as the life of a nation
is in the breath of its school chill
dren, and the teacher is the first
functionary of the state; and
Whereas, it has become automatic
that all schools follow the character
of the teachers in charge; and
Whereas, training schools for
teachers have grown up throughout
the country everywhere recognized as
an essential factor in a perfect sys-
TEN of education; and
Whereas, Oregon requires coo
new teachers for her schools while
her training schools and colleges so
far could not provide for more than
one-half this number; and
Whereas, eighty per cent OF the
applicants for teachers certificate in
Oregon in 1913 had no preparation
nor training beyond the eighth grade
of the grammar school; and
Whereas, eastern Oregon and
southern Oregon are especially unror-
tunate in that these large sections of
our schools have no institutions Of
learning other than public and high
schools, much less normal schools;
and
Whereas, Oregon's present normal
school, while standing as an active
testimonial of the great things such
schools can do for a state, is practi-
cally useless to these remote sec
| tions; and
Whereas, in southern Oregon stu
| dents of our section are entering the
normal schools of California. where
they will surely become enlisted in
teaching service and be lost to our
state forever; and
Whereas, there are ample grounds
and buildings proven to be proper and
adequate for normal school work,
both at Ashland and Weston-a fact
demonstrated by many. years of hon
orable and useful service rendered by
both of said institutions; and
Whereas, the burden of taxes to
the average taxpayer to be added be-
cause of the reopening of said schools
will be but few cents per year; and
Whereas, these remote sections OF
our state now devoid of recognition
will become more intimately inter-
woven into the more populous and
wealthy regions of our state by state
wide attention to the needs and earn
est appeals of the said remote sec
tions;
Therefore, be it resolved by the
three hundred teachers of Josephine
and Jackson counties now in session,
that the normal schools at Ashland
, and Weston should be re-establshed !;
that we earnestly call upon men and
women everywhere throughout Ore
gon to rally to the support of the in
itiated measures to appear upon the
: forthcoming ballot, looking to that
end; that we respectfully ask the
press of our state, which at once
molds public opinion and depends up
on an educated people for its pros
perity, to advocate this cause rraught
with such merit as this-a measure
r which can entail no possible injury.
BE II further resolved that we face
the outcome of said election with
highest hopes for its success, because
= of the awakened interest in education
] recent and prevalent and because the
I, I, mothers of our state, now clothed
with the elective franchise, regarC
+ the education and training of chill
; dren as the first, greatest and most
. abiding interest of its people.
"Be it further resolved that We
here and now express our apprecia
ton Of the kind words thus far spok
en- in our behalf by the newspapers
commercial clubs, ladies' organiza
VI tions and civic leagues in all parts o
Oregon during this campaign.
"Be 1t further resolved that copie
- of this resolution he sent to the vari
d Gus teachers institutes as they con
If vene during this campaign, and tha
i the same be placed in the hands o
D. the normal school committee to b
n used in whatever manner their wis
4. dom and judgment may dictate.