The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-08-11
OPPOSES PROPOSED NORMAL

AT meeting held 10 the office OF
B. B. Richards, city RECORDER, Thurs
day Of last week, and presided at by
Mayor Homer |. Watts, citizens adopt
ed the following protest against the
proposed bill for a normal school at
Pendletnn:
eve, the people Of Athena. Una
tilla county, Oregon, in mass meet
ing assem- bled. do declare it to be our
belief and opinion that the pendleton
Normal school bill should be defeated.
When the voters aud taxpayers of the
state deem it advisable to re-establish
a normal school in eastern Oregon,
we believe that the state school now
in existence at Weston was
never abolished tut merely failed of
support--should be restored to useful
ness. We regard the abandonment of
this school by the state senate in 1908
as highhanded act Of political re-
pTisal,
"We deplore Pendleton's act in re-
newing the Normal school agitation at
this time as preoipitate and ill.advised.
We fear that Pendleton's oyerweening
am bition, which is well understood III
the Athena community, has in this
particular instance warped her 1udg-
ment. In our opinion Umatilla roun-
ty, itself, will cast substantial ma
jority against the Pendleton bill, and
its defeat ia practically certain. We
fear iasco resultant from Pendleton 8
campaign that will react against the
normal school prospects OF this section
of the state.
'"The statement published Ey the
Pendletou committee that the state
,, school plant at Weston is worthless
and the administration building
'cracked from top to bottom, is false
and misleading. Athena is situated
but three miles from Weston and we
are familiar with conditions there.
We consider the plant as ample for the
requirements of an eastern Oregon
normal school. 1t is in good condition
for use and is now in fact being used
uuder lease by the Weston school dis
triot. We're it true, which II 10 not,
that the principal building is 'cracked
from top to bottom such unhtness
should initiate against Investment ty
taxpayers of $125,0 in new school
plant at Pendleton. The state built
at Weston. The Pendleton charge OF
failure implies its Incompetence.
eve know of the good work done by
the Weston Normal under serious
handicaps and of the professional sue
cess of its graduates. II, as the Pen.
dleton statement claims, this school
has cost but $174.O00 during an IS.
year period, we consider that the
money was unusually we'll spent. Had
it been maintained until the present
time we feel assured that it would
have become a flourishing and success
tul institutional standard normal
school In fact.
"The district Of Weston is larg'
enough TO furnish an ample number o
grade pupils for model training
school, wherein the seniors could pur
: sue the study of methods by obseIva
r tion and practice. The assumptio
that Pendleton will tuin over all @
its grammar grades to a Normal sohoc
for practice work We regard as anus
, ing. 1t would be easy for the Westo
. Normal seniors 10 acquire aotut
teaching experience in the rura
schools of the neighborhood. In vie'
of the fact that many of the graduate
would to required for the rural school
of this section 4 the state. such ez
pei ienoe would he invaluable.
"As to the climatic conditions an
attractive environment Weston is a
admirable location for Norma
school. We are glad 10 say this il
justice to our neighbor, although Yves
ton and Athena are to certain degre
rival towns for the trade of adjaGen
territory.
"From The viewpoint OF the tax
paying putli outside Of Its immedirt
tuViFUutt Ebuuietuh oiaims Wpe1
seem absurd Speaking for them
selves. Athena's taxpayers object I
paying their share toward $l25,0O
school plant at Pendlaton, when al
adequate plant at Weston is alread
availalle They further object
paying an annual tax Of one.twent1
lilth Of a mill for Pendleton sohut
: whsn one-fortieth of mill would II
, open the Weston school with an AT
nual income OF more than douh 10 !
fot mer maintenance.
"Whntever the indictment pendl
ton may bring against the Weste
. Normal is also an indictment OF Il
D Monmouth Normal.