Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-02
The Standard of Polk Coumty

given national recognition. In an a
ticle in the March number of II
World S Work, Mr.. E. F. Carlton, a
sistant state superintendent of ed
cation, has the following interestir
article on the "Standard of Pol
County" which will bear republisl
ing:
Not long ago the county school 81
perintendent of Polk county, Oregon
conceived the idea of establishing
standard for the rural schools of hi
county. After talking over the plal
with his state superintendent, h
worked out fifteen requirement!
which must be fulfilled by the district
before it can claim the distinction Of
having standard school. These were
printed on large card, and one was
hung on the front wall of each rural
school. The type was large. so that
the card could be read easily from
any place in the room.
The standard requirements were
that the American flag must be flying
IN good weather; the schoolhouse
must be properly lighted and venti-
lated, and the schoolroom attractive;
that there must be one good picture
added each year unless four good ones
are already in the room; that there
must be either a fountain or tank
with individual cups; that, the out
buildings must always be kept sani-
tary; that the grounds must be drain
ed and kept in order; and that there
must be flowers on the grounds or in
the rooms.
The standard also required IL
brary with case for books, with lock
and key, and that the books be in
good condition and catalogued; that
every pupil must be entered in the
spelling contests, and the average at
tendance must be 95 per cent. for the
year; and that the teachers monthly
reports must show at least one hours
visit by one or moro members of the
school board every month. Moreover,
the teacher is required to attend at
least so per cent. of teachers insti- $
tutes, and to subscribe to at least ,
one educational paper. ,
A gold star was fastened opposite $
each point to which the school was S
Then came the work of the c
county superintendent. He began in Y
one OF the best districts and, with the h
cooperation Of the teacher, he held a i
meeting Of the patrons. By dint of C
much urging and many personal invi- t
tations, he secured the attendance of g
nearly every father and mother in the fl
district Twenty questions typewrit- e.
ten on slips of paper were distributed D
among the farmers, and the chairman s,
IL the board of directors was request II
I'd to preside over the meeting. The CT
questions were all on local conditions. OF
uch as, "How can we change the Of
lighting of this building so that the III
light will be on the left side of the tb
hlldren?" SIS it good plan to er
Ire different teacher each term, or ar
'ould it be better to pay little more fa
nd have the same teacher year after co
ear, provided We can find one who is dr.
ltlrely satisfactory" Each in turn fa
ould answer his question, and then VIC
lere would be a discussion. tbi
At this first meeting, it required eff
mt on the part Of those directing the
Getting to bring out many express tri
Ons of opinion, but that was four the
ars ago. The plan of holding this eIe
nd of meeting has now been extend the
to every distric6 IN the county. VIII
ley are held at regular intervals. hio
d everyone has learned to talk. spe
The result of this first meeting was bur
at the people decided to levy a local C..
strict tax and to have the honor of wo,
ing the first district in the county rem
have a standard school. With the in ,
'ney raised, the directors EMPLOYED san
rpenters to take out all the win Pol
ws on the right-hand side of the 9th,
lldlng, and to build as many more Irni
the left. They drained the play lead
'unds, built cement walks to the in
provided for ianitor SER the
e, and instructed the teacher to to +
that the outbuildings were sun Wal
ID with disinfectants recommended oene
the state board of health. In the tbes
ce of the old stove which was in the
center OF the room, they purehas- He
a modern heating plant equipped tiop,
ventilating system. The school of II
Sc was painted inside and out and ing
though not expensive. re- dav
1t OF one of the old masters was him
chased and hung in the school close
u' mind
lcture study, by the way, is an i'm dren
ant adjunct of the language les this
IN the rural schools of Oregon. the '
sunday school teacher from the rema
was helping to conduct a Sunday ports
oil. In her class were the first stand
e pupils, and the story was about be u.
and Naomi. She had not been it OBJ