Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-07
School Legislation Enacted
at Legislature Session

Providing for at least eight months of
school each year in every school dis
tTict in Oregon was the most eonstrue-
tive piece of school legislation enacted
by the recent legislature, in the opinion
Of J. A. Churchill, state superinten-
dent of public instruction. This law, TO-
gether with the high school tuition fund
Law which was enacted in 1915, insures
to every child in Oregon a high school
education. The high school tuition fund
law will bring 10 the high schools more
than 1000 children who are unable 10
90 further than the eighth grades but
there are still many children in Oregon
who live in districts where only six
months of grade school are held each
year. This meant that il would require
nearly 10 l-2 years for children to com
plete the grade school, while in the dis.
tricts having eight and nine months of
school the children would complete the
course in eight years. On account OF
the advanced age in completing the
eighth grade, the majority Of these
children would not enter high school.
The eight months minimum term
means that more than 10000 children
will be able to attend school two months
longer each year. More than $50 teach
ers in the rural schools will have an
eight months term instead of the six
months term. This will mean that the
teachers in the rural schools win be
able to secure better training for their
work as they will be assured of better
positions.
Tenure of office Bill.
Certain changes were made in the
school tenure law applicable to the city
of Portland only. 1t classifies the
teachers as follows: First, supervisors
second, high school principals; third,
grade school principals; fourth, assist
ant supervisors; fifth, heads of depart
ments in high schools; sixth, high
school instructors; seventh, grade
school teachers; eighth, special teach
ers. The bill further provides that
teacher may, before being transferred
to a branch of the service which posi-
tion is of a lower rank or before being
dismissed, demand a hearing. This shall
be before a commission. The members
of the commission are to be three disin-
terested persons appointed on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday in
January of each year by the presiding
Judge of the circuit court.
Requirements for Teachers Certificates
by Examination
The law requiring that no person shall
be entitled to a certificate by examina-
tion before completing term of at
least six weeks Of professional training
was amended SO that after September |,
1919, all such persons must have COM
pleted term of not less than II weeks
of professional training. This course
may be given in any chartered institu-
tion, or in any standard high school of
the state In the high schools, the
course now runs through the twelfth
year. When this law goes into effect,
1t will run through the eleventh and
twelfth years.
Military Training
A law was provided for establishing
military training in the high schools of
the state subject to such direction, su,
pervision and inspection as the governor
of the state may order and direct. Credit
shall be given toward graduation. The
amount of such credit shall be deter
mined by the state board of education.
hlndergartenS.
The school board of Portland was au-
thorized to establish kindergartens
The number was limited to three and
limit placed upon the amount of money
to be expended for such purpose.
Training Schools.
District school boards were authorized
to use their public schools for train
ing school purposes. At present, this
will apply particularly to the city of
Independence. The school board of that
throttling their growth and sitting