East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-10-20
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF
SCHOOL BOARD WORK
IS THE SMITH RECORD
No Man in Oregon Can Serve
the Cause of Education
Better Than Can He,
HAS FINANCE JUDGMENT
In Addition 70 Experience with Com
mon Schools Pendlston Ran Has
knowledge Of Higher Problems.
By J. :. Landers superintendent PEN
dIeton Public Schools.

Bv J. 5 Landers superintendent PEN
dIetou Public schools.
Tho development Of every institution
fas associated with it one or more in
Ividuals whose activity has contrib
tied largely TO its growth, The name
n nr c. J. Smith is an intimately as
Iociated with the history Of Pendleton
public schools as his service is inter-
woven with their progress, For more
than ls years, Or. Smith was a mem
ber Of the board Of directors Of school
district No. is. Umatils county, the
Pendleton district This period marks
the greatest growth OF the schools
both extensively and intensively; that
Is. in the number Of buildings,
the pupils in attendance, teachers
employed, and in the strength and
value OF the course OF study in oper-
alton. When DR.. Smith became a
member OF the board the district
owned poor school buildings. barely
suitable for school purposes, certainly
not convenient for use or attractive in
appearance. When he resigned from
the school board TO take UP his resi-
dence In Portland. Pendleton was the
possessor Of three fine brick. eight
room grade buildings thoroughly
equipped. lighted and heated on the
most approved plans, and modern in
every detail, and a high school, the
PRIDE Of the city OF Pendleton, unex-
ceiled in architectural plan and finish
and completeness Of appointment and
equipment
Merely 10 say that Or. Smith was
a member Of the school board during
the planning and construction Of these
buildings, does not give an idea Of the
service he rendered the district nor
does It state the entire facts in the
case. During AL the long period Of Sc
curing these splendid school buildings,
planning a suitable course of study,
and providing capable teachers, DR..
smith was more than board member.
He was a leader in the life Of the com
munity While his fellow members Of
the school board were good and cap
able men. and all worked assiduously
to the same end. il is 10 DR.. Smith
more than to any other man that the
splendid school system OF Pendleton
with its convenient and attractive ma
terial setting is due In showing the
needs Of the school interests to the
people OF the district. in creating SEN
timent favorable for satisfaction Of
these needs through procuring Of
funds for the construction OF build
lngs purchase Of apparatus, and sal
a1y of teachers. in the selecting Of
architect. choosing Of best plans, and
In awarding OF contracts, in seeing
that work was properly done according
TO Specifications. In arranging a course
o. study 10 discriminate between what
should be admitted and what excluded:
in 1ct. in all the countless details Of
building W a school system. DR..
smiths sound judgment, keen insight,
fine sense Of discrimination and in
tense activity. have been = factor with
out which the results attained could
never have been realized. The strength
cning Of the science department by the
purchase Of the equipment from the
normal school al Weston. the introduc-
tion Of an agricultural course, the ad-
dition Of music art, domestic science.
and manual training. in fact the has
tening OF the construction Of the new
high school to its present state Of
completeness are some Of the elements
IN the improvement Of the Pendleton
schools resulting directly from the in
fluenCe Of DR.. Smith. AS an illustrs-
ton OF the progressive spirit exer-
cised by Dr. Smith IN the provision
for the health. comfort and well being
Of school children. It may be men
toned that the first sanitary drinking
fountains TO be used in the schools Of
the state we're 70 be found in Pendle-
ton.
In his labor for the school, DR..
Smith made himself familiar with all
the details of school administration.
He was always the friend and sym
pathetic adviser Of every teacher who
went 10 him for assistance. No par
ent ever went to him aggrieved or
seeking desired changes without re-
ceiving a most considerate hearing,
and n his cause were meritorius and
possible Of adjustment. without fun
satisfaction in the use Of public
funds, bis judgment was always sound
and never questioned Probably he
most convincing manner in which the
people Of the school district showed
their fun and unshsken confidence in
Or Smiths leadership was in the man
ner Of expenditure OF school funds.
No school money was ever wasted or
mlsspent through Dr. Smiths man
agement lie was always careful in
spending the peoples money, 70 know
that the expenditure was necessary
and that value received was obtained
from it Though no money was ex-
pended use!essly the fact that no
schools in the state are better pro-
vidcd for than those Of Pendleton is
evidence that funds were peyer with
held when there was need for their
Use The people thoroughly endorsed
pr smiths financial policy.
II is nothing less than marvellous
and has been source OF wonder 10