Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-10
PROF. M. S. PITMAN
SAYS MARION COUNTY
SCHOOLS ARE MODERN
Normal Instructor Says Pu-
pills Should Be Proud Of
Fine Buildings

Prof. NJ. S. Pitman, member of the !
faculty of the Oregon State Normal
school at Monmouth and one of the
most lrominen. educators in the state,
recently visited a number of the Ma
IiOh county schools with Superintend
ent ". NJ. Smith. FFofessor Pitman
was requested by Superintendent Smith
to prepare statement covering his OBJ
serVations on the trip through this
county. The statement in part fol
| lcws:
wish to commend you most heartily
for the effort which you have been
making to keep in touch with every
section of your county that you might
know the needs of your schools, the
desires of your people and understand
how to serve them to their best in
tertst. This intimate acquaintance
with, and knowledge of the conditions
and people of each community is a
prime essential to the most effective
service.
1t was a pleasure to find in your
schools so many well trained and sue
ccssful teachers. Their social manner
vas excellent. Their attitude toward
the Superintendent, toward visitors,
and toward thir children was very fine
indeed and the methods used in teach
ing, by nearly all observed, was of very
high quality and in no case, l think,
did we find teacher Indifferent, but
all anxious to do the very best work
possible.
The special emphasis which found
was being placed on certain subjects
was gratifying indeed. 1t is well
recognized fact that concentrated eff
fort must be placed upon one subject at
a time before it can be mastered; that
while we have general interest
in all subjects of the curriculum and a
desire to teach them all well there must
be certain periods during which the
superintendent, supervisors, teachers,
pupils and even the patrons of the
school give their attention to master
ing the principles and acquiring facil-
ity and accuracy in the use of the same
in some special subject.
was happy to find that reading
and oral and written expression were
being especially emphasized at this
; time; or in other words, the power to
gain thought clearly and to express it
accurately and with pleasure.
| was also pleased to find that in
your county you are especially empha-
sizing the industrial club work with a
hope that every boy and every girl in
Marion county may become a creator,
a producer, saver and property
holder.
AS we visited some of your beautiful
schools and found them beautifully de-
signed, substantially and enatly built
and tastefully adorned and decorated,
! was caused to recall the school houses
of the Olden time. 1t now seems an
olden time, even though it was only a
score Of years ago, a school house lily
designed, crudely constructed, shabbily
built and poorly located, with outside
walls marked, with inside walls de.
faced, with desks carved and marked
" and the common drinking cup.
1t is no wonder that boys and girls
that attended schools like those felt
that the country was a poor place ia
live. How different must be the in
r fluence and result upon the lives of the
: boys and girls of Marion county who
attend these beautiful standard schools
that are properly lighted, heated and
NbhtIidlCu5 lOCdltu upOu DcdulllUl DlOls
+ of ground, surrounded by flowers an(
, shrubs, the pure drinking water gush
+ ing from a bubbling fountain Will
. which to slake their thirst and the
/ American flag proudly floating ovel
$ their school indicating that it is on,
OF the grand American forts that il
i fighting the battles of peace, liberty
= and prosperity.
s. Nothing delighted me more than tn,
splendid, wide awake and enthusiast,
g parent-teacher associations which
+, found in your county. These associa
r tions, l found, were the moving spirit
e of educational progress in the com
?, munities where they exist. They de
velop and enlighten an intelligent
y broad minded and progressive publ
r and the public school is safe where j
s has the right sort Of parentteacher as
sociltion to plan for it, encourage an
support it,
S, not by any means in the spirit of crit
70 icism, ! mention the following fea
=, lures, which will perhaps be of som
assistance to you and your people j
x advancing the splendid school wor
X which you are already doing: Visit
i ing day for rural teachers; consolida
!, tion or rural schools where practicable
4. at least two acres for the school site
X supervisors should work with thei
x teachers in small groups. This woul
x give an opportunity to make specia
X study of methods to be used in present
= ing subject matter; school board
X should establish a maximum and mil
X imum salary, giving stated increas
X for successful and satisfactory service
X Whenever a teacher has been entirel
= satisfactory that she shall be retline
in her present position. When tn
teacher has been fairly successful, sh
be retained upon condition that sG
shall use part Of the vacation for a