Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-11
7H|RTY-TWO MEASURES
AFFECT EDUCATION
Never Before Was There So
Much Legislation PrOpOs-
ed Dealing With Schools

There has not been a session of the
legislature in a great number Of years
during which there has been So many
measures introduced touching upon ed
ueational matters as the present one.
In all total Of thirty-twO bills have
been introduced in both branches Of the
assembly, fifteen in the house and sew.
enteen in the senate, all education bills.
Some of them are of but minor import
ance, while others contemplate solue
very important changes in the present
educational system of the state.
Early in the session two bills abol-
ishing rural supervisors, were intro
ducde. The bill introduced in the
house was indefinitely postponed, but
bill introduced on the subject in the
senate, after being amended, passed
that body and is now in the house. The
amendment provides that the school di-
rectors in a county where the law is in
operation may abolish them by ma
jority vote.
A bill introduced in the house pro-
vidino for the licensing Of music teach
ers, was indefinitely postponed, the
committee deciding that its provisions
were too technical The same fate be-
fell H. B. 1876, making county treasur-
ers the custodians Of funds for districts
of the third class. II, b. 81, making a
minor change in the formation of union
high school districts, has passed both
houses, and been signed by the COVER
nor. It provides that to create Il union
high school district majority vote
must be cast in favor Of ii by major
ity of the districts affected.
After the committee had submitted a
favorable report in the house ON a bill
providing that any child might be ex-
cused from studying physiology or hy-
giene when the parents requested 1T,
the officers of the state w, c. Y. U, di-
rected attention to the fact that this
would abolish the teaching of scientific
temperance in the schools Of the state
and it was re.refemed, and a resolution
introduced requesting the state superin'
tendent TO omit the text book in physi-
ology now used in the fifth grade from
the course Of study.
The qualifications Of county school
superintendent is raised in H. B. l4A,
which is now pending in the senate.
Provision IL made that county school
superintendent must hold either lltc
certificate authorizing him to teach IN
any school in his county or cerhfl'
cate based on standard normal school,
college or university. A number OF
changes in the certificate law and the
teachers training course is provided
for in II. b. 243, which is still in com
mittee II. B. 264 which provided that
teachers institutes could be held only
during the summer months was killed,
and So was II. B. 4l2, which provides
that all registered voters might vote at
school elections. Its provisions were
even more sweeping than Senator
Moser's bill, which gave the right OF
school suffrage to fathers and moth'
ers Of children of school age, and which
died in the senate.
II. B. 3l2, providing that in districts
of the second class the school board may
appoint the clerk instead Of having him
elected by vote Of the people has
passed the house and is ready for the
senate.
A more equitable plan for the distr
button Of the school money is contem-
plated in II, b. $50, which has passed
the house. The distribution is based or
the number of teachers and the aver
age daily attendance. Complaints are
pouring in from number of counties
that the plan is too intricate, and 1t vii
likely be fought in the senate,
Another bin pending in the house II
II. b. 40S, providing for reduction Il
the cost of text books. 1t makes II
mandatory that when the present con
tract expires, that the price Of schoo
books shall not exceed IS per cent o.
the present price. Should publisher
fail TO bid at such prices it is provide,
that the state board Of education sh9l
buy copyrights, and have the book
printed and sold to the pupils at cost
II. b. 4l3, providing that any sehoo
district before leyying tax must pub
lish a complete budget in the newspa
pers, passed the house yesterday, an'
il. B. 395, requiring music teachers Il
register, is still pending in committee
i. b. SO affects school districts b.
prohibiting the leyying Of a create
amount of revenue on the assessed val
uatio nof 1915 than was levied on th
assessed valuation Of tn year 1914, pm
six per cent, and is in the hands o
the committee on assessment mad taxa
tion.
$. B. 90 provides that school district
making improvements or IN puychasih
supplies in sum exceeding $500 mus
advertise for bids, and also contain
a provision that the board may elect t